Roland Fishman | Author

Roland Fishman

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23.01.2022 NO MAN'S LAND DON'T GET CAUGHT THERE A plot ripped straight from today’s front-page headlines. A Muslim extremist group based in Indonesia plans to launch devastating attacks on Sydney on New Year’s Eve and only one man can stop them: special operative Russell Carter, an Australian version of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher a man of few words but much action. Sunday Age Carter has turned his back on everything he ever believed in and is living the good life, surfing every day and trying to forget his past. However, when an Indonesian terrorist cell tries to kill him - and every other member of the order, he is sucked straight back into the violent world he left behind, and forced to team up with Erina - the only woman he has ever loved, and who he abandoned without saying goodbye.

19.01.2022 I saw Fiddler on the Roof last night at Capitol Theatre in Sydney, with Kathleen and her mother. We loved the show and it wasn't just the music, the dancing and the choc tops. Right from the opening curtain, the story and the music created one moral dilemma after another, which, from my perspective, is at the heart of all good stories. "The human heart in conflict with itself which alone can make good writing because only that is worth writing about, worth the agony and swea...t. William Faulkner - Nobel Prize acceptance speech See more

15.01.2022 Kathleen and I went to see the gut wrenching and inspiring movie - Be Here Now - about actor Andy Whitfield’s battle with lymphoma. He was diagnosed for the second time after starring in the first season of the successful television series, Spartacus - Blood and Sand. His wife, Vashti, and he decided to make a film about his journey not knowing what the final outcome would be. They wanted to give the experience meaning and to share the lessons they learnt. Unfortunately, af...ter a long battle, Andy succumbed to the disease leaving Vashti and their two beautiful children. After the film ended, she spoke about how they made a commitment to experience the journey together wherever it led them and to have the view that life doesn’t happen to you, rather it happens for you. And it is our job as human beings to find meaning in everything that occurs whether we like it or not and grow through the experience. Andy and Vashti dealt with the grim reality of the treatment, diagnosis and bad news with grace, dignity and love. Vsshti said it was a privilege travelling the world showing the film and sharing what they learnt. ‘Be Here Now’ is all about being present, and not fearing what you don’t know. - Andy Whitfield

09.01.2022 This is a photo of our girl Gertie on a high after chemo for her lymphoma. She barked madly when I visited her in her doggie ward at the North Randwick Vet and polished off her dinner before having a well earned rest watching tele snuggled next to Kathleen Allen. For those of you who haven't met Gertie, she is the head of security at the Writers' Studio and accompanies Kathleen to some of the live classes where she loves making new friends. She bounced back so well after her treatment that we've started calling her the Chemo Kid.

01.01.2022 I was so sorry to hear about the passing of 'Midget' Farrelly over the weekend, aged 71. He was the first surfing world champion and maintained his deep connection to the ocean throughout his life. I got to know him over seeing him for 30 years at the Cabbage Tree Club up at Palm Beach. Even though I never knew him well and he was a man of few words, when he spoke I always listened. When I wrote my novel, I wanted my main character to be a great surfer, the kind of surfer I’...d love to be. I tried to channel Midget and see the surf and ocean through his eyes. One day he told me how a teacher at high school had told him when he was 16 that he’d never get anywhere in life unless he gave up surfing. Midget said, I don’t know how I knew, but I knew surfing was something I just had to do. The next year I won Makaha and the year after that I was world champion. And he never looked back. Over Christmas, I told a friend of mine how I’d like to be in the surf. Among other things- 'be in the moment with a still mind'. He referred to Midget - how he never rushed, always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, was very particular about which wave he caught and always made it look so easy. Another time I remember seeing him after having a surf. I was on a bit of a high and I told him how the surf always made me feel 20 years younger. He gave me his enigmatic smile and said, That’s not exactly right. The surf makes you feel ageless. Vale Midget. Rest in Peace.