Larry Jeram-Croft's Blog, page 11

Zorbin

That's a bit of naval slang for 'its 'zorbin changed'.  Fi and I have been doing that really exciting task of proof reading.  She's already done her bit but I'm still only half way through.  However, I've never been totally happy with the title of the new book.  Strange are the ways of writing, no more so than I actually woke up in the middle of the night last week with a much better title already in my head.  So here it is below.  It sums up the plot much better - if you want to know why - you'll just have to buy the book!  We're off on holiday Saturday week so my intention is to launch by the 29th July.

Finished

One of the best things about writing is finishing a book. All those months of working out plots, realising they won't work and going back to straighten them out. Weeks when no ideas seem to want to come and days when you can't stop hitting the keys. Well today, literally ten minutes ago, I finished Sarajevo and I think its a cracker. Once again, it bears sod all resemblance to to my original ideas. Plots seem to take on a life of their own once I start. But that's the same with all my books and looking at my sales and reviews I must be doing something right. So now the hard work starts with proofing, graphics etc but I'm hoping it will hit the streets soon. Watch this space.

Sorry but its political now

I've been trying to stay out of the arguments going around about Brexit etc but the intolerant whining of the losers is starting to get to me. In particular the BBC. Last week I was so incensed about the completely negative coverage of the policy that the majority of people in this country voted for in a free election, I actually got off my ass and made a complaint to the BBC:

'Nearly all coverage I have seen on the BBC had been critical of Britain leaving the Eu despite the majority voting for it. On radio 2 yesterday lunchtime it was all about people having 'regrets' even Mock the Week last night spent the first half of the programme being offensive about Brexit. You continually bring up immigration and racism in the same sentence. The Brexit campaign only wants to CONTROL immigration not stop it, yet if you lot were to be believed all Brexiters are racist. The Tory party manifesto for the last election had a pledge to reduce immigration to the tens of thousands - yet you spectacularly manage to fail to mention that!! Please give us some balanced reporting bearing in mind the MAJORITY of this country want to leave the EU.'

Today I got a response - I expect it's a stock one:

As you may be aware, Jonathan Munro, Head of Newsgathering at BBC News, appeared on Newswatch on 1 July to specifically address concerns raised by our audience about our recent coverage. You can still watch the edition here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07htbgq
During the programme Jonathan Munro addressed criticisms that BBC News’ coverage has been alarmist after the result, featuring too much coverage of people who wanted to remain in the EU. He explained BBC News has looked at reactions from both sides (those who wanted to remain and those who didn’t) and are covering the story of what it looks like to leave the EU from many different angles.
Jonathan explained that he didn’t agree with the suggestion that BBC News is looking only at the negative outcomes of the vote. He explained that we believe our coverage has been balanced and that we have looked at the potential effects Brexit could have on the job market, because technically we still don’t know the full impact.
He went on to explain that BBC News has covered many positive aspects of the outcome. For example, what immigration for non-EU citizens could look like, and what trade deals with places like New Zealand and Canada could look like. BBC News has also covered some positive outcomes coming from the falling value of the Pound.
Jonathan Munro went on to assure viewers that nobody at the BBC thinks that 17 million people of the population are racist. He pointed to examples of where we have interviewed a wide range of voters who chose “leave”. Jonathan added that he didn’t believe the BBC was too ‘London-centric’ and explained that Question Time, for example, came from both Preston and Birmingham in the run up to the referendum.
We hope this goes some way in addressing your concerns. We believe our coverage of the result has been fair, accurate and impartial. This is a quickly developing story and we will strive to continue to report on it in this manner.

It seems I'm not the only one to complain! But they've mainly missed my point anyway.  I didn't complain about the news coverage in particular. It is so rife over all BBC programmes and saying that, on one occasion the head of News disagreed with what is clearly a countywide criticism, is patronising to say the least.

My only consolation is that I believe that in not too short a time, we will be trading all over the world, the lower pound (if it stays there) will have helped manufacturing and exports, and the country will be thriving. And as for the 'experts' who predicted gloom (just as they did when we left the ERM) and said we would need an emergency budget straight away as well as total immediate financial collapse - er look at the FTSE today and where is that budget?

If the EU itself hasn't collapsed already (both France and Germany have elections next year) then our soaring success will be the final nail in the coffin. Maybe then, a new Europe will emerge from the corrupt and undemocratic ashes, one that I would love to be a member of - oh hang on I voted for that in 1975!!!!

I feel much better for that! - The next Jon Hunt book is almost finished and should be out by the end of August.

