Jessica Blair

SUSAN HILL’S NEW BOOK: THE MAN IN THE PICTURE

I last week I read that Susan Hill has another book coming out on 9th October: THE MAN IN THE PICTURE.
I was delighted, especially as the comment stated that it is in the same vein as THE WOMAN IN BLACK. She is one of my favourite living writers and her THE WOMAN IN BLACK one of my favourite reads. She uses an economy of words but with such telling effect to create a chilling atmosphere and hold the reader’s attention so that it is impossible to put the book down. THE MAN IN THE PICTURE I believe is 160 pages (THE WOMAN IN BLACK was also short by many of today’s standards) so proving that length does not matter so long as the story is well told and well written. There is one other of her books of a similar vein THE MIST IN THE MIRROR which is not often mentioned - possibly because it is overshadowed by THE WOMAN IN BLACK - but is equally captivating.
Incidentally, I like all other writing by Susan Hill.

Technology

From Bill
Technology enters a writer’s life in many ways and in wonderous ways to what was at our disposal not so many years ago. To many people today the technology of which I am writing now is in the simple mode yet it does wonderful things we would never have dreamed of, as I say, not so long ago.

I was considering some publicity material for my paperback DANGEROUS SHORES which is coming out on November 6th. I made an appointment to see a printer on Wednesday morning, a round journey of ten miles for me. We discussed the project. I had the cover of the book which we wanted to reproduce. It could be scanned but if I could get a digitalised copy from the publisher in London we could get a sharper image in the final work. When I returned home I emailed my publisher with the request. Within a few minutes I received an email back with the required version of the cover attached. I forwarded this on immediately to the printer who acknowledged it by return saying a sample of the finished work would be with me on Friday. So within two days of leaving home to visit the printer I will be looking at the finished work. Imagine the drawn out process it would have been not many years ago. And this operation only embraces elementary technology. But it has made life so much easier in many ways for the writer.

When I got my first computer - well, a word processor in those days - it was pre-Amstrad days - I was convinced this was the way forward for writers, yet I came across those who thought otherwise. They have all succumbed now. What a God-send I found this new wonderful technology, I was not a good typist so part of my mind was concentrating on not making typing errors. Then, with the computer, my mind could concentrate only on creativity because correcting and re-writing was so much easier and I did not have to worry about typing mistakes.
Hurrah for technology for writers !!

Bomber Command

Yesterday evening I watched Last of the Dambusters on Channel Five. I could empathize with George ‘Johnny’ Johnson for I too was a bomb aimer though not with the Dambusters. I flew on 36 missions in Lancasters of 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron based in Lincolnshire.

The television critic in the Daily Telegraph praises the programme while criticising some aspects of its execution. Significantly he drew attention to the fact that the programme did not mention that no campaign medal was awarded to Bomber Command - he writes: ‘no mention is made of the scandalous decision to deny Bomber Command a campaign medal.’

Many other branches of the Armed Services were awarded campaign medals and are still awarded for participation in today’s conflicts - rightly so. It is fitting that such recognition should be given to those who risk their lives or pay the ultimate sacrifice for their country. So, why no recognition for those of Bomber Command who served their country in the Second World War? Their role has been maligned by those who were not there, who cannot appreciate or recognise the vital role played by Bomber Command, along with the other Services, to bring victory and rid the world of an evil regime. Bomber Command should have the recognition it so richly deserves. That it was never implemented must be laid to a large extent at Churchill’s door. He tried to distance himself from a campaign he had whole-heartedly approved in order to defeat Hitler and all he stood for. That lack of support for Bomber Command at the end of the war was a blemish on what otherwise was an exemplary war leadership. He was the right man in the right place at the right time - thank goodness.

There is still time for the country to recognise what Bomber Command did for us and for the world before there is no one like George ‘Johnny’ Johnson left.

WRITERS’ CIRCLES

From time to time I have been asked if it is worthwhile joining a Writers’ Circle. My answer is: yes, if it is a good one.  As with all things there can be very good ones and poor ones. Also it will depend what you want out of it; how serious are you about writing?

I knew nothing about Writers’ Circles when I started writing. I had a desire to be published and that desire extended to books. Also then I knew no other writers personally. I managed, by perseverance, reading to see how other people used words and seeing how a good story developed, to get a War novel published and had had five Westerns published when, back in the sixties, I was approached to give a talk to Scarborough Writers’ Circle about writing Westerns. I was moving into unknown territory but I agreed. This was my first introduction to a Writers’ Circle and the first time I had met any other writers. My impressions were good. This was a very friendly Circle - My wife and I were made to feel at home. They were interested in us which made us interested in them.  Realising this was a vibrant Circle whose  aim was stipulated when it was founded as ‘To share practical writing experience.’ we joined even though we lived nearly forty miles from Scarborough.  The important part of that quote is ‘practical’. It meant their aim was to get people published. To my mind that is or should be the vital part of a Writers’ Circle. So if you are thinking of joining a Writers’ Circle with the aim of getting published find one that fills that criterion - not all do. 

