Don’t Smile Till Easter is a multi-autobiographical work of fiction, written by local ex-Secondary school teacher Adrian Stadtmiller. DTSE arrived at Adrian’s residence on Tuesday afternoon from the publisher.
It tells its story from the points of view of students, parents and teachers. Don’t Smile Till Easter is over 89,000 words in length and can be summarised as the worst kid, the best teacher, united as underdogs, battling for justice. Lukas, the worst kid in the school, defends the best teacher who is unjustly judged. Lukas is not only an underdog but a winner. He is intelligent, angry, humorous and 14 years old.
He is a guerrilla warfare fighter against the establishment and injustice. To Lukas comes Donny: teacher, coach and mentor. What happens when Lukas finds something to admire in the enemy? Donny is popular with the students because he treats them as human beings. This gets him into trouble with “by the book” Principal Dr Martin Grey. What happens when Grey starts victimizing Lukas’ new mate? You go into battle for your mate because you know he’s the fair dinkum article. And, at the end of it all, when it has turned out for better or worse, you have to say goodbye to your best mate? But, the important thing is, what have you learnt from all of this? Do you take revenge on the tormentor, or not because you are the better man?
Whatever happens, we are left in no doubt that Lukas will grow up to be a warrior against injustice. Adrian was a secondary school teacher for 24 years. Don’t Smile Till Easter is a fictional story which could be true. Don’t Smile Till Easter will be published as an ebook and as print on demand.
It will be available online from the likes of Amazon. If you’d like to cut to the chase, Adrian can supply you with a copy – the cost is $29.95. Adrian can be contacted on staddie1@yahoo.com.au and on 0432108948.
One reader in the drafting stage said, “It was good value – when I read it, I laughed and I cried.” Don’t Smile Till Easter, however, may not be the ideal Christmas present for your maiden aunt, as it contains the language of secondary school male students. Currently Adrian is writing his second book on the perils of family inheritance and working (with two of his granddaughters) on children’s books. The front cover of Don’t Smile Till Easter was photographed at the Old Court House in Murrumburrah.
