Simon Hall's Blog, page 9

Favouritism and questions

Thanks to the kind folk of Ashburton and Charmouth who came along to see my talks at their library and literary festival respectively.  Thanks also for some very good questions.

From my experience of other authors, I've noticed a stark divide in their view of questions.  Some love that part of a talk, others hate it.  I suspect that's because most of a session can be controlled, with the author talking about their work, inspirations, reading from their books, all the usual kind of thing, and some writers like it that way. It's only when the questions arrive that things can get a little more unpredictable.

I'm of the school that likes the questions session, for the very reason that you never know what's going to come up, and it can really force you to think on your feet.   Well, one such fine question came up at Ashburton.

Which of the tvdetective books is my favourite, I was asked?

Now, this is a tough one, because I do have a favourite.  I'm just not sure I should reveal it!

I wonder if it's a little like a parent being asked which of their brood of children is their favourite.  If they were absolutely honest, they might admit they did have one, but would never say which.

So in that tradition I kind of take a literary version of the Fifth Amendment and don't answer - better to let you decide which you think is the best of the set so far, and wonder if I would agree?!

One final matter to mention here, the Poole Literary Festival two weeks today (Sun, 31st October). There's a very fine looking line up, into which somehow I've managed to sneak - I'm doing a talk and a panel discussion.  If you fancy an interesting Sunday out, it'd be good to see you.  There are more details on the News and Events page - www.thetvdetective.com/news.html

The table turned

It's a strange experience being interviewed - after all, given my job, I'm used to being the one who asks the questions!

I was musing on how it felt after a couple of media interviews in the last week, for the Western Morning News and Radio Devon.  And it strikes me it's not so easy as you may think, fielding questions.  You reckon you've got the answers prepared for all that you're going to be challenged with and then up comes something you weren't expecting.

The point I'm thinking of particularly was a question about the dedication and acknowledgements in The Balance of Guilt.  They're very personal to me, and are there because I wanted to recognise in print some important events in my life.  But being asked about them brings it all back of course, and that inevitably means a lump in the throat and a reddening of the eyes - and all that in mid interview!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, the questions I was asked were perfectly fair, I've no problem with them at all - in fact, the interviewers were two of the region's finest journalists and presenters, people of great talent in my humble view.  I just thought it was odd how you can be at full steam, talking about your precious books, and then up rears the past and bites you. Ah well, such is life, I suppose.

Anyway, I'm grateful for the interest in my scribblings and the thoughtful and gentle way I was interviewed.  The Radio Devon sequence is still on line - if you're interested in listening, see the news page - www.thetvdetective.com/news.html  You need to go 2 hours and 11 minutes into the programme.  The interview includes yours truly reading the first couple of pages of The Balance of Guilt, the first time I've done that live on air.  See what you think!

One final thing to mention here. If you fancy something to do on Saturday and you're in the Dorset area, there's the excellent Charmouth Literary Festival, at which I'm doing a guest slot.  It's a wonderful town and a great idea, which I'm delighted to support.  There are more details on the News and Events page, opposite the link to the radio interview.

Events nerves

A question arrives. Do I get nervous at book events? I'm asked. 

It's a good question, particularly when my correspondent thoughtfully argues that surely I don't, given that I often appear live on the television with hundreds of thousands of people watching, as opposed to a few dozen at an event.

Fair point, but as so often when logic comes up against emotion, the emotion wins easily. I get very nervous, and for two reasons I think.

The first is that being a reporter, you have to be dispassionate, neutral, detached from what you're covering, however hard that might be. But when you write these book things, it's impossible not to let part of your real self slip into them.  They can almost be an insight into your soul, and baring that in public is a very scary thing to do.

The second part to the nerves is rather more practical.  On the TV, I can't see the masses of people watching.  But with a live audience, it feels very much more real. 

So the answer is a big yes!  I do get nervous, and sometimes horribly so.  But I also think that's healthy, as it helps to give you that edge and makes you perform.  If I didn't get jittery, I suspect I'd think something was wrong.

The question is well timed. I'm just setting off for a Readers' Day at Bournemouth Library.  I'm not due there for another 3 hours, and I'm already getting nervous... so imagine what it'll be like when I walk in and see all the people.  Gulp!

If there's a question you want to ask about the tvdetective books, or anything to do with my writing, you can get in touch via the contact page - www.thetvdetective.com/contact.html

Wish me luck in Bournemouth!

Lots of nerves and even more thanks

Firstly, a big thank you to the lovely readers and even lovelier librarians of Torpoint and Looe in Cornwall, for looking after me when I visited to talk about the tvdetective books.

As you now know, you were amongst the first victims of my little ramblings about The Balance of Guilt, and I was delighted - and more than a little relieved - at your reactions to the new book.

It is an odd experience this writing lark, when you shut yourself away for weeks, trying to finish a book.  And even when it's done, then rewritten, edited and published, more than a few attacks of doubt creep in - is the thing actually any good?

