Comments on my work

Dear Dr Sutcliffe,

Thank you so very much for the drawing in the book. I am not sure what I expected but it has exceeded any expectation I might have had. This book has shot to the top of the list of my favourite books on fishing and hunting – most by local authors and about 40 autographed first editions. I found myself just holding the book in my hands, the way one holds a custom made knife, cane rod or favourite hunting rifle – thank you.

To top it all, the opening chapter took me fishing on some special mountain streams. The pages covering your trip with my cousins Donie and Stefaans had me escape from Johannesburg right into the mountains where I grew up, an unexpected 1 hour break from the concrete jungle.

Thank you for writing books and sharing your vast knowledge and experiences with us.

Regards,

BENNIE NAUDÉ

Dr Sutcliffe,

You have made a really big impact on my love for flyfishing through your books and I really enjoy reading them - probably for the firth time !

Regards

Richard Marshall

Hi Tom,

I trust you are well, how is your family?

Jon and I were hoping to film in your neck of the woods around this time, but we have both been very busy. We will discuss another time and check it with you?

I am writing to report that I have eventually framed and hung the magnificent picture I bought from you - it has pride of place in my lapa, I will send you a pic of it. I am sure you don't know it, but when you signed this one you were supposed to number it 2 of 25, but we were chatting at the time and you numbered it 2 of 5. And for that reason it is even more special to me now.

Best Wishes,

Ezio

tom.....last night i finished reading shadows...i had deliberately read it slowly ..savouring it over a long period of time.....

you realy have identified shared and made visible that about our sport that dwells in the ether...

thankyou for bring that magic from the waters the tying bench the company shared and from behind the lens and sharing it .

i wish you many more happy years enjoying your favorite places and people.

cheers..

ken bateman

Hi Tom

I would just like to add further praise to what I am sure is already an impressive list of people raving about your new book. I received the copy you sent for me in perfect order and was as amazed as ever by the precision and fine detail in your fly sketch on the inside cover.

I have been a very unsociable, night owl for the last week as putting the book down was not an option. Each stream description from KZN to the Cape could be a picture, the life given to a fly drifting through a run or the ghost like appearance of a fish in a pool is so apt that even my wife could not help but understand a flyfishers romance with more than just the fish. I have also been sorely reminded of the distinct lack of dedication I have shown to fly fishing of late and resolved to rectify that this weekend (long suffering Cherie-Lynn will have no sway unfortunately).

Thank you again, I will be sure to return to the pages of 'shadows' a hundred times and as with 'my way' enjoy every page even more on each successive occasion.

Best regards

Hylton Lewis
Life Support Superintendent
Pure Ocean Aquaculture

Hi Tom,

Last night I started reading Hunting Trout. We went to bed around 22H30 and I decided to just read a few pages before going to sleep.

So I opened the book and started reading.

I am telling you now you will never believe what happened!!!!! I was fly fishing in this beautiful crystal clear mountain stream when I decided to check the time, and realised that somehow it was now 01H30 am and I had to get up to go to work in three hours!!!!!

Hunting Trout is BRILLIANT, can’t wait to go fishing again tonight.

Hope you have a Blessed day,

Marnus Pretorius

Hi Tom,

I hope you are keeping well. I just wanted to let you know that I have just finished reading Shadows, and what a wonderful book it is. I thoroughly enjoyed every page, and for me there is no doubt it’s your best work to date. I think what also makes it that much more special is knowing or having gotten to know some of the colourful characters in your stories.

I wish you every success with the book, and heard some rumours that you may be up in KZN early in the new year, in which case I hope to meet up with you at some stage whilst you are here.

Take care and kind regards,

Shaun

PS: Also can’t wait to get my Shadows print framed and put up in my office so I can stare and dream about those browns everyday!

Afternoon Dr. Sutcliffe.

Once again thanks for the great read, I am currently enjoying Shadows on the stream bed a lot.

I hope I can get more information on decent stream fly rods from you.

Kind regards

Marius Calitz

Hi Tom,I am really enjoying Shadows on the Streambed,it is truly as it says on the cover,you will only put the book down to go flyfishing.

It has more meaning because I have been to a few places myself that you mention in the book,esp. the North Eastern Cape.

Regards.

Derek Slabbert

Hi Tom

I would like to let you know that I received Shadows On The Stream Bed on Friday. I have almost finished reading it over the weekend and enjoy it very much.

Thank you for allocating number 47 to me. I want to congratulate you on this masterpiece. Although I am Afrikaans speaking, your style is easy to read and the book much enjoyable.

It is a privilège to be able to share in your rich experience and expertise in this field through your book.

I used to have a PPL and never had the opportunity to fly to fly fishing destinations in order to fish. This makes the book all the more interesting for me.

Thanks again for sharing this part of your life with us.

Looking forward to your next book.

Keep well and tight lines.

Regards

Jomar