Perth Voice Interactive

WITH a career including stints as the Pentagon’s chief environmental science officer, NASA adviser on mapping from space, establishing Murdoch University’s environmental chair in 1978 and bush surveying, Desmond O’Connor (above) could be forgiven for wanting to enjoy a quiet retirement.

Nothing doing: at 89 the Hilton resident has penned his first novel, Phantom Wings Over the Northwest.

Set in WA’s Pilbara it’s a yarn featuring drug trafficking and native wildlife smuggling, following the adventures of city-bred 17-year-old twins Joan and Mark spending their holiday camping with prospector uncle Paddy and his mate Bluey.

The author had young teens in mind when he wrote the book but with the language and style more in keeping with Blyton’s Famous Five or Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons, it’s probably more suitable to a younger audience.

Phantom Wings Over the Northwest is published by A&A Book Publishing and can be purchased online for $19.99.

by JENNY D’ANGER