This book is a time travel thriller that focuses on Brad, a sixty-two year-old who has lost his way in life. At twelve, he was responsible for looking after his sister Felicity during one of Australia’s worst natural disasters—Cyclone Tracy, which destroyed much of Darwin on 25 December 1974. Sadly, she died that morning along with seventy others.
His father blamed Brad for her death. He never recovered from the trauma of what happened. His marriage ended in divorce. His daughter hasn’t seen him for four years. His father hardly talks to him. He has no regular job and no future.
His father invites the family to Darwin in December 2024 for a reunion of sorts and to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary. Brad is reluctant, but his daughter, who lives in Darwin, persuades him to go. In Darwin, he is reunited with his family and his ex-wife. It is also here he meets Ted. A man who has discovered how to travel back in time, but it has a catch. He can only travel exactly fifty years in the past to the exact location.
Ted convinces him to return to 1974 for a second chance at redemption. Brad’s goal is to save his sister and change history for the better.
The question is, will he succeed? To do so, he has to establish a new identity and build trust with the family in a matter of days. Ultimately, he must face off against the greatest enemy of all for a second time—Cyclone Tracy, which unleashes winds of over 300 kilometres an hour.
Tania from Brisbane said this: I just could not and did not want to stop reading this fabulous book! I was exactly the same age as the main character during Cyclone Tracy (although I was safely spending Christmas with family in Melbourne). I felt like I was in the story and what a story it is…. wild and terrifying and exciting yet funny, sad and tender. You must read this book!!
Thank you, Darren -What an amazing writer you are!
Sandra from Ipswich said this: I have had the privilege of reading your book Darren. Wow! A fantastic novel. Once you start it's hard to put the book down. You are a brilliant author. Congratulations!
John from Springfield said this: I’ve just finished reading your book. It was excellent! To be honest, I found it hard to put down. I loved the local Springfield references and the memories of the 1970s, which I can relate to very well. It was a great read, Darren. I can’t wait for your next offering. Congratulations.
An updated, more expansive 2nd edition will be released in 2025
Many years ago, there lived a brave and resilient cat named Possum.
On Christmas Day 1974, Cyclone Tracy unleashed its wrath upon Darwin, leaving devastation in its wake. Amidst the chaos, one small furry figure found himself thrust into a battle for survival. Possum, a beloved family cat, had been separated from his loved ones. Suddenly, his world was turned upside down.
As homes crumbled and streets became littered with debris, Possum's fight for survival began. For three harrowing weeks, he navigated the ravaged landscape, relying on instinct and courage to endure. Finding shelter and scavenging for food became his daily struggle, alongside other pets left homeless.
This remarkable, almost true story recounts the journey of Possum, the author‛s cherished family cat, who overcame incredible odds to survive the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy and eventually reunite with Darren‛s family.
In this heartwarming tale of courage and hope, Possum's journey reminds us that miracles are still possible and that the bonds of love and survival can transcend even the fiercest storms.
Introducing Caleb Jones - The illustrator of Possum
Caleb is an established artist who paints commissioned oil paintings and facilitates regular paint-and-sip workshops. Caleb, his wife, and young son have recently moved to Ipswich, Queensland where Caleb works as a school counsellor. In his spare time, Caleb enjoys taking on creative projects, including wood whittling, loose parts art, and wire sculpting.
Grace from Ipswich said this: I first read Possum’s story to my 4-year-old grandson Harry, who had so many questions about cyclones and just wanted to know more. He loved the story and has asked me to read it to him over and over again. The children love the illustrations and the characters created by Caleb that make this almost true story come to life. Even as an adult, I can appreciate Possum’s amazing survival against all odds to be reunited with his family during Australia’s worst natural disaster, and it made me pause to reflect on those family pets that weren’t. I have read Possum over and over to all the children in our extensive family from ages 3 to 11 and enjoy answering all the questions it evokes from each age group about cyclones and how Possum survived.
This book is dedicated to the thousands of hard-working and dedicated teachers.
The Classroom Called School is a collection of ideas and thoughts coming out of Darren’s experience as a teacher and a student. In a light-hearted style, he delivers story after story of teachers and students who have taught him a lesson or two about this wonderful profession.
As you read this book it is hoped that you will be inspired, encouraged and refreshed in your job.
In the book, Darren writes about how he became a teacher. Lessons learned from prac. Teaching with passion. Working through mistakes. Saying no. Classroom management. Sports days. The value of honour. Having a laugh in the classroom. Building good culture. Ways to appreciate each other. Having a great holiday. How to be more productive without losing sleep. Ways to stay motivated.
And, so much more.
This book is a collection of some of the lessons he has learned in the classroom called life. In a light-hearted and conversational style, he writes about his many zany adventures. Darren had to hang on for dear life in a cyclone that destroyed Darwin.
He also lived to tell about his experience on a sinking cruise ship in Indonesia and survived an ordeal with wild buffalo in outback Australia.
These are just a few of his experiences on the journey called life. This book will inspire you to appreciate and learn from every precious moment that life brings: the good, the bad, and the unexpected!
In his second book in The Classroom Called Life series Darren takes readers on a life-proven journey to learn the answers to the big questions about life—What is life all about? What is our purpose? Is God real? How do we survive the challenges that come at us? How can we grow into all that we are meant to be? How do we learn from our experiences? Propelled by Darren’s humorous storytelling, this book reveals the wisdom Darren learned—often the hard way—to discover the answers and how you can live life to the fullest.
Whether it’s eyeballing crocodiles in Kakadu National Park, skiing the summit of Mt Buller or hitting a golf ball down the fairway at Brookwater Golf Club, Darren shares the lessons he learned from these moments and several other interesting and unusual experiences.
He then encourages and inspires you to examine your own life as it’s never too late to learn. You can find answers to the big questions in life. You can become all that you are meant to be.