A Man's Got to Have a Hobby : Long Summers With My Dad

Author(s): William McInnes

Biography & Memoir

William McInnes is a talented writer and a natural storyteller. A tail-end baby boomer, he recalls summer holidays that seemed to go on forever, when he and his mates would walk down to fish in the bay; a time when the Aussie battler stood as the local Labor candidate and looked out for his mates; and a time when the whole family would rush into the lounge room to watch a new commercial on TV. He writes about his father - a strong character who talks to the furniture, dances with William's mother in the kitchen, and spends his free time fixing up the house and doing the best for his family. In William's writing you can hear his father speaking and listen to his mother singing. This is a book about people who aren't famous but should be. It's about cane toads and families, love and hope and fear, laughter, death and life. Most of all, it is a realistic, down-to-earth book by a man who had a great time growing up. His warmth and humour come through on every page. This Australian memoir tells of a time that will be familiar to many readers and a delight for all.


Product Information

Winner of ABIA Australian Newcomer of the Year (Debut Writer) 2006. Shortlisted for ABIA Australian Biography of the Year 2006.

William McInnes is the author of A MAN S GOT TO HAVE A HOBBY, CRICKET KINGS, THAT'D BE RIGHT and THE MAKING OF MODERN AUSTRALIA. In 2006 A MAN S GOT TO HAVE A HOBBY was selected as one of the Books Alive 50 Great Reads and William was named Australian Newcomer of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards, and in 2007 CRICKET KINGS was shortlisted in the Australian General Fiction Book of the Year category for these awards. William received critical and public acclaim for his leading role in the film 'Look Both Ways', written and directed by his late wife, Sarah Watt. In 2011, he and Sarah co-wrote WORSE THINGS HAPPEN AT SEA, a celebration of family life in words and pictures. He is the Ambassador of the Year of Reading, 2012, and writes a weekly column for THE COURIER-MAIL. William McInnes' new novel, THE LAUGHING CLOWNS, will be published by Hachette Australia in October 2012. William grew up in Queensland and now lives in Melbourne with his two children. Previous Books: Previous titles include: WORSE THINGS HAPPEN AT SEA (9780733628023, HB, 09/11), THE MAKING OF MODERN AUSTRALIA (9780733624940, C Fmt, 07/10), THAT D BE RIGHT (9780733622533, C Fmt, 08/08), CRICKET KINGS (9780733621932, B Fmt, 08/07) and A MAN S GOT TO HAVE A HOBBY (9780733620782, B Fmt, 07/06).

General Fields

  • : 9780733620782
  • : Hachette Australia
  • : Hachette Australia
  • : 0.23
  • : July 2006
  • : 199mm X 129mm X 19mm
  • : October 2012
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : William McInnes
  • : Paperback
  • : 1
  • : en
  • : 288