Carol Rivers's Blog, page 4

Flogged In the First World War

October – a very exciting time of year for me! IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER, my eighth novel is set in 1919. There is, of course, a central romance between my heroine, Birdie Connor and her shop-keeper sweetheart. But Birdie's loyalties are tested when brother Frank, veteran soldier and accused deserter, escapes from prison. The idea for this story comes from the experiences I knew my grandfather had in the First World War. He was an infantry man in Belgium, judged to be a deserter, tied to the wheel of a gun-carriage and flogged. Many men were not strong enough to survive these merciless crimes of war. By a miracle, my grandfather did. Though unsurprisingly, he returned to Britain, a changed man. After his death in the fifties, my Nan was free to talk about his experiences. Many men couldn't bear to discuss what had happened to them for the stigma was shameful. And Granddad was no exception. But the truth was, the terrifying shelling and poisonous mustard gas had caused Granddad – and other young boys some only fifteen and sixteen who had lied about their ages to enlist – to become separated from their unit. Granddad was made an example of; a very successful strategy for the army as the shell-shocked and walking-wounded were classified as cowards if they were unable to perform their duty to King and country. I was a very small child during the last part of Granddad's life. He was racked by coughs and found breathing exhausting. This tall, gaunt, haunted-eyed man with whispered words and heart-felt pauses, tucked a few boiled sweets into a small brown paper bag for me every Saturday. I remember his long, artistic, gentle fingers curling over the paper as though it was something very precious. He did this right up to the end and there was something in his expression that bound me to him in a very special way. So IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER expresses all I have learned about brave men who have been labelled cowards – and the support of their families who deal with post-traumatic stress syndrome. We have a name for it now, but in those days many  just said, "Pull up your socks and get on with it". Birdie Connor ( like my Nan and aunties), is a fighter. She won't back down and she believes in her man. It's stirring stuff and I'm so glad I was, at last, able to write it!

Sub-plots shared by In The Bleak Midwinter and Downton Abbey

Lesley Nicol and Sophie McShera, who play the splendid Mrs Patmore and daffy maid, Daisy, are part of a sub-plot in the much-mooted and popular costume drama, Downton Abbey, showing currently on ITV. A young nephew of Mrs Patmore's has been recorded as dead without much other information given to the grieving relatives. This theme is also the mainstay of my own novel, IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER, published October 13th   and my most challenging work so far. This hard-core theme deals with the repercussions of a young man, shot for cowardice by his own side, rather than dying a hero on the front line. In Mrs Patmore's words, what could be worse than death? Without a doubt, it was cowardice. A white feather was given to individuals who were thought to have reneged on their duty or failed to turn up for certain death at the army recruiting office. Similarly, when the troops found themselves waging battle with the enemy whilst experiencing shell-shock, effects from the mustard gas, and horrific injuries that made them vulnerable victims of warfare, such was the feeling between 1914 – 1918, that many young men were shot or imprisoned by their own ranks. Very often too, they were only boys of fifteen and sixteen, having disguised their ages to answer the call of their country. Downton Abbey has included this as a sub-plot involving Mrs Patmore, the cook, but in my own story, I bring the injustice, fear and desperation of my heroine's brother Frank, into the heart of the novel. His imprisonment for cowardice provokes  my heroine, Birdie Connor, into challenging the British judicial system. Not a common thing to do in those days, even for an aristocratic family, as we see in the TV drama. Birdie is an East Ender and working class. At twenty-one she's on the brink of marriage to her sweetheart and a happy future after the war. She risks all this in her fight to prove Frank's innocence. She absolutely refuses to be beaten by her own fears and the pulling together of ranks in Whitehall. My story was drawn from what happened in real life to my grandfather, an infantry man in the First World War, lashed to the gun wheel, flogged mercilessly and accused of desertion. He survived miraculously, but many like him didn't. I dedicated this book to the Buffs, my father-in-law's brave regiment. I hope that Downton Abbey reminds us of how proud we should be of any man attempting to fight for his country – for just "showing up" to put his life on the line, as so many of our troops have done and are still doing in contemporary times and indeed, over the long, and hard-won decades of history.

