By Tony Flood
Designer of the book covers of Driven by Desire; tan.printdesigner@gmail.com
At an age when most people are taking life easy, 89-year-old Eastbourne pensioner John Newton is busy writing and editing books.
The former Kenyan police officer, broadcaster and businessman says: “I see myself mainly as an author, having already written fourteen books and over 500 short stories – and I’ve got a lot more in me. I have just finished a book of short stories, which will come out hot on the heels of my latest project Driven by Desire.”
Driven by Desire was written by John and six other authors, including myself, as part of The Collective, with each of us providing one character in a disruptive family saga set in Italy in the 1920s. It is packed with conflict, passion and a kidnap.
The title is most apt because John is driven by desire to keep writing, and his bucket list includes switching genres to eventually write a detective thriller!
John was born in Ealing, West London, in 1934 but in September 1946, he went with his mother and older sister to join his father who was serving as a soldier in West Germany. They lived there for five years.
He recalls: “Although WW2 had been over since June 1945, Germany and its people remained crushed by the defeat, with large towns still piles of rubble and tall buildings sheared in half. Even at that tender age I realised the Germans I met were friendly and welcoming, simply because we were not Russians.
“I was educated at Prince Rupert School, Wilhelmshaven – a school for British Army children. With a couple of RN officers on our teaching staff, we formed a full sea cadet unit and sailed around the North Sea to enjoy many adventures.
“I left Germany a fluent speaker of the language. After one year in England I joined the RAF and, at the age of eighteen, ended up in Tabora, central Tanganyika, (now Tanzania) completely alone as a radio direction finder. My task was navigating British-built fighter aircraft with small fuel tanks and guiding them to be refuelled before sending them on their correct navigation path.
“Outside the German-built fort in Tabora, I discovered a small cemetery. In it were buried fallen German and Belgian soldiers from the first World War. Realising there was an unknown story to write, I began to study WW1 in East Africa, then Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, followed by Germany, the Weimar Republic, Austria and Hungary between 1902 and 1922.
“I used this knowledge to write the manuscript for my first book WHITE SUNRISE which became a worldwide seller in 2003. After 20 years of study, followed by 10 years of writing, I wept when I wrote the final paragraph. I had become so close to my characters I looked upon them as close friends and we would never meet again.”
Among his early books was The Assassination Diaries, written in the name of Maddie, a beautiful mistress of disguise and a female assassin.
John spent six years in the Kenya Police, using his radio training in the mountain forests, tracking Mau Mau terrorists. He was often in great danger from armed gangs murdering European farmers and their young families upcountry.
On leaving the Kenya Police he joined Schweppes in Nairobi and continued his broadcasting hobby on Kenya Broadcasting where he developed an audience of 21million. With Schweppes, he built a large factory producing soft drinks and Cadbury products in Nairobi, where he employed five hundred African staff.
Returning to England, John opened his own business and, with his late and much-loved wife Pam, became a large importer of food products for 40 years.
While travelling the world he wrote more successful books, and a trilogy of A Living History of The Kenya Police sold copies worldwide. John refused to take a fee or royalty and donated all surplus income to The Great Ormond Street Hospital.
He moved to Eastbourne almost three years ago and soon joined the team of broadcasters at Eastbourne Radio Hospital as well as becoming a member of Anderida Writers,
Mr Newton loves new challenges and found one when bringing together six other authors to write Driven by Desire, which was published in September 2023 by Next Century Productions,
He comments: “It was unique to have seven authors each writing their own character, with mine confronting the Mafia and being kidnapped. All the storylines melded together into a book of considerable merit. A second volume is underway.
“First I am bringing out John Newton’s Short Stories. They include the very first story I wrote at the age of 11. The successful style I use now is similar to that as a young boy almost 80 years ago. But I have put to good use what I have learned over all those years.”
- Anyone wishing to receive a signed copy from John Newton of any of his books should email him at nbi.john@gmail.com He is providing a special offer for both Driven by Desire and John Newton’s Short Stories at the reduced combined price of £6, plus £3 P&P to those with a UK address.
- The other authors of Driven by Desire are:
TIM PURCELL – In a media career spanning six decades Tim has been a screenwriter, investigative journalist for the UK national press, published author, publisher, director and producer of corporate and music videos, documentaries, TV series and feature films in the UK and Mauritius, where he helped to bring in the Film Incentive Scheme in 2013. Since its launch, Tim has co-produced nine international Films and TV series from the UK, Canada, South Africa, Israel, Japan, Hong Kong and China including the 2014 box-office hit, ‘Break-Up Guru.’
KAREN GLENNON – In the 1990’s, having been sponsored to complete a foundation course in journalism, Karen wrote for The Maynooth Newsletter, County Kildare, Ireland. She was a member of the editorial committee, author of articles on local celebrated individuals, critiqued movies, wrote comical pieces and reported on local events. After leaving Ireland, having worked for 18 years as a legal secretary, Karen continued to raise her family in Spain, during which time she found employment as a coach tour guide. Karen moved to the UK in 2015 immersing herself in writing entertaining blogs about everyday life, Karensmadworld, and a children’s book Mumpy’s Tired Eyes.
TONY FLOOD – Tony spent most of his working life as a journalist, initially on local and regional papers and then on nationals. He was also editor of ‘Football Monthly’, Controller of Information at Sky Television and enjoyed a spell with ‘The People’ before retiring in 2010. In ‘My Life With The Stars’, Tony recalls: “My work as a showbiz and leisure writer, critic and editor saw me take on a variety of challenges – learning to dance with Strictly Come Dancing star Erin Boag, becoming a stand-up comedian and playing football with the late George Best and Bobby Moore in charity matches.” Tony, who has since written three crime thrillers, enjoys playing veterans football and writing theatre reviews.
RICHARD REWELL – As a Chartered Surveyor Richard worked in the construction industry for over 35 years. Employed by both international companies and private consultancies on UK and overseas projects. His responsibilities ranged from construction finance and sales to the production of in-house journals. This gave him a passion for writing. Although comparatively new to the craft, Richard has had one short story, ‘The Fish Gutter’s Journey‘, published and is currently working on his debut solo novel, ‘Whisper Not The True King’s Name‘, a thriller to be published in 2024.
FRANCIS WAIT – Most of 84-year-old Francis’s working life has been in the building industry, running his own company since 1970, his final business years spent in Belgium. He then became a writer. Francis, who has won the Anderida Writers Short Story Competition three times, has self-published several books which are available on Amazon, ‘The Survivalists’ 2019, ‘Android Affair’ 2020, and the fantasy novel, ‘The Magical Pendant of Perdania’, under the pen name, Frances Jaycee. Francis is also the Membership Secretary, Competition Secretary and Treasurer of Anderida Writers. He shows no sign of slowing down, having more new novels in the pipeline in addition to his contribution to ‘Driven by Desire’
DEANE SMITH – A trained Wigmaker who became interested in Alternative and Complementary Therapies in the 1980s and qualified as a Spiritual and Reiki Healer. Deane became a Practitioner of the Metamorphic Prenatal Technique and had two articles published in a national magazine. This led to an interest in creative writing, poems, and short stories. She joined the Eastbourne Anderida Writers Club in 2019, where she met John Newton who asked her to join his Collective group.
Another contributor to Driven by Desire was JOHN SILVERTON, a former freelance journalist, newspaper columnist and magazine features writer who is also an artist.
John Silverton’s first novel, A Pearl Amongst Oysters, a true love romance, is available from Amazon or bookshops, ISBN: 978-1-80068-638-0.
