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Since its release in February 2017, many responses I have received from happy readers of The Tramp have been encouraging, flattering — even inspirational (ego-busting, my wife suggests). From the music's perspective, listeners have commented that the thirteen songs on the CD take on a completely different meaning once one has read the story — [...]

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I recall a chapter from my early teens, when I first discovered a Cat Stevens' song on the radio. There was something about his voice and acoustic guitar that held my attention over most pop songs presented in those informative years. It was not just his vocal / guitar combination that resonated in me; I [...]

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With a little help from my friends: Edition 1 For the first twelve months following the dream that had inspired the development of my novel and CD The Tramp, I'd shared the concept with few people. I may have made passing comments, or played a song here and there, but mostly, the story of Robert Aitken and his [...]

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We spent a delightful Thursday evening enjoying the crisp Eugenana air at Prickly Mo. Their wines are to live for (who wants to die anyway?), there was an array of belly-popping platters, other delights by the Flying Calamari Brothers (no prizes for guessing the top of their menu), and music by You3. We set up our chairs in front of centre [...]

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  I set off at 'sparrows' to Hobart last Tuesday with a Cooper-boot full of novels, CDs, bookmarks and t-shirts - plus, of course, a modest overnight bag. I had plans. Despite negotiating myriad roadworks that began on the highway at Perth, the journey took a sprightly four hours. Traversing the Midland Highway is going to be [...]

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I was heartened to read the reflections of someone who had purchased and read The Tramp, as a Kindle version of the novel, from amazon.com.au. " 5.0 out of 5 stars"The Tramp" Makes Compelling Reading By Amazon Customer on 6 March 2017 Format: Kindle Edition I found this book a compelling read and I was reluctant to put it [...]

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“London, 1989: On the verge of musical recognition, tragedy tears Robert Aitken’s world apart. He turns his back on the city, the industry and the people he loves; walking away with little more than two guitars, a hat in a box and ‘the beast’ shadowing his every move. Over twenty years later, two ex-London music lovers have relocated to Australia. In an unlikely quirk of fate, they stumble upon a man bearing a nagging resemblance to the one who had vanished from London all those years ago, reluctantly performing to a few indifferent locals in a ramshackle pub in Tasmania’s North West. A bitter recluse, scarred by unceasing guilt and stalked by his unwanted companion, Aitken is compelled to relive the events he had chosen to forget, in the hope he can at last make peace with himself.”