Words are all a writer has…

How and what do you write? Most authors reply in generic terms initially, for instance, non-fiction, fiction, historical, novels, sagas, family dramas, crime, thrillers, fantasy, sci-fi and lately with ebooks, there is a great deal of genre mixing, something traditional publishers once discouraged. But now, if it's a good story and the book will sell well, who cares quite so much about its label? As we've moved along the technical route, people have shorter spans of attention and want to get to the nitty-gritty as fast as possible. People want page-turners and so I'm keen to make my stories tense and exciting from the very start. I've never been able to write long, descriptive pieces of prose. I write with an emphasis on dialogue. Almost everything can be conveyed by the characters, in their own way, firing the reader's imagination subtly, giving as much description with a few words as can be sweated over in a long paragraph. At least, this works for me. My East End "inner" voice springs from my childhood, growing up amongst colourful, no-holds-barred, dynamic, lyrical, unforgettable cockneys who to this day, live in my mind as fiercely as they did when I was a child and a teenager. And so, once I am in the vortex of writing, seated at my computer, I hear nothing but their voices and I know it's my job to record them as honestly as I possibly can. This is not a whacky-type thing – or perhaps it is! Perhaps the voices do come from a collective unconscious linked to my own emotional focus. But whatever it is, the words flow from my fingertips and onto the keyboard. Not that I haven't given the plotting a great deal of thought beforehand. My last synopsis for my editor ran to nearly forty pages. But the synopsis or outline, is just the general direction of where the story will be going. The real writing comes in the voices – voices EVERYONE can hear from life's experience. So let's daydream right this minute. I'll start us off. What about the day at school when you were lying on the sports field, sweating and breathless, a stitch in your side and painfully gasping in the scent of freshly mown grass and recently churned up earth? You can hear your mate telling you that after school, they're walking home the long way – for a very special reason. You know you're being asked to do something, witness something, be part of something you shouldn't, but at fourteen or fifteen, you don't care. It's exciting to do or be part of a risk – you can hear that excitement in the voice persuading you to make a decision that might change your life forever. You can hear the huskiness, the coercion, the lure – and that voice, the tone, the seduction, the words, will translate into every other such moment in your life from here on in. Because that voice and all it contains is eternal. Your material for a writing career. That's what you put on paper, under the guise of your created characters, the gut-churning feeling expressed very often in only a few words – chosen words – and that's what a writer writes about.  At the very beginning of this clip of WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND, Alan Bates (the man) who is found sheltering in the barn, utters two words that dominate the rest of the movie. In fact, they ARE the movie. Such a classic! Such a gift to us, as writers!

Feisty Heroine Number Five: Kim Kardashian

High-flying business woman, fashion icon, executive producer, perfumista  and movie star, are just a few of the titles that have been given to the ubiquitous Kim Kardashian.  I have followed Kim in the media since 2008, when the Brits only really began to understand the universal power of the Kardashian family through the reality series, "Keeping Up with the Kardashians". We became mesmerized by the family upheavals and celebrity lifestyle that soon became replicated in shows like "Jersey Shore", "Kendra" and the "Housewives". As an observer this side of the pond, I love the glamour, intrigue and dynamism of the American way of life. American entertainers are not grungy or downbeat or depressing, but exciting and fabulous! For me, the common denominator between these central characters is the women's determination to pursue life according to themselves. They know what they want and go out to get it. Even our own royal wedding with Kate Middleton as the beautiful princess and star of her own dream marriage to her prince, seems long forgotten in the approaching excitement of Kim's wedding to her stunningly handsome hero, Kris Humphries. This star-studded union will give us all so much more to get our teeth into! Babies, careers, relationships, intrigues, the list is endless. But one thing we know for sure. Kim is a survivor – and a fighter. No matter what happens, this feisty heroine is the inspiration for those who relate emotionally to her ups and downs in life. In both of my most recent books, EAST END ANGEL and EVE OF THE ISLE, though  of another historical era, the leading ladies possess Kim/Kendra/Carrie/Victoria/Paris/Britney elements, common to all untameable, irrepressible, single-minded women who are prepared to challenge any convention this world has to offer, in their search for love, independence and happiness. Even the Brits will be sitting on the edge of their seats waiting for the next episode in Kim's life to fire our eternally hungry imaginations!

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Another Feisty Heroine: Victoria Beckham

