Remembering how my novels began their life is always a problem. With Incident on the Line I wrote a paragraph, without knowing where it was going, likening life to a concertina, each event as the pleat of the bellows. Those particular events that are marked in your memory. At the same time I wanted to explore opening […]
Where did this come from? Did I see a couple, man and wife, sitting upright side by side, stiff Lego models in their camper van? I don’t remember, though the image, real or imagined, is where it started. Who were they and are they both happy? I thought not. What I do recall is sitting on the […]
This began with a newspaper cutting given to me by one of my writing friends, Henrietta Branford. It was the true story of a woman who had lived outside in her garden for years, shielded by umbrellas. It seemed that she died of old age rather than hyperthermia; no one knew why she had take […]
‘I wasn’t the first man to put a pillow over a woman’s face, even with love. … “I don’t want to live anymore, let me go!” That’s what I’d heard her say, my mother. When it was all over, I stood beneath the cherry tree, the blossom growing whiter as I watched, more glorious than […]
The tick of approval? And, of course, that is what the sign represents. ‘I like this; I approve; well done; pat on the back’. Those are the meanings which I used to understand the tick to say. Essays marked with ticks here and there were a boost to whatever writing had been completed. A quick […]
I recently saw a production of ‘Angels in America‘ at the National Theatre. An excellent play, subject matter, script, performances, which I remembered seeing many years ago. I could visualise the image of the angel, a huge white feathered creature spotlit at, I think, the end of the play. And that was the problem. Was […]
How interesting to read that an agent, not wishing to be named, expressed the view at the London book fair last week that; ‘we really need to move on … We want something more positive, something more life affirming.’ I am so relieved that this view has been expressed. I found ‘Gone Girl’ and ‘The […]
I have been intrigued by The Guardian’s series of articles in which well-known writers explore where and when they write. Some have been reassuring – the prevarication, the sidelining, the excuse of what else needs to be done. I particularly enjoyed Sebastian Barry thinking that ‘having something else to do other than writing … creates […]
An article in The Guardian recently, ‘Should I read the book first?’, prompted me to respond, more accurately to shout back; ‘Yes!’. However that’s a fruitless way to give my opinion and I didn’t feel that I needed to write a letter. Said article was a discussion about future adaptations to a film format. But I fear […]
My last two published novels, ‘A Retrospective’ and ‘Ladybird, Ladybird’ have been written in first person narrative style. ‘I’ am the character which is to some extent an easy way for the writer to reveal thoughts, feelings and actions. The reader can also travel with that character allowing all others involved in the plot to […]
Why is it always alcohol? Not only alcohol in small quantities but constant replenishments mixing wine, whisky and gin. I am referring to the fiction I’ve recently read. All fabulous books; ‘The Green Road’ / Anne Enright, ‘Sweet Caress’ / William Boyd, ‘High Rise’ / J G Ballard and ‘Where my heart used to beat’ / […]
‘Incident on the Line’ is finished, the script about to be prepared and sent for publication. The blurb, the dedication are ready too; there is a photo idea for the cover merely waiting for the lettering. So what do I do now? I’ve been writing a few short stories over the summer, recently completed one […]
Can fiction portray fact without sounding as if the research undertaken is being shoehorned in, and is, therefore, a distraction from the storyline? I’ve never wished to read factual books about war; strategies, weaponry, battles, how they were won or lost. Partly I fear the danger of glorifying war even though I know that those who […]
When it was first suggested that I might want to create a website, I couldn’t think what for. Advertise my books? But then how would anyone know that I had a website, or be interested. The constant nag, very often into a woman’s mind, which says; ‘isn’t this a bit above your station’? An exaggeration […]