The Men in the Marsh

When I retired from the humdrum life of a journalist and editor of my local series of newspapers, I felt it was time for me to expand on my creativity. I started to write a novel to provide me with some stimulation and to give me a hobby. I submitted my first two novels to many agents and publishers, but, although I received some very encouraging feedback, I was unable to find a publisher. I therefore self-published my first two books. I then found Blossom Spring Publishing and they have published my third and fourth novels, "Hector's Revenge" and "The Men in the Marsh".

A new idea for a novel starts with an episode in my life which sparks my imagination and I then set about developing the story from there. I plan a beginning and an end, think of some characters which interest me and then write organically to fill in the rest of the story.

At Grammar School I was on the editorial board of the school magazine. On leaving school I embarked on a 39-year career in journalism and public relations. I therefore had plenty of experience of writing in a clear and concise way, which I hope is a feature in my books. I have also adapted or embellished some of my experiences in journalism and also some of the characters I met in the job for use in my novels. 

I identify with many of the attitudes of my main character, especially the importance he gives to kindness and lasting friendships. However, he is a highly successfully and wealthy entrepreneur - something I could only dream of being!

The dramatic experiences, life and loves of a thrusting entrepreneur.

I often get writer's block. I sleep on it and often find the way through as I toss and turn in bed.

I carried out detailed research into the bombing of the Grand Hotel, Brighton, in 1984. Much of the action in the novel takes place on salt marshes on the east coast of England, so I did some research into the flora and fauna to be found in areas such as this.

I had a picture in my mind of how the book cover should look and at first shared my ideas with my daughter-in-law who is a talented illustrator. She produced a draft which I passed on to the publishers who produced the final version. I was very pleased with the outcome which very closely interpreted my original thoughts.

I have just finished reading a non-fiction book, "This Sceptred Isle - The Dynasties - Britain's Most Powerful Families" by Christopher Lee, and have just started reading Iris Murdoch's novel "A Word Child".

As a young child I used to write lots of stories and even produced my own little newspaper to circulate among family and neighbours. From an early age I wanted to become a journalist and I ended up as a newspaper editor.

From the original idea of The Men in the Marsh to its publication took about a year.

Curiously, I do most of the writing sitting in our lounge at home with the television on in the background. I find the competition from the TV forces me to concentrate hard on the writing and stops my mind from wandering.

I am very interested in all aspects of politics. I actively involve myself in this and read widely about it. I enjoy socialising with family and friends, go to the gym three times a week, enjoy angling, playing the occasional game of tennis, and watching Test cricket.

The original idea for the The Men in the Marsh came from my own experience when I attended the Conservative Party Conference in Brighton, England, in October 1984. I left the resort’s Grand Hotel just a few minutes before the notorious explosion which was the IRA’s attempt to assassinate Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and members of her Cabinet. The horrific event left five people dead and 31 injured. Friends of mine were still in the hotel bar when the bomb went off, although, thankfully, none were seriously hurt. At the beginning of the novel I try to give an impression of the almost surreal atmosphere in Brighton at that time.

Much of the rest of the action in the novel is set in the fictional English seaside resort of Sanderholme, very similar to the real-life resort of Skegness where I was born and still live.