One Tree Hill

About the Book

The Onehunga Boys Home, an orphanage on Mt Smart Road Auckland during the 1940’s and ‘50’s New Zealand, was home to thirty boys of various ages and backgrounds. The Orphanage became the Home of Kevin at four and a half, his brother at eight and his mother, recently deserted by his father, appointed as Assistant-Matron.

‘One Tree Hill’, is a collection of short stories set during Kevin’s years, five to thirteen. The boys and events are as remembered but sometimes when recall is hazy, Kevin resorts to creative invention. A central focus is One Tree Hill, because much time was spent playing on it’s slopes.

Loyalty, security, commaraderie, empathy, friendship, and identity are themes throughout the stories. Character development, mainly concerning five friends, serves up sufficient substance enabling readers to develop an appreciation of all the Home boys.

From the first story to the last, Kevin and friends are involved in escapades, part of their daily routine. Mostly, Kevin the child speaks, employing conversation, humour and life commentary. Older Kevin enters occasionally with different viewpoints. Constant banter among the five is the glue binding the Home kids together. One Tree Hill is a memoir based on Kevin's recollection of events in that place and time. Each story is a woven basket of fact and fiction but which is which at any time in the story doesn't affect the reader being drawn into the experiences of the boys.

About the Author

I love to write and currently spend time writing short stories and poetry. As long as I can remember I have written stories and always had an interest in the writing process. My mother said my father was a writer for the Dominion Newspaper in Wellington, New Zealand. She felt that I had inherited my love of writing from him but there is no way of telling how true that is...but then, where does this desire to write come from? I do remember that from a young age I wanted to put pencil to paper... and did........drawing as well. I have been indulging in my art passion for years now: driftwood scuplture. faces and fish. I select pieces from favourite beaches, carve and shape them, paint and add features. People seem to like them...especially the fish. My work can be seen at: www.thedrift.ca kevindaviesart.com http://www.thebeaumontstudios.com/studios/studio-13/kevin-davies I'm from New Zealand originally but have lived in Vancouver for the past 39 years. I was a teacher but have retired and transformed myself into an artist / writer. It's an interesting life! This first book with Trafford (ONE TREE HILL) will hopefully be followed by others. I have in mind a book of poems, a short story collection, a series of mini-books featuring one story and art work. Looks like a busy future. I have a studio space at The Beaumont Studios and I love spending time there. The Beaumont is full of people working at all kinds of creative pursuits. There's a lot of energy flying on any given day. Stimulating! The most difficult part for me is to balance my time among all the activities I want to be involved in. There's so much to do and I want to dabble in it all ! Not a bad way to live.