David Western
Dave or David, I don't mind which. I’m married to Sandra (a Mumbles, Swansea, girl), and am father to two sons and a daughter (Jon, Emily & Matt). I’m also a grandfather to Lola, Rhys and Anissa.
I’ve lived in Pembrokeshire, Wales, for over thirty years, working for a national bank until my early retirement in 2014.
My father served in the RAF and so I had a rather nomadic childhood, moving every 2-3 years. My banking career also involved many moves until I arrived in Pembrokeshire in 1986. When I was a child, I heard the song I’ve Been Everywhere Man (versions by Hank Snow and Rolf Harris) and I used to think it applied to me.
I’ve always loved reading from as far back as I can remember. I enjoy watching films but reading is such a different experience, individually tailored by the reader. Each reader imagines characters and settings in their own unique way. We all have a different vision when we picture Jack Ryan or Jack Reacher, Jack and the Bean Stalk or Gertie.
My favourite genres are science fiction, thrillers and whatever catches my eye and looks different. To misquote Educating Rita, don’t you just die for Waterstones?
Shortly after retiring I revived a lifelong passion for writing by attending local Creative Writing classes. The result has been a book of short stories, plays and “poems” for family and friends, and my debut novel Gertie’s War. (A description of which I’ve added below.)
Gertie book two is currently work in progress.
In my short stories, I like to write about a wide range of topics in different styles and genres. Most include some humour and, what I hope is, an unexpected twist at the end.
Other writing projects have included:
- Two books based on my late father’s recollections of his life, and my supplementary memories.
- Two travelogues about tours to Vietnam to visit Jon and Vy, including attending their wedding on a windswept tropical beach.
- A book of short stories and plays compiled for distribution to my family and friends. I’m looking to self-publish this compilation for public sale in the near future.
Some examples of my short stories are available on my website: www.davepw.co.uk
I’d be glad for any reviews and feedback that you may want to add – preferably favourable of course.
Gertie’s War The story is about events that happen to Gertie which cause her to question her beliefs about the way Germany is being run and the actions of the Nazi State. It shows life from a German point of view and how a family can be ripped apart.
Housewife Gertie is happily married to railwayman Albert in Germany, during the latter years of WW2. Her son and brothers are away fighting and Albert wants to join up too. Gertie is resiliently enduring the hardships of war, in early 1944. Like millions of others, she believes the Nazi propaganda that’s fed to her. Then one day a knock on the door changes her life forever. An innocent action on Gertie’s part, has started a terrifying chain of circumstances, in which she suffers at the hands of a powerful man determined to use her for his own purposes. She meets other victims of the Nazi legal system and experiences the terror of an air raid. Her beliefs and values are challenged as never before and she begins to question long held and official attitudes and actions. With only the love for her husband and family to keep her going, will it be enough? Can she get back to the family and the life she once knew?
