Heart of The Forest

For ten years a man calling himself Will Power lived in near-total isolation in northern New South Wales, foraging for food, eating bats and occasionally trading for produce.

Editorial Reviews
Dr. Gregory Peel Smith now boasts a PhD and teaches social sciences at university. But his journey to success was neither straightforward nor simple. Born into an abusive household in the 1950s, Smith found himself descending into a life of petty crime, substance abuse, depression and homelessness. At that low point, he wandered into a forest in Northern NSW and did not emerge until over a decade later.

This audio memoir, brought to life by talented narrator Dean Friske, will tug hard at your heartstrings and bring a fresh understanding of a forgotten generation of Australians. Smith’s story of living off the land in near-total isolation under the moniker 'Will Power' offers incredible insight into how far off-track a life can go…and how the human spirit can always find its way back.

Lady of the Forest is Karen's debut solo album. Some songs were written years ago, "like seeds waiting underground to sprout", as she puts it. The instrumental piece, for instance, was written when Karen was 18: "During home sessions with Guy Shoham, my good friend and flat mate, and who also plays on the recording, this tune suddenly came up, and it now carries a whole new meaning. To me it symbolizes a kind of rebirth, and this album would not have been whole without it".