MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (February 13th, 2017): At 77, Mornington Peninsula based author (Robert) Klaas Kalma has just self-published his second novel, Distant Echoes, a psychological thriller which has been inspired by his own extraordinarily rich and dark life. While every author draws on life experience to form a narrative, few people have had such a thrilling and at times dark background as this author. Born into a wartorn The Hague in the Netherlands he was brought to Australia in 1953 at the age of 13 by his mother and his stepfather by ship. He was almost immediately abandoned to work unpaid on a dairy farm. Three years later he escaped that situation only to find himself homeless and living under the Merri Creek bridge in Melbourne and later entwined with a bikie gang. Amazingly he was eventually thrown a lifeline by a local Aboriginal man who found him work and a place to live.
Klaas overcame great adversity in his life to go on to have his own family, obtain a tertiary education and have a very successful career against all odds. His incredible life journey has driven the course of this book, including the terrible death of his daughter at age 12 to leukaemia which was followed by the death of her mother, his first wife, to cancer at 40 shortly after they had separated.
During his life he has not only swindled his way into university, been married three times but he went on to become one of Australia’s most respected sports psychologists. He ran his own practice, Headstrong Personal Development Services for 30 years with an impressive roll call of clients including St Kilda Football Club for the best part of ten years. Even now although retired he still has elite athletes ask for help. He never refuses.
Distant Echoes is a tale of survival which follows the journey of a young man called Jobe who finds himself alone in the world. Closely based on the events in Klaas’ aka Jobe’s life the book demonstrates people’s capacity to overcome adversity through their own choices.
Klaas said, “Life is about the choices you make to overcome adversity and it’s a constant struggle not to be overwhelmed by what life throws at you. I wrote this book largely because I believe that the characters, especially Jobe, prove that adversity builds character and that anything can be turned into a positive if you set your mind to it. Whilst this book is fiction Jobe could be me and it is very rewarding to have this work published.”
Klaas is also an almost accomplished artist, musician and former secondary teacher. He has published ‘Distant Echoes’ off the back of his first book, ‘Creeping Shadows’ which was published in 2011 and sold over 10,000 copies. ‘Creeping Shadows’ was also presented at the prestigious, Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany in 2011.
‘Distant Echoes’ will appeal to all mature adults who need to feel that anything is possible and where Jobe is constantly having to overcome adversity and maintain a live that is valued
Readers who can relate to this period in Australian history will also be able to appreciate the now and then. It also strongly highlights some the current social issues such as child abuse, immigration, homelessness, the loss of a child and cancer. People with an affiliation with St Kilda Football Club will also enjoy to this book and this tale of a self made man who has inspired many others to a better life.
Klaas is writing the next sequel which hopefully will be published in 2019. His novels are available from most online booksellers in all formats.Also available at bookshops and Libraries when requested.
klaaskalma.com 