It's only when you read some of the book to an audience do you get a sense of that - and I was so pleased by your response.  I see the first few reviews have also appeared on Amazon.  If youre interested, you can have a look via the books page - www.thetvdetective.com/books.html

Thanks also to the wonderful teachers and very boisterous youngsters of Willowbrook School in Exeter.  I was visiting to talk about writing, and possibly even more nervous than with the events I did at Torpoint and Looe!  I can now confess that I've never tried to explain my love of words and books to primary school children before, so it was an entirely new experience and way out of the Hall comfort zone.

However! I had a fantastic day, and suspect I might even have learnt more than the youngsters themselves.  If they're reading this - a big hello to Years 5 and 6!  And remember - keep reading and keep writing, they're brilliant things to do, as I hope we all discovered together.

Finally for this post, if you're in Dorset and fancy a day out on Saturday (9th Oct), there's a Readers' Day at Bournemouth Library, at which yours truly will be appearing.  There are more details on the News and Events page - www.thetvdetective.com/news.html

Something new

I have had a new experience. Stop sniggering, before you even think it, it's nothing of a naughty nature.

It's this - I have been the subject of my first podcast.  Now, those of you who are regular readers of the tvdetective blog will know I'm no great adopter of new technology. It took long enough to persuade the Luddite Hall to write a blog, after all.  So a podcast?  Wow! That's so futuristic it's akin to one of those Star Trek transporter things to this writer. However, being the intrepid, boldly going chap I am (well, almost), I gave it a try.

I'm pleased to report it didn't hurt, and I even found it all rather pleasant, if somewhat odd.

Perhaps I should explain a little more.  When I was at the excellent Writers Holiday in Wales in the summer, I met the even more excellent James Nash, a poet, writer, raconteur, and all round good egg.  He was kind enough to ask me to feature on his podcast, so I steeled myself and agreed.

In fact, all I had to do was be interviewed, but that in itself is a strange experience for the Hall creature. I'm used to asking the questions!

Anyhow, we did the interview, and I can now reveal that it has been unleashed on the world wide web thing. If you'd like to hear a few mins of me being grilled to within an inch of my existence about the tvdetective books, you can do so on the podcast section of James' website - www.jamesnash.co.uk/podcast/

One more thing for this post, I've got quite a few events coming up in October, to mark the publication of The Balance of Guilt. You can keep up to date with them on the News and Events page - www.thetvdetective.com/news.html

Phew

In fact, make that a large phew!, a sigh of relief of some resonance.

The reason - the first reviews of The Balance of Guilt have come back.

In my experience, the time between the release of a new book and starting to get feedback on it is one of the most nerve wracking in a humble author's life.  All this effort has gone into plotting, planning, writing, re-writing, and re-writing the thing once more, not to mention the discussions about the cover, the blurb, the marketing, all that stuff, and at last the book is finally out.

Then... all you can do is wait.  You see it on shelves, you know it's online, you imagine it sitting on people's bedside tables as they work their way through it.  And you wonder what they're thinking.

At last, you get some emails, and you gather your courage and open them.  Then you gather even more courage and actually read them.

Well, a dozen or so people have now got in touch with me about The Balance of Guilt, and I'm delighted to say they've been positive.  Hence the phew.  The very loud and very long phew.

Thanks to all who have been in contact, I very much appreciate your feedback and am delighted you liked the book.  And for those who have said that two of the new characters should make an appearance in more books, I agree and I've already started thinking about how.  More of that another time.

It matters not that I write this on a grey and grim Wednesday morning, with the hint of winter in the air, this author is a relieved and smiling chap!

If you'd like to know more about The Balance of Guilt, and my other scribblings, there are more details on the books page - www.thetvdetective.com/books.html

Island life

I'm back from my little travels, so prepare to be blogged at once more.

When I do go away, I rarely go far.  Have I mentioned I'm scared witless of flying? I know it's sad, I know it's illogical, I know it's the safest form of transport, I know all that, but fear defies logic, or mine does, anyway. 

I don't like the take off, I can't bear the landing, and the bit in between I don't care for at all.   And the fear has got worse, rather than better as I've grown older, so these days I tend to holiday at home, or near it.  And I also love the south west of England to an extent that it takes some beating in my mind. There are plenty of great places to explore here, so that's what I tend to do.

Anyhow, what all this is coming around to is that I've been on the Isles of Scilly, which is a convenient 20 minute helicopter journey away, well worth it for the treat of the Islands. I did a little book event when I was there, the first in the series to promote The Balance of Guilt in fact, and I'd like to say a few thank yous -

to the people of the Scillies for making me so welcome, the library users and book club members who came along to the event and were so kind, the lovely people at the St Mary's Hall Hotel for their hospitality, and Linda and fellow interviewers of Radio Scilly, for talking to me for their bookshow.

All in all, I now feel refreshed and relaxed, and am most grateful for it! 

I'll be doing a few more events to support the new book.  If you're interested in coming along to one, there are details on the News and Events page - www.thetvdetective.com/news.html  Hope to see you there...

