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Author Meeting Place Interviews Author Johnny (Chester) Dowling of Northamptonshire, England, UK
Bio: The first volume is The Story of my Life. The second volume is The Story of Your Life
How many book/s have you written?: Two
Please share with us your book titles: Just For Kicks - The Story of my Life Just For Kicks - The Story of your Life
What genre/s would you like to write in?: I write in the first party
Please share with us who or what encourages you to write and why?: In the past, I`ve told stories of my earlier life to people. The return quip was always the same, "You should write a book about your life!"
I did just that.
Then, the phone started to ring, folk asking if there would be a follow-up book as they had a story or two to tell.
I did that one too.
So anyway... I ended up with two books. Each one comprised of the following. A4, hardback, 388 pages, 172 chapters, 110,000 words, 2,000 images (colour where applicable).
How long did it take for you to write your book/s?: It took two years to complete each book
How long did it take for you to publish your book/s?: They are self-published
Who did you publish with and why?: I published them myself. That way, I knew my works wouldn`t be refused.
Please share with us how you prefer to market your book/s?: I market my books through the rocker, music, motorcycle media.
Please share with us any event/s that you have planned in marketing your book/s: As with the last two books, they were launched at an annual event held here in England. It`s called 'The Ton-Up Day' which brings old (and younger)rockers together.
My third book is, as I write, at the printers. this one is called... 'Just For Kicks - The Big Picture Book' and like the last mighty tomes, be launched at the annual event Sunday 17th July 2011
Do you wish to share any additional information with our readers?: If it`s on your mind to do something... DO IT, we`re a long time dead.
Backcover Description: I feel as though I have been warmly floating on a plush, magic carpet. Fantastic stories, brilliant photographs! Chester has covered our era so-very well and by the time you have read his ramblings you will feel as though you have been unlucky enough to have known him personally. Chester sweeps you gently back in time, as if in a pleasant never-ending dream to when you were a child, when everything was a discovery in life and then transports you - as though carrying you on a bed of soft feathers through to your teenage years, the ups and downs we all experienced as we matured.
At times, very touching, poignant - may I say, heart-wrenching, revealing his inner-most feelings, thoughts and memories. To the point, 'hanging his washing on the line for all to see'. An unbelievably bold move and possibly, just possibly,without incriminating himself or others... with hardly any secrets left to tell.
A full of fun character has been found in the author and his scallywag ways as he grew up, which reminds us all as to the way life used to be so long ago. Toys through to television, the drudgery of school, mischief, home life, rock 'n' roll, Teddy-boys, rockers, mods, motorcycles, girls, record hops; all coupled with humour and an occasional tinge of heartbreak - it all comes flooding back, a thoroughly honest insight into the long-since-distant and much-missed past.
To the layman that may cast a rearward eye, he sees and wishes upon us, a best-forgotten, damp world of shades of grey during the 1950s and `60s. Chester, through his scribings, 'flicks the switch' in your mind - revealing the era in its rich, original, glorious colour.
This, I believe, is the first book in this style. Of its kind, a one-off and written by someone that actually lived through it all and is prepared to tell nearly-all, unlike many of his past friends - he suvvived it all!
There`s plenty of room on his 'Magic Motorbike' for you, climb on, hold on really tight... you`re about to enter the real world... our world...
William Martin B.Ed; Dip ESB (International)
Book Review/s to share: There have been many reviews, both from specialist magazines such as UK Rock, Record Collector, Classic Bike etc. along with many personal emails and phone calls, some bringing me to the edge of tears with their so-kind comments. The topper-most being that my works are looked upon as 'Social History'.
On that point, I now know I had to get everything written down, for when my generation move on to 'pastures old', there would be a record of life as it was.
Email to share: chesterdowling@hotmail.com
Northhamptonshire, England
Just For Kicks - The Story of your Life (Vol. 2) Johnny (Chester) Dowling
Backcover Description: This is Chester`s second book.
His first book, as this one, were self-published, all to well-worthy acclaim from 'The Inner Circle'. Chester`s scribblings, along with those donated by like-minded folk and included within this, his second mighty tome, speaks volumes in all aspects as-to our carefree upbringings so long ago.
Again, I will surrender my mind-thoughts to the richness brought forth through his ramblings, along with the wonderful, caught-in-time images herein.
We must seriously gaze-in-awe at the wealth of much-treasured, original photographs that have been donated by like-minded folk. Each one, a glittering gem in itself. Through these images and the writings, we are able to regurgitate, to regain the depth, the fullness of our period, as kids, as youngsters, thankfully now captured-in-time forever - our niche in Social History.
I was with Chester from the beginning of his 'writing career', having witnessed and assisted in everything - from the first dip of his quill, through to this, his second book. The late nights, his understanding of the period, his ultra-sharp memory-recall mechanism, the preciseness to detail, the on-going battle with the truth... and the tears - yet recalling Chester signing copies of his first book, every three minutes... for eight hours-solid at the original launch.
As with the last book, Chester has used the same, smooth, formatting style. Part One, leading into the 'Intermission', then followed on by Part Two. The difference being... he takes a 'white knuckle' pillion ride this time - leaving the bulk of memorable stories to folk around him but overseeing the whole 'package' as before.
Obviously, the readers of his books who still live the period, certainly are not trying to relive their youth or 'wind the clock back' but are simply at ease with themselves - in what the uninitiated may say is a time-warp, a romantic edge to life, a true-edge for those of us that still live it. This, then, is another, truly wonderful backward-peep into the past, the true past, our past, your past.
William Martin B.Ed; Dip esb (International)
Book Review/s to share: Again, as with the reviews of my first book, they were very good, which in turn drove me forward to tackle my third book, Just For Kicks - The Big Picture Book, which is, as I write, at the printers and will be launched on Sunday July 17th at 'The Ton-Up Day'.
Thank you , Chester
Email to share: chesterdowling@hotmail.com
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