We've all seen the photo of David Beckham and his beautiful baby daughter, Harper Seven. David's wife, Victoria, has her family complete, as well as a creative, burgeoning career in fashion design. We now expect to see her image on the pages of the glossy magazines and on the web, looking slim and elfin, much like Audrey Hepburn of the 50's, who radiated style and elegance with a dash of  impish mystique. But it's only recently that Victoria has become accepted for what she truly is; a creative and talented independent woman of her own means. True, she has a famous and wealthy husband at her side, but that didn't stop her from becoming an icon in her own right. She came from humble beginnings, was thrown into the deep end of the entertainment world at a very young age and in the middle of the Spice Girls whirlpool, she identified her mate. And more, has stood by his side for the entire length of their marriage. I can't help likening Victoria's character traits to the lead character in my current book, IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER. Though the story begins in 1918 just after the Great War, my half-Irish heroine, Brigid, Birdie for short, has a flare for fashion design. Twenty-one-year-old Birdie supports her father and two brothers, by her sewing business, running it from home. She adores fabrics, materials, patterns and style, even though she has little money. Birdie has this thing we call class. And class is very sexy. Even in those days, there was something about a woman who knew how to dress. And so every time I read about Victoria I can only think – respect! Much has been ignored about her strength of character. And yet, this woman has survived by her own steam, and refuses to allow the world to threaten her marriage and family. Same thing with Birdie in my book. She seeks justice for her family and fights tooth and nail to achieve it. So good on you, Victoria. Congratulations on your expanding family and career. And I shall continue following you, my inspiration for a certain novel. And a woman given far less credit than she deserves.

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER out now in hardback. Amazon.co.uk

Paperback October 2011. Amazon.co.uk

 

Happy Birthday new novel!

 

 

 

A special blog for my latest book

born 4th August 2011.

 

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER published August 2011, and sold for a very reasonable price of £10 on Amazon considering once upon a time hardbacks were real luxuries to purchase. Plus, the libraries will be stocking the hardback – and some bookshops, awaiting publication of the paperback in two months time. My publishers, Simon&Schuster, have chosen this blurb for the back cover. "Shivering a little in the cold, Birdie paused to watch the boats tied up along the jetty. 'Stay where you are!' A sharp command brought her out of her thoughts. 'If you want to see your brother alive, you will do as I say.' Birdie's heart raced. She turned, only to jump half out of her wits as she saw a woman standing beside her. A pair of dark, fierce eyes were almost hidden under the peak of a cloth cap. Then with another sickening lurch of her heart, she saw the glint at her side and felt the tip of a blade as it pressed into her." It's 1918, the East End of London, and the war is just over. Millions have died, as many are left crippled. There are other casualties too, bearing emotional scars that will never heal. There are young men who are unjustly accused of cowardice by their own commanders and Birdie's brother is one of these. Birdie is my resilient half-Irish heroine, who quarrels with the British legal system and an equally unbending gang of terrorists, biding their time to kill. Birdie is one gutsy lady, facing two massive Goliaths. Will she achieve a victory, or none? Has one woman the power to change the course of her family's history? I like happy endings, but the odds seem overwhelming against Birdie. And yet…there is always the power of love to be reckoned with. Love, the greatest power of all. Happy birthday  Birdie!

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Gutsy Heroines: Titanic

My nine-year-old granddaughter has learned the script of the movie, Titanic, by heart. She has studied this DVD until she knows every movement, every word and breath the actors take. Her favourite scene is on the bow of the ship, where Kate and Leonardo hold their dramatic pose together. But I noticed as I watched, that the central romance was what kept my granddaughter captivated. Kate is the perfect heroine – refusing to give up her true love despite both nature and nurture being against her. No wonder the movie is such a success. What a fabulous clue it gives to writers about the power of the heroine to fulfill her destiny. Create the same courage and honesty in our heroines and we can harness untold power for ourselves and our stories. The ending of the Titanic may be tragic (can't watch as I'm a bit of a wuss) but in this case, the power of love is demonstrated as continuing forever. What a wonderful message for the younger generation – and for writers to write. Gutsy, courageous heroines are the perfect models if we want to study storytelling. Time for another classic DVD, perhaps someone like Lauren Bacall in Key Largo? Don't know it? Lucky you – you're in for a treat if you hire the DVD. One of the best thrillers of all time, with chemistry to die for!

A Titanic heroine in EAST END ANGEL

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"You Know What I Mean 'Arry?"