A favourite hobby

I've been doing this for years, but it just gets better and better.  I think that's probably because it helps me so much with writing the tvdetective books.

And before you start to wonder what Hall's going on about now, I'll tell you.  It's the simple pleasure of people watching.

I'm often asked where my ideas for characters come from.  The answer is a range of sources. Some are born of pure imagination, others take parts from people I know, have met, or hear or read about.  But often I find an element to make a character from the delicious delight of people watching.

It can be a mannerism, a detail of appearance, a quirk of their speech, just anything to make a character come to life. 

When I go out for a beer, or to meet some friends, I usually arrive about half an hour early, so I can sit in the corner of whatever bar, or cafe, and just watch the people doing their people things.  It's a rich source of material, I can promise you.

The reason I mention all this now is something I saw at the weekend, in a pub.  I was sipping a beer, reading the paper, and there was a couple opposite me having a meal.  He went up to the bar to get some more drinks, and the moment his back was turned, she scooped some of the food from his plate and swallowed it down!

Initially I thought she might confess when he returned to the table, and they'd share a smile about it, but not a bit of it.  She just kept quiet.  It was a lovely moment, a quirk I shall now bestow upon some poor character in a future book, probably to create the subtext - this is not a person to be trusted!  Who could put any faith in someone who steals your food, and so very ruthlessly?!

On the subject of which, as I was up early writing, it's time for breakfast.  An apple and cinammon bun I think, and all for me...

Don't forget, if you've got any questions you'd like an eccentric, rambling and strange answer to, or even just a simple one if you happen to enjoy the fair fortune to catch me on a near normal day, you can get in touch via the contact page - www.thetvdetective.com/contact.html

A beautiful relationship

As a 70's pop song might have it - in the style of Hall - it's a love thing, and it's growing, showing no signs of slowing, just keeps going.

Ok, I'll stick to writing books...

But, the point is this - we go everywhere together.  Rarely do a few minutes pass without me stealing an admiring look at the other half of the partnership.  The subject of my adoration plays it a little cool - as they're wont to do - and just sits there, loftily, probably secure in the knowledge of its own beauty, but I think it loves me back.

It should do, after all the work I've put into our relationship.

It's been only a week or so now that we've been together, but I think a beautiful future beckons for us.  As the old saying goes, sometimes, you just know.

Yes, I'm talking about my time with The Balance of Guilt.  It is a funny thing - how I can't resist having a copy by my side when I'm at home, and taking one out in my satchel when I'm out.  I suppose it's because it's a culmination of all this work, the plotting, planning and writing and re-writing; days, weeks and months worth of effort finally made real.

Sorry for the strange meanderings, but it's just about the only way I can express the fact that I'm mildly chuffed with the new book!

More importantly, I'm glad to hear it's finally being distributed to you folk who have been kind enough to wait for it, and that you're starting to read it.  The initial comments on the book's cover, and first few pages have been positive - I await with trepidation your considered final views!

If you are interested in having a look at The Balance of Guilt, there are more details about it on the books page - www.thetvdetective.com/books.html

Please excuse me, I'm off now to spend some more time with my new love...

Locations

A question arrives - why did I choose to set the tvdetective series in Devon, and specifically Plymouth?

Like many a good question, it sounds simple but requires a fair chunk of thought and a longer answer.

The first and most straightforward reason is that I'm familiar with the city, after living there for almost ten years.  Some authors like to invent whole towns and countries, even universes, but I think there's plenty to go on in this strange world of ours, so I prefer to stick with what we've got.

It's more than just knowing a place, though. The location has to have enough about it to make it interesting to a reader.  In that, I reckon Plymouth certainly succeeds.  Take the history, those hundreds of years of naval tradition, the centuries of growth of the city, then the horror of the bombing of the Second World War, and the enormous effect that had on the Plymouth of today.

There are also the contrasts an author looks for - the affluent areas, particularly those of the old Victorian gentry, and the more gritty, inner city ones.  There are wonderful contrasts in the geography too, from the stunning Hoe and waterfront, to the functional concrete grid of the shopping centre.

And moving outside of Plymouth, where else could a writer need than Devon, and the south west of England? There's such beauty, such wonderful places - and more than a few odd and mysterious ones too - and such brilliant characters, inhabiting everywhere you might choose to go.

I'm often told that my love of the south west comes through in the tvdetective series, and I'm delighted by that.  It's absolutely true, I've never been happier anywhere. I came to Devon as a career move in 1996, with the idea of staying for two or three years.  I never left, and hope I never will.

One more thing to mention here.  To those of you who've been asking - and so very kindly doing so in a polite way. for which I'm grateful! - all the copies of The Balance of Guilt have now been printed, and should be with you in the next few days.  Apologies again for the delay.

Finally, if you've got a question you'd like to ask, feel free to get in touch.  You can do so via the contact page - www.thetvdetective.com/contact.html  Or, if you'd just like to leave a comment on my ramblings, the clever people who run the tvdetective website have set up a new way to do that, via the blog page - www.thetvdetective.com/blog.html