Sandy Nelson
Sandy Nelson is a fulltime school teacher and part-time writer. She has had one published novel, The Ghosts of Iron Bottom Sound (Harper Collins 2010) a novel for readers 10+ about a young N.Z. boy obsessed with the wrecks of warships sunk at Guadalcanel in World War Two.
Sandy has also had poems published in Crest to Crest, an anthology of writing about Canterbury (Wily Publications, 2009, editor Karen Zelas.
Sandy is currently seeking a publisher for her second novel, The Lucky Ship, an ANZAC story for readers 12+ about the impact of WW2 in the Pacific on subsequent generations and about forgiveness.
Sandy is interested in making history real and accessible for young people.
In her profile picture Sandy is preparing to scatter flowers at Port Melbourne in memory of her friend the late Retired Lieutenant Commander Mackenzie Gregory of Melbourne who helped with her research for her published book and the manuscript for which she is seeking a publisher.
Genre:
- Children's Fiction
Skills:
Branch:
Canterbury
Location:
Twizel
Publications:
The Ghosts of Iron Bottom Sound
Why is Savo Sound known as Iron Bottom Sound?
Paddy, a young New Zealand schoolboy, becomes so obsessed with a book about the wrecks of warships sunk in World War Two battles at Gaudalcanal that he's lucky not to be killed in a traffic accident. His parents ban him from reading the book.
But Paddy can still hear the voices of men who died during the Battle of Savo Island, one of the battles depicted in the book. He is horrified ... and fascinated. Whose voices are they? Why are they reaching out to him? Are they dangerous? Gradually he realizes that some of the voices are Australian, like his grandfather. His grandfather had served in HMAS Canberra, an Australian ship sunk in the battle. While PAddy's grandfather survived, they didn't ... and cannot rest.
Sandy's published novel received favourable reviews:
Trevor Agnew (Magpies and Listener) The author's careful research makes Paddy's discoveries about the loss of the Canberra readable and exciting. Sometimes funny and moving. A gripping story. Sandy Nelson carefully avoids over-telling what happened. I found the author's treatment of the dead respectful, warm and sometimes witty.
Barbara Murison: This is an exciting, addictive and exciting novel by a new writer from Twizel where, one hopes, she is hard at work on her next book.
Barbara Else: The opening paragraph is irresistible. The protagonist's fear and curiosity quiver on the page. This is cleverly managed character-driven stuff. The story that develops beyond the first five pages more than lives up to its promise. History is made vivid and, more to the point, significant to today's children. It turns out to be a war story with two deftly handled story lines. I think that when children close this book their fingers will be itching for another from this writer.
Zac Harding, Christchurch Children's Librarian: A fantastic and unique book. Sandy Nelson makes you really care about what happens to the characters. This is now one of my favourite war books. 10/10.
Lorraine Orman: the author writes fluently and confidently. I look forward to Sandy Nelson's next historical novel.
Listener 50 Best Children's Books for 2010.
Wayne Mills, University of Auckland, Recommended Books for Boys.