A Man's Got to Have a Hobby

This bestselling book by William McInnes, star of Sea Change, Blue Heelers and the movie Look Both Ways, takes us back to the long summer holidays of the 1960s and 70s, and the last of the baby-boomer childhoods.

William McInnes is a talented writer and a natural storyteller. A tail-end baby boomer, William 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, listen to his mother singing, and his sisters and brothers talking in the yard.

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.

About the Author

William McInnes is established in his ability both as a columnist and author in writing pieces that celebrate life whilst encompassing the wide emotions and situations being human can bring. His bestselling titles are 'A Man's Got To Have A Hobby', 'Cricket Kings', That'd Be Right', and 'The Making of Modern Australia'.

Sarah Watt also wrote about these themes in her films and writing. She studied fine art at the Phillip Institute, Melbourne, and was an AFI award-winning filmmaker who worked as a writer, director and producer for over twenty years. Her films have won major international awards, including at the Venice, and Toronto film festivals. Her work is represented in the permanent collection at MOMA, New York. She also wrote and illustrated the children s picture book, 'Clem Always Could'. William and Sarah collaborated on the acclaimed film LOOK BOTH WAYS.

Sarah Watt died on Friday morning, 4 November 2011, in her home surrounded by her family after living with secondary bone cancer for the last two years.