This year we lost Gilda O'Neill, a prolific writer of stories about the East End of London, my neck of the woods, though Gilda's turf was Poplar, whilst I'm more Millwall and Cubitt Town. My family are costermongers, dockers, bird fanciers, dodgy dealers, marketers and shop-keepers. The Isle of Dogs is a horseshoe of land jutting out into the River Thames, comprising West India Docks, Millwall Docks, Blackwall Basin and South Dock basin. The island was once so poor, Gilda's Poplar was regarded as posh. She'd laugh at that! On the island, no one ever had new clothes, shoes or furniture. Everything was begged, borrowed or stolen. And then of course, there were the markets. But even these sometimes, were regarded as rip-offs. The Isle of Dogs was the Luftwaffe's first port of call in World War 2. It was the docks the planes went after, but Mum's house was razed to the ground. My Nan and aunties finally fled the Doodlebugs, the eternal brick dust, the night and day catastrophes and deaths, depleting almost every family on the island. Mum survived the night of the worst raid. She didn't like the Anderson or the underground, so she hid under the table. The front door of our house blew in and met the back door, then Mum got out before the whole lot caved in. Granddad was blown off his bike and into the docks, but he was a strong swimmer. Dad shimmied down from the control box on his crane, ran through the foot tunnel from Greenwich, and stood staring at our terrace in Chapel House Street. My Nan and aunties had survived. Mind you, they left pretty quick, bundling aboard a bus to Oxfordshire. The little they had was left behind and for the next six months they were shuttled around the country. Mum returned to the island to wait for Dad's call-up. When the buff envelope came, she refused to let him go. I wouldn't mess with my mum now, at 92, and I don't think Dad fancied it much then. But he had aspirations. He was a good man, an intelligent one. And he did his tour of duty for the next five years. Goodness only knows how he survived. But he did. So, no need for me to wonder what I should write about, then? And now, well, the world is changing again and I'm still here to be part of it. What a privilege! This time, it's the Digital tsunami! So exciting! All of us are in awe of Freda (Lightfoot) – who has paved the way for self-publishing digitally. And much to our surprise, we can hear the bombs dropping in the publishing world.  Writers are confident enough now to take more control of our futures. Rejections? What the heck! We'll publish ourselves! Not quite the Blitz, but then, some elements seem familiar – the human spirit is so resourceful – and brave! In a great fighter's words, "You know what I mean 'Arry?" Yes, I think we do!

Cheryl and Ashley

Cheryl and Ashley! Who hasn't read the headlines lately, or speculated on their relationship? Allegedly they are to reunite after a very painful divorce. You can't help wondering what it is that draws this couple together; chemistry, yes, but what kind? In my novel EAST END ANGEL I deal with a break-up of a very close marriage. Pearl and Jim have a love that should last forever. They are passionate about each other and yet, their bond is broken by something bigger and more powerful, a blast from the past in the form of an ex-lover. And not just any ex; Ricky is drop-dead gorgeous. Complicating the situation, is the fact that Pearl's sister, brings Ricky back into their lives, on Pearl and Jim's wedding day.  For Cheryl and Ashley's love to survive, they'll need to have something very special gluing them together, as do my own hero and heroine. Many have speculated that Taylor and Burton were soul mates, inextricably linked in this life and perhaps in other lives before and after? But the common denominator for all couples unable to separate is perhaps, an overriding thirst for each other's company, a thirst that simply can't be quenched.  Writing EAST END ANGEL took me back to what is was like to feel such a thirst and how life gradually steers most of us away from that state. Whatever it is that Cheryl and Ashley have between them, it's for them alone to pursue. Fascinating for us as bystanders. But what a rich enchantment for two people to experience! And how powerless anyone else is, to alter its course.

US Marshal Matt Dillon and Kitty

This month I read that one of my childhood heroes, Marshal Matt Dillon, played by James Arness, had died. I remember James from his role in the Gunsmoke series of the 60′s and 70′s. He was a cowboy of few words, but had a smouldering screen presence. I couldn't wait to get home from school and turn on the amazing new TV, that Dad had bought to sell in his electrical shop. Here in the UK, US Westerns became part of our culture. TV opened up a new world for me. I was cowboy crazy; Wells Fargo, Wagon Train, Cheyenne, Davy Crockett, Gunsmoke, Little House on the Prarie – couldn't get enough of them.  Being a tomboy, I aspired to be like gutsy Gunsmoke heroine  'Kitty', played by Amanda Blake. In one episode, Kitty drove a stagecoach in a bid to escape trouble. That was it, I was hooked. And in every book I now write there is a 'Kitty' – full of bravado, guts and true grit. It's these early heroines who inspired me to write gritty novels, as my publisher Simon& Schuster call them. So, reading the news of James Arness departing this mortal coil for greater adventures,  I have to thank all the cast of Gunsmoke. Amongst them the still sizzling Burt Reynolds and the late Dennis Weaver who played Chester. As a kid, I'd limp up and down our back yard, mumbling, Yessur Misser Dillon, then swiftly change character to Kitty, making eyes at her marshal as he strode, all 6'7″ of him, into the bar, deadpanning the bad guys, before they had chance to draw. Adios, James, hope you'll be seeing Kitty – and enjoying yourself the other side of Boot Hill.