EVERYONE has a book in them, as the saying goes. But popular Port Stephens author John "Stinker" Clarke has had not one but two books on his mind, and both are now on the page.
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He is about to simultaneously publish an illustrated children's book, Just Dreaming, and a fishing book, titled Stinkpot. Fifty Fishing Secrets. Both of them have a strong Port flavour.
"I wrote them at the same time," the 72-year-old retired teacher said. "You can blame the virus for that. There was a lot of downtime. And it gave me more time to ponder, and to write. You can't go fishing every day of the week!"
When he has not been fishing in his beloved tinny, Stinkpot, John Clarke has been talking about it on the radio or writing about it in a column he has penned for the Port Stephens Examiner since 1987 - "I've written now about 1800 articles".
Among the 11 books he has written, two earlier titles are also about fishing. Realising "there are only so many things you can write about fish", for Stinkpot, Clarke approached six local recreational fishermen to talk about their favourite spots and the techniques they use.
Sometimes convincing a fishing enthusiast to reveal their favourite spot can be harder than getting blood out of a stone, so it would not have been surprising to see Stinkpot. Fifty Fishing Secrets contained blank pages. Stinker countered the book was not only filled with information and photos, but the six contributors showed him maps, sharing their secrets.
"Whether it's their best secrets is another thing," he laughed.
"Fishermen now are far more open. I know fishermen went to extremes to hide their spots, but now all you need is for one person to turn up with this [holding his mobile phone], take a photo, and you're gone!"
One who has shared his knowledge for the book is David "Schoie" Schofield.
"He's the beach guru," said Stinker of Schoie.
As he lives near Birubi Point, David Schofield fishes most mornings along Stockton Beach.
When asked exactly where he cast a line, Schoie gave what could be best described as a fisherman's answer.
"I usually just go until I see a spot where I think there might be fish," he replied. "And that's where I fish!"
When Stinker asked Schoie to contribute to the book, he replied, "Yeah, bloody oath", for he was happy to share the love and joy of fishing.
As to whether Stinker shared his knowledge, Schoie joked, "He won't give me any of his spots, or anything!"
Actually, Stinker nominates Tommy Rocks, near Fingal Island, as a favourite spot, especially for catching snapper.
If Stinkpot is about taking time out to go fishing, Just Dreaming is Clarke's journey back in time, and into his own imagination.
The idea for the children's book came while he was fishing.
"I'm out in the boat and, what I do, I look around and I'm thinking, 'I wonder what this joint was like before the white men arrived here? What would have it been like 1000 years before that?' You can just imagine."
More than imagine, John Clarke penned his thoughts, creating a story based around two Worimi children, Gaparr and his sister Mitjigan, journeying through the area.
The story was not based on any traditional Indigenous stories, Stinker explained, but he did consult a Worimi elder.
"It's just me and my perception," he said of the story. "But to do that you've got to dream because you weren't here 1000 years ago."
"This book has given me the opportunity to recreate how I think things would have been in the past."
Just Dreaming has been illustrated by Regan Lilley. A Worimi man who works as a field officer for NSW DPI Fisheries, Mr Lilley has a deep understanding of both the land and the sea, which he has poured into his art.
"It's all about 'sea country'," Mr Lilley said, explaining the Worimi word for that country was "Garuwa".
The colours for the artworks were inspired by what he saw when diving in Port Stephens and off the coast.
"We have all the colours of the rainbow; all you have to do is go under the water," he said.
John "Stinker" Clarke said the crossover between the two books was his love of Port Stephens and its natural beauty.
"I've been fortunate to live in paradise," he said. "I can have that boat in the water within 10 minutes, I can be out fishing for snapper within 20 minutes. There's nowhere better I'd rather be."
John "Stinker" Clarke will launch his books at Soldiers Point Bowling Club at 2pm on December 13, and at Fingal Bay Sports Club at 2pm on December 15.