Sailin'

Well almost - just finished a great ten days 'sailing' in the Med on a friends catamaran.  I use the word advisedly as there was bugger all wind so we spent nearly all the time under motor but it was still great.  We started on the mainland in Cartegena.   A 24 hour trip found us in Ibiza and I take it all back - what a beautiful Island and not one drunken 18 year old from Scunthorpe in sight.  We didn't catch any fish - not for the want of trying but as we arrived in a bay on the south of the Island I saw a Marlin jump in front of us.  He was at least 200 pounds and a beautiful electric blue in colour. He must have been eating something - maybe he ate it all?  After Ibiza we did a day sail to Mallorca and again - what a beautiful place. Some photos below:


The decrepit - oops I mean intrepid crew


When your inverter fails you have to invert yourself to fit a new one.
Meanwhile the crew are revolting


Ibiza harbour from the top of the old town.  Plenty of superyachts and no drunken brits

The arrival bay in Mallorca - sort of very pretty
Another view and the only little beach with a bar but it was also a nudist beach.  It wouldn't have been so bad if more than one of the dozen or so naked people had been female!!

On a separate note now that I'm back in Blighty and with the Lynx book with the publishers I'm concentrating on the next Jon Hunt novel.  55,000 words in so should be out in about August.  Anyone reading this post who wants to volunteer to help with the editing/proofing - free early copies will be available - just contact me via email, FB or through the comments here.
One final thingy - I have sold thousands of books but only have about 200 reviews - these are the lifeblood of us struggling authors.  If anyone reading this post has read any and could do me the favour of taking five minutes to say what they think on the relevant Amazon page I wold be eternally grateful.

New audio book launch

ARAPAHO is now available on audio.  Once again, Silverton Audio did a great job with the production and its now available through, Amazon, Audible and Itunes.  Best I get working on Boghammer now.

For a limited time only

A quick announcement.  My book sales have been ticking over reasonably well but in order to maybe get up the Amazon listings a bit more and hence increase my visibility - for the next two weeks all the Kindle versions of my books are at 99p or 99cents or 99 something or another's around the world. I feel a little like the guys from DFS or Allied carpets but in this case they will be going back up again in due course.

Royal sensibilities

Had to laugh today.  I sent the manuscript of my Lynx book to Buckingham Palace today with a letter asking if Prince Andrew would provide a foreword.  He was a Lynx pilot for many years and my publisher really likes the idea of him adding a few words - fair enough.  So off goes the email and and automated reply comes straight back saying:
'Your recent message was not delivered because it violates our acceptable use policy on profanity. You are advised to amend your message and resend it as appropriate.'

So I had a good canter through the text and did find two b*****s and three s***s - its about military flying after all, so that's pretty mild.  Off it goes again and gets bounced with the same response.  I revert to the old fashioned system of using the telephone and get told to send it through to a Gmail address.  Sure enough a couple of hours later I get a call to say that all is safely received.

Just curious, I ask - 'any idea why the royal firewall didn't like it?'
A few seconds later I get the answer - 'Er yes its probably the word -----------  cockpit'


Well bugger me.

I must be doing something right.

After the last post, I had more hits in a day than I normally get in a month.  From the stats it is mainly from peeps on FB who saw my link and the picture of the new book cover.  Its a shame that the book is going to take so long to get published.  I know there are a lot of graphics and it has to go through an editor but it seems strange that when I publish one of my novels I can upload it for sale as a Kindle and paperback in 12 hours yet this 'mainstream' publication will take 12 months!!!  Anyway, just to remind people that I have six novels about the Fleet Air Arm and Royal Navy (including 815 Squadron in the first one), all based on bits of my own career but mainly made up to make them interesting.  So here is another gratuitous book cover - with a Lynx on it.

Lynx book cover

Well  my publishers have been quite quick in some ways and have just sent me the first draft of the cover for the new book.  I have to say I think it looks pretty good but always welcome feedback.  There is plenty of time to make changes as the actual book is going to take at least another 11 months before it appears.  I was hoping for 9 months but apparently because I put some many pictures in it, its going to take a little longer.  In some ways its not a bad thing as this will tie in with the decommission of the aircraft next March.  I've already had to send this draft back as there is one error about one of the photos - if anyone spots it just leave a comment.

Another literary milestone.

First draft of the Lynx book was despatched to the publishers today.  There is one more addition to make.  I was meant to be flying last Wednesday with 815 Squadron to have a final trip in a Mark 8 but managed to select the only day of the week with a Force 10 and low cloud.  Hopefully next Wednesday will be better.  Either way, I wanted to get things going with the publisher and the RN PR people who have to clear the book.  If I actually get airborne I can add the last bit in due course.
The book has been a labour of love and incredibly time consuming especially considering that most of it consists of contributions from other people.  The process of contacting them, 'coercing' them to contribute and then getting the input into a consistent format has not been easy.  However, I must offer a really big thank you to everyone who came up trumps.  Of course I now have to deal with the publishers and have no idea what changes etc they will want.
Publication apparently takes about 9 months which means a launch around Christmas but I am trying to tie it in with various things that the Navy are doing as the Lynx retires.  I am really hoping to get everyone together for a few beers at an appropriate time.
So on with Jon Hunt 7..................


One of my problems is that I've been given so many brilliant photos its been really hard to choose them.  Here's one that I didn't use.