Tuesday, October 6, 2009

"Something's crook", according to The Age


I ran into The Age's Postcode 3000 columnist, Suzanne Carbone at the launch of I, Mick Gatto at Grossi Florentino's yesterday and she was amused to find out that Gatto was not the only 'colourful' identity with a book coming out. Here's what she said in today's Age.

The Age, Postcode 3000, SUZANNE CARBONE October 7, 2009

'Something's crook
ANOTHER colourful identity, former Sin City cop Roger Rogerson, penned his memoirs, The Dark Side, while staying in Parkville to be near Brunswick publisher John Kerr. When reviewing Underbelly for a Murdoch tabloid, Rogerson sniped: ''I never liked Melbourne or its crooks.'' In the likeable gangland capital, Kerr enlisted gun PR woman Carmel Shute from Shute the Messenger and they attended Gatto's launch. Mick, the gentleman, signed a book for Roger, saying: ''Roger the Dodger, good friend. Respect.'''


For the full column (with gossip from the Gatto launch), go to:
The Sydney Morning Herald's Diary column also gave Roger's book a plug last week:
'Rogerson's inside story

SEAN NICHOLLS AND EMILY DUNN
September 30, 2009

Almost 30 years after he shot and killed the drug dealer Warren Lanfranchi in a Chippendale laneway, the notorious ex-detective Roger Rogerson has decided it is time to put pen to paper. The Dark Side, Rogerson's ''autobiographical memoir'', will be launched on October 14 at the Iron Duke Hotel in Alexandria, once a favoured drinking hole formerly owned by the convicted murderer Neddy Smith, which still boasts a ''Roger Rogerson memorabilia corner''. Rogerson has more recently made a living spinning yarns from his glory days to pub audiences, including at the Iron Duke. But those hoping the memoir will tackle the most contentious claims about his time in the police will be disappointed. ''Ignoring the host of accusations that have been levelled against me was essential to writing this book,'' Rogerson says in his introduction. Most of the book focuses on the retelling of colourful anecdotes featuring him as misunderstood or as hero cop. But he also takes aim at a couple of his least favourite people, including the former NSW police commissioner Tony Lauer, who is derided as having ''a massive ego and even more ambition''. Special attention is devoted to the media, which Rogerson blames for his notoriety: ''All that people know about me, I think, is that I was a corrupt cop, shot three men and was a drinking mate of Neddy Smith,'' he complains. Which is why it was hard not to smile at the media release sent out encouraging journalists to contact a public relations firm for more information. Its name: Shute the Messenger.'






Monday, October 5, 2009

The Dark Side


I am currently working with John Kerr Publishing to promote The Dark Side, memoirs of former NSW cop Roger Rogerson.
Excerpts from The Dark Side will be published in The Daily Telegraph on Saturday October 10.
Broadcaster Alan Jones who’s back in the hot seat at 2GB after six months’ off battling cancer, will launch The Dark Side on Wednesday October 14, 1pm.
The venue, Sydney pub The Iron Duke, features a memorabilia corner devoted to Rogerson. Richard Roxburgh, who played Rogerson in the ABC drama Blue Murder, has been invited.
The story is truly from the horse’s mouth, according to Kerr. “Rogerson was penning the last words in a Parkville motel in August. He honed his stories after years on the talk circuit, most recently with Mark ‘Jacko’ Jackson and Mark ‘Chopper’ Read in a show called The Wild Colonial Psychos.”
Rogerson also reviewed episodes of Underbelly last year for The Daily Telegraph and blogs. “I never liked Melbourne or its crooks,” Rogerson wrote. “And watching Underbelly reminded me why. It wouldn't have happened up here in Sydney like down there. We had more control over the crooks up here, and I reckon most of the crooks would agree.”
Media inquiries: Carmel Shute at Shute the Messenger:
03 9527 7126 (w); 0412 569 356 mb cshute@internode.on.net

The Dark Side
Roger Rogerson
Kerr Publishing, Melbourne, 2009
Paperback, 224 pages, photos, index
True crime, Lives, Non-fiction
ISBN 9780958128315
$24.95 (recommended only)
Distributed by Scribo in Australia and NZ
All © use requests to KPPL


JOHN KERR – KERR PUBLISHING PTY LTD
ABN 64 124 219 638
PO BOX 22 BRUNSWICK SOUTH VIC 3055
johnkerr5@bigpond.com - 03 9387 3734 – 0 432 582 178 –– www.crimedictionary.com.au