Construction of a Personality Series

This is the true story of the first fifteen years of a boy's life, growing up in the coal mining communities of Scotland and England in the 1950s and 60s, and how he survives the adversities of that battleground. The book is written on two levels; on the first level it is a compulsive, easy to read, true story. The protagonist's narration compels the reader's empathy as, from his earliest memories, he is beaten by a father who - subjected to the harsh existence of a coal miner, and frustrated by the betrayals of an unfaithful wife - vents his anger on him. After suffering a nervous breakdown in his earliest childhood, Thomas endeavours to escape his father's tyranny and his mother's complacency, but in his search for a nourishing love he falls foul of situations he is ill equipped to deal with; often taking him into forbidden and dangerous areas. At just five years of age he is introduced to sexuality by the two little girls next door, who were themselves sexually molested by their uncle. When he is only six years old, taking advantage of his doting love and trust, a grandfather repeatedly sexually assaults him; unhappily this is just the beginning. Enduring the interminable beatings and psychological tribulations at home and facing the predators, antagonists and bullies in his immediate environment; will his inner courage, determination and indomitable sense of adventure carry him through? Surviving near death experiences and sexual misadventures, and in spite of all adversities, will Thomas manage to reach young adulthood, and still keep the balance of his mind? On another level 'Surviving the Battleground of Childhood' is a relative mud map that invites the reader to compare his or her own childhood adversities and to see past them. Offering a framework that will perhaps, in spite of perceived ruination for life, assist those in need to be survivors, not just casualties - maimed remnants of the battleground - but real survivors. 'Surviving the Battleground of Childhood' will appeal to anyone who grew up during the 1950's and 60's. Conversely, anyone with an adverse or traumatic experience in their childhood, or were subjected to an abusive upbringing (physical or or psychological) will relate to this book. The potential market for 'Surviving the Battleground of Childhood' is, quite literally, endless. It is a sometimes funny, often tragic but ultimately uplifting and entertaining story about growing up. Most people, young, old and in between, will relate to it in some way regardless of country, era or sociology. *Reader review: 5 stars by Ruth Medcraft "An amazing and heartfelt story about a young boy who overcomes childhood hardships and extremely difficult tragedies in his young life, and manages to turn his life around through finding the courage to overcome the many hard battles. The way this book has been written was so well done and different in so many ways than many other books I have read. Well done, an absolute pleasure to read! I laughed ,cried and was astounded at how well it was worded to make you feel that you could see it all happening, and felt relief to see our young hero succeed in the end." *Review by Cherrell Ward at ‘New Book Review’ "Our New Book Review: T.D. McKinnon's 'Surviving the Battleground of Childhood' is inspirational reading! This narrative about his childhood is a revealing story about painful experiences and the everyday struggle to overcome serious challenges he faced as a child, and the strength he developed in becoming a survivor. McKinnon's frankness and fearless attitude are amplified by his ability to tell a story well! I give Surviving the Battleground of Childhood 4 1⁄2 Stars!" *Celebrity Review: 5 stars by Pat Qua, Acclaimed Australian painter, sculptor and musician "Such honesty about the difficulties of the human condition is rare to find - some damaging problems of sex and cruelty are faced with refreshing openness. I jus

'I Was a Teenage Devil - But I’m Alright Now!' is a true story. It is the continuing saga of Thomas, our protagonist from 'Surviving the Battleground of Childhood', and follows him into the British army. At just fifteen years of age he swaps the coalmining communities for Aldershot: home of the British Army. In order to escape the environment that bound him, our intrepid survivor joins the Parachute Regiment (the ‘Red Devils’) as a junior leader. The story continues as he struggles to negotiate with his new environment, as one of sixty new recruits, and then follows him as he continues to grow up through the second half of his teens, steeped in the elitism of the ‘Red Devils’. Along the way our hero encounters his fair share of adventures, and misadventures. On one occasion, an old devil comes-a-calling (a predator, disguised in the form of a senior Royal Air Force officer), stirring a rage within, and Thomas decides to commit the ultimate sin! Fully committing himself to the task, can he actually take a life? As he searches for emotional validity, his trysts and affairs of the heart vary from fleeting, to sordid, to totally absorbing. Finally he meets the girl of his dreams and he holds on for all he's worth; has Thomas finally found happiness? Or will it crumble, leaving him with a handful of dust and a sour taste in his mouth? 'Teenage Devil' is a sequel, but it stands on its own, dealing with a different set of, no less significant, moral issues; and it's still a story about growing up.