I was never much for being a reader as a child.

In the MS readathon, my friends had often read 600 books by the end of the month, and I had just realised that I was more captivated by the cover of my books than the words inside… But in 1991 I found a book and an author that I liked, and I began to read… and I liked it. I was 11.

The author was Victor Kelleher. The first of his books I read was “the Red King”.

After that book I went up to buy and read a further 9 of his books. Just last month I discovered my collection of Victor Kelleher books at my parents place, so I took them home and started to read them again.

The Red King was definitely a primary school aged book… not quite as brilliant as I remembered. The plot was quite predictable - which is what you expect I guess reading a children’s book.

However, I read 2 more: Brother Night, and Toronga. These were still as brilliant as ever! And they had me staying up way past my bed time just to read them - that’s the sign of a good book.

I’ve got no idea where Victor is now, whether he’s alive, still living in Sydney, or writing books… but I’d love to tell him that he’s been partly responsible for my appreciation of reading. As an adult, I’m certainly not about to set any book worm records, and I still can’t chew down a book like Pete can, but i really enjoy reading these days, especially when I work in a profession that is all about ‘The Word’ and The Bible (the books). And not just a profession, but my relationship with God is all about his communication to humanity through a book.

Thanks Victor for your contribution.