Interview: Ron Crosby talks about Lucky You're Tough
Ron Crosby is the author of a new autobiography entitled Lucky You’re Tough about Mark Law the helicopter pilot who was awarded the NZ Bravery Star for landing on Whakaari (White Island) as it was still erupting to save people who had been abandoned to their fate on the island. Ron talks to NZ Booklovers about Lucky You’re Tough.
Can you tell us a little about the new book?
Lucky You’re Tough chronicles the life of helicopter pilot and NZSAS soldier Mark Law. The book provides background from other people who have engaged with Mark during his very active life as they describe the character of a man who would risk his life in that way to save others.
As well a first-person narrative account follows from Mark as to his experiences growing up in isolated Whangamōmona, as a special forces soldier, his years on the international security ‘Circuit’ in two war zones, and his heli-hunting, net-gunning and other helicopter experiences.
The book concludes with an Epilogue from two survivors from Whakaari and an Appendix as to WorkSafe’s prosecution of Mark’s one- man company and the imposition on it of a $196,000 fine.
The title stems from a saying by his mother as she comforted her boys if they were injured that it was ‘Lucky you’re tough.’
How difficult was it writing the book and what did you find different about the process from previous books?
The principal difficulty was trying to cope with publisher requests for Mark’s biography to be rewritten in autobiographical style. The difficulty being that I had interviewed some 32 folk who had engaged with him in various aspects of his life, and all of them were highly laudatory about him.
It was simply not possible to have a man with Mark’s inherent humility introduce such praise from his mates, particularly when that humility had been reinforced for years by the strong tenet of humility adhered to by NZSAS Regiment operators.
A very clever idea from the Allen & Unwin publisher Emma Clifton solved that problem. She suggested I write an introductory Prologue describing the links between me and Mark, into which I could work any quotes involving praise of Mark. Without that solution, the book may never have been published.
What research was involved?
Two of the links Mark and I shared laid a solid base from which to work. We both share a deep interest in Te Urewera and surrounding country, and I had been privileged to capture memories of NZSAS Regiment personnel for the NZSAS Trust. That gave me some background knowledge of the type of soldiering Mark had been engaged in an as NZSAS operator.
I had also flown in the bush with Mark and spent time with him on various history-related bush walks, which again assisted. I also knew from some fire-side sessions in the bush about some limited aspects of his past. Finally, my own legal background assisted with appreciating the complex legal complications Mark has encountered.
Discussions with a range of people engaged over decades with Mark was both enjoyable and highly informative. Those interviews were conducted all over the country, and in two cases involved liaison with two impressive chaps in the UK who had been shot in Angola when Mark and they were ambushed.
Finally, my wife Margy and I carried out a trip on push bikes in the Whangamōmona area over a number of days, to gain the ‘feel’ of where Mark and his brothers were raised. Stays with Mark’s brothers in rural Taranaki were invaluable.
What was your routine or process when writing this book?
Step one was to persuade Mark to agree to have a book written. That required me stressing that the on-line petition some 140,000 New Zealanders had signed up to asking the government to drop the charges against his company showed the level of public outrage that was likely at the outcome of the court fining his company nearly $200,000.
I managed to also persuade him that the public would be very keen to know just what background he had which would make him willing to land on an active volcano.
My offer to Mark was that any royalties were to go to assist in meeting the fines. (As is typical of Mark he actually insisted I retain 25% of royalties towards travel expenses.)
Once those steps were complete, as for any book, I started with a basic chapter outline which morphed and developed as more information was received.
If a soundtrack was made to accompany the new book, name a song or two you would include.
There Are Six Million Bicycles in Beijing – just a haunting flute-backed tune that resonates with me as it also emphasises the importance of basic values.
Te Hokinga Mai – a very powerful, moving waiata with similar decent values being stressed, with a message of pursuing the proper path home.
What did you enjoy the most about writing Lucky You’re Tough?
The company and neat humour of the bloke. And sharing his love of time in the bush with some good mates.
What did you do to celebrate finishing this book?
Just breathed a sigh of relief that we had finally made it. Soon after Mark and I camped and walked around for a few days in an interesting location in the Urewera– with me trying hard to keep up.
What is the favourite book you have read so far this year and why?
I have read so many good ones it is hard to select one. But I suppose one I am reading now stands out - Poland – The First Thousand Years by Patrice Dabrowski. It is the history of a country continually at serious risk from the ruthless Russian bear, as it has been for hundreds of years.
What’s next on the agenda for you?
This year has been unusually busy with two books published - the other being Keep Calm – We Are Coming for the NZSAS Trust. So, no particular writing project is under way at the moment.
For years, though, I have been trying to complete a book for my grandchildren (and possibly even my own children, if they have not been bored to death in the past from hearing my yarns). It is about the Auckland big-city young lawyer moving to provincial life in Marlborough, and life here in that role, and later as an author. It will never be published.
Otherwise, at the age of 77 now, I'm just keeping active as much as I can by playing squash, carrying a pack in the bush, doing things like cycling and Parkruns, as long as I can.
Allen and Unwin
