Garry J Soames – Author
Garry is a semi-retired family man, that along with his wife of over fifty years, has had a lifetime of visiting, working and living in varying locations within several states of Australia and in the north and south islands of New Zealand and five very memorable years living and working in beautiful Fiji. During this time he had many interesting experiences, met a wide range of people from various walks of life, many of whom have told of some of their life adventures. This has allowed him to gathered true-life material to add to what his lovely wife refers to as “his vivid imagination”. He now has time to put to paper, tales both fictional and non-fictional, using a collation of instances learnt, experienced, seen, heard and imagined, drawn from the mists of his mind, for others to enjoy.
This is an introduction to Garry’s first two, self published ‘tales’. The story-line of both are drawn from comments and speculation within discussions, with his immediate family members and some extended family and those he has associated with over the years. They also show his amateur interest in historical accounts of varying nations and communities in our past, inclusive of some of those famous, infamous and religious people, that altered the lives of those around them and as a result, our lives today.
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Imperial Trader
(Published 2022)
Synopsis
The nineteenth century saw dramatic changes in logistics and traded goods throughout the globe, none more so than for those trading into and out of India.
This is a glimpse into the life of the fictitious Robert Bothe (1835-1903) and depicts a man of honesty, fair mindedness, a keen sports enthusiast and entrepreneur, who became known as the Imperial Trader. He was born with a mixed heritage, that was as interesting as it was diverse, his life straddled the divide between the English and Indian ways of life, outlining some of the racial prejudices and exploitations, he and many others endured during this era. He rubbed shoulders with some of the most historically influential people of the time and left behind a collection of journals. The accounts of history in these journals are based on actual events and some of the people that he came in contact with.
He became the founding owner director of Bothe Chandra Company, based out of Calcutta, along with his grandfather, Rajah Bachuchandra, of the Tai-Laknog Kentan. Over a period of forty years, the company, eventually became involved in many enterprises, while remaining family owned and operated. Robert along with his father William Bothe, were the company’s driving force in its development years. Robert traded in the company flagship Imperial Sailer, not only throughout the coastal ports of the sub-continent, but also internationally, extending in the west to Great Britain and on occasion to the Americas and to the east to countries of Southeast Asia and onto the South Pacific as far east as Tonga.
He developed an inland trading business using specially adapted river vessels, traversing the mighty Brahmaputra river, into the Assam Valley in the north and extreme east of the sub-continent. This narrative offers a glimpse into the semi-privileged life, of a hardworking and innovative family in nineteenth century India.
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Sky Sailer
(Volumes 1 & 2) (Both volumes published 2019)
Synopsis.
A human species discover their planet Tanliss is dying. An uninhabited, life-sustaining planet many light years distant from their own is located, and the entire Tanlissean population is beginning relocated, before Tanliss can no longer sustain their life form. During the first migration of millions of souls, disaster strikes and the space fleet is destroyed, except for one small craft.
After being tumbled through space, this craft, finds itself in an unknown galaxy, on the only planet that can sustain them, in a location now known as Norway.
The tale is set during the rise in influence of the Varangian (Vikings) and develops around actual historical facts and attempts to explain some of the mysteries of that time. The Tanlissean soon discover their only option to preserve any part of their DNA long-term, is to procreate with the indigenous population.
The Tanlissean bring with them their own Arbitorian religion and other traditional customs. As time passes the Tanlissean encourage their progeny of mixed blood, along with their extended Varangian families, to relocate to an uninhabited country where they can live a more traditional Tanlissean lifestyle. In doing so they help overcome local myths and fears of long ocean voyages to lands beyond the horizon.
Over a two hundred year period, the tale follows several different Tanlissean individuals and their progeny, some of who voyage to most of the known world, over the various seas, up long rivers, even to unknown lands and in one instance they traverse the desert on the noble camel, as far east as Aleppo, the largest known market of the time, all the while interacting with many different people, cultures, religions and customs.
Eventually a chosen number of their progeny with the strongest Tanlissean DNA, are given an opportunity through Sky Sailer, to once again connect with their Tanlissean precursors.
The last couple of chapters have a twist to complete the tale.
Garry J Soames 