I found it well worthwhile. Now I met other writers and that led to meeting many more beyond the Circle. Nearly always I learned something from a meeting and even just attending seemed to spur me one to write and keep on writing. So Writers’ Circles can play a part particularly if they are a good ones - Scarborough Writers’ Circle must be a good one; it celebrates its sixtieth anniversary in September!    

Accuracy 14 June 08

I received a book today of an encyclopedic nature. I like this type of book. They are a pleasure to dip into. I think this arose because when I was a young boy, encouraged to read by my parents, we had two eight volume encyclopedias which I spent many happy hours looking through, reading and enjoying the pictures. The book I received today was very attractive, beautifully produced. With the wide coverage in such type of book I generally turn firstly to something about which I know. Idid just that and found Grimsby listed as being in East Yorkshire ! Oh, dear ! The immediate reaction is what else is wrong in this book? Probably nothing at all but unfortunately a doubt has been raised.

Early in my writing career when I was writing Westerns I was asked to give a talk about writing Westerns to a very go-ahead Writers’ Circle. After the talk a young man asked if I would have a look at a Western he had written. I could only offer to have a quick glance at it there and then. I turned to see how he had started the story and saw his setting was Denver, Wyoming. Good cowboy country but Denver Wyoming?  I asked him where Denver was and his reply was Wyoming. He looked surprised when I said, ‘It is in Colorado. How many more inaccuracies are there in this book?’ I often wonder if he learned from that and made it as a writer. A writer has got to be accurate even if the book is fiction.  It is as well to try to use two sources of information. I was writing about the last sailing whaleship in America and found different dates in two books for the day it was wrecked. So I had to check with a third source that I knew would be accurate - a whaling museum in America (This was in the days before internet so it had to be done by airmail post. 

So back to today’s book - It is likely that there are no more errors, I hope I am right. There is much to please about it and I look forward to enjoying it. 

Proof Copy 12 June 2008

I have spent a lot of today reading through the proof copy of Stay With Me checking for errors. If I find any these have to be corrected in a certain way so that the final corrections can be made when I return the corrected script to the publisher.  The job requires concentration and I find that I must keep breaking off. I’ll make a cup of coffee or a drink of tea; take a stroll in the garden, maybe do ten minurtes weeding, or visit the post office and shop close to me. Whatever eases my mind and brings me back to the manuscript refreshed. I also play music on my computer while I am looking for the errors - gentle music in this case as I find the sound eases the concentration of the mind. Some of you might find it a distraction but if I didn’t play music I would soon have a headache - the music has soothed away any possibility of that happening. Today it has been New Age Instrumental of a gentle nature. I play a lot of music (I have a wide range of likes) when I am writing - generally music that fits the mood of the section of the novel I am writing at that particular time. Joan, my wife, used to say she could tell the type of stuff I was writing by the music I was playing ! Hopefully I will finish the proof reading in the next couple of days and then it will be back to my present novel.

PROOF COPY 11 June 2008

11 June 2008

Home again after visiting my eldest daughter in Lincolnshire and going with her to her youngest son’s wedding in Nottingham. All the travelling went well with no trouble except that on a couple of occasions we got lost for a while in Nottingham. It was a town I did not know and was surprised to find in parts it was hilly. The rest of the family met there. It was a great occasion and much enjoyed by everyone. Lots of cameras were clicking but sadly when we could have used the beautiful grounds of the Hall, where the reception was held, as a backdrop for photos, it rained !   But it did not spoil the occasion. Afterwards it was back to my daughter’s and then finally home.

1 June 2008

It has rained most of the day so I didn’t get my usual walk. It is dull this evening but looks as though it could rain any time. I hope it is fine tomorrow as I am going to my eldest daughter and then on Friday we go to her youngest son’s wedding. So I am taking a week off - there’ll be no blogs for that time but I’ll bring you up to date when I get back. Writing? Well it will get put on a back burner for a week but I will take some paper and pencil just in case there’s a lull when I can keep my novel ticking over. No, with family all about how can there be a lull? Besides who wants to miss the fun !

31 May 2008

At eight o’clock this morning I was enjoying a walk in a valley not far from where I live. It was a beautiful morning - blue sky and sunshine, the slightest nip in the air which made for clarity. Apart from the physical exercise I find the peaceful atmosphere helps me think. I plan what I am going to write. I think of the people who are dear to me and how lucky I have been with my life. When I came home I boiled some milk, sprinkled it with cocoa which has a hint of ginger in it - it is only recently that I have had this and I find it a very pleasant drink. I checked the writing I did yesterday, did some research and some reading and this evening I have watched a Western.