User talk:R.E. Hinchco

'A Pound And A Half Of Gravy Beef.' R.E. Hinchco

"I have just finished reading about the life of a little boy. What a beautiful story. In some ways, it reminds me of 'Angela's Ashes' except it is much better written." Ann Pascoe.

"Thank you so much for sharing your work with me. It is a beautiful, wonderfully written story, that I am sure has already taught me more about New Zealand's cultural background, than anything else I have read or experienced.  It will be a best seller.  Thank you again, and congratulations." Denise Towers.

Based on reader feedback gathered from prelaunch copies, the resounding results have shown that Rod Hinchco's first Novel 'A Pound and a Half of Gravy Beef...' resonates with New Zealand's such, that it is being picked as the all up top contender for preferred book gift of the year.

If your loved ones, relatives or friends hark back to 'the way New Zealand used to be' of Old Values and of 'The Good Old days' then this heart rending book, as seen and written from the perspective of a young lad living in a rural New Zealand town, will touch them deeply.

Through the eyes of young Jimmy Law we explore the impacts and changes in a very real and believable way the returning service men and women from the second world war, into heartland New Zealand.

Of rough men with old values breaking the New Zealand bush, and establishing the land, and the even more resilient New Zealand women who held this country in place through those horror years, serving along side their men in war, or in their place in the factories and on the farms throughout this land. Through their collective efforts, the pride, the culture, and the very meaning of what it is to be a 'Kiwi', was born.

A coming of age story for a young boy in parallel to a country's own coming of age.

If you lived in these times or want to impress upon people important to you the relevance of the time in our history, then 'A Pound and a Half of Gravy Beef...'is a must have book for the holiday season.

All copies of this First Edition, will be signed by the author....

Copies available on Waiheke Island by e-mailing solutionz@xtra.co.nz or phone  09 372 2292

Small town New Zealand, war wounded but far from down is the setting for this at time tragic, but more often humorous perception of the world, through the eyes of a child. From Branston, a fictitious small town, with its foundry, its fishing fleet and clothing factory, (sounds remarkably familiar, doesn't it?) all geared for war, and Te Toko, (and looking at his early education, could this possibly be …....?) equally fictitious, a small South Waikato timber milling village, the likes of which have long since been erased from our landscape.

The exploits of Jimmy Law, will not only cause you to laugh out loud as you read his story, or reflect on it, but it will also induce a quiet little tear or two in any who cherish memories of such times.

About the author:

Rod Hinchco was born in Thames, New Zealand way before breakfast time yesterday. He was born in a small nursing home not a stones throw from his family home. He says it is purely coincidental, that both were destroyed soon after his birth.

His forefathers for the most part, came through the Boer Wars, both the first and second world wars, and survived the miners strikes at Waihi and the tragedy of the Ralph's Mine collapse at Huntly

Educated at Thames South School, and for a time, at Ngaroma district school, then back again to complete his secondary education at Thames High, Rod joined the RNZN as a 17 year old.

He saw service during the 60's on Antarctic Patrols, active service in Malaya and Borneo, aboard RN and RNZN Minesweepers and Patrol craft, and finally service aboard HMY Britannia, during the Royal Tour 1969-70. Though he sees himself now as an 'almost' fulltime writer, Rod and his partner wife Mary, operate a very successful and international Business Perfomance Consultancy.

Rod has completed 7 novels, 4 of which are currently under contract to his publisher and will be published and released between now and 2012. He has almost completed the first of his two stage plays that he wishes to launch during 2009, and is currently working on a screen play adaptation of his forth novel, 'Te Kaitiaki', set in New Zealand's beautiful Southern Alps.

Upcoming Titles:

'Blackdamp.' The story of two families who arrive in New Zealand circa 1873 in search of their fortunes in the coal and gold fields of a new country.

'In The Shade Of The Jesus Tree.'

Set in South Africa, prior to the Republic's first democratic elections. An insight into South Africa's organised crime syndicates.

'Te Kaitaki.'

A modern day novel of a young city lad, on holiday in the South Island with relatives, and his magical transformation into, 'Te Kaitiaki', the guardian of the land.