Jane Buckley's Blog: Is Self-Publishing a failure?, page 2

The Realities of a ‘Mixed Marriage’

The photo is sourced from the Belfast Live and is not a representation of the couple.

Born into a Protestant family, William* attended Foyle College in Londonderry before securing a job with a local clothing manufacturer.  He attended several training courses at colleges in England and constantly met people who told him, “sure, there’s Irish in my family too!”

As a naïve 16-year-old, he vividly remembers dating a Catholic girl.  One day they were happily walking up Waterloo street, hand in hand, wearing their school uniforms – he in his Protestant Foyle College uniform and she in her Catholic Thornhill College uniform.  Within seconds, they saw four young lads walking towards them.  As they passed by, one of them suddenly spat at William and called him a “Jaffa bastard!” 

When William got home, he asked his mother what they’d meant.  She laughed and explained he’d been called a “Jaffa” because they’d assumed he was an “Orangeman”, quickly adding that he obviously wasn’t and that he definitely wasn’t a “bastard!”  He still laughs about it today when he recalls how green (forgive the pun) he was! 

When talking of his wife, he describes it as “love at first sight!” William says of Gina, “I was moved to a rural factory and was being introduced to the staff by my boss.  I was 28, and she was only 20.  Gina was from a Catholic family (Italian Grandfather) with dark hair and that beautiful olive skin.  She was gorgeous (and still is!), and I knew right then that I would marry her.” They’ve been married now for 34 years,

One Friday afternoon, when they’d finished work, Gina asked William to give her and a friend a lift into Derry to do some shopping.  He invited them to the Mourne Bar for a drink before they parted company.  Left on their own for a brief moment, he’d been staring at Gina when she’d asked what was wrong.  He laughs again when he recalls his cheesy answer, “nothing, I’m looking at your lips; they need to be kissed!”

Gina lived in quite a Republican area, and William lived in a Protestant area in Derry.  It never concerned him, not once, that Gina was Catholic.  However, her father began to worry when he thought the relationship was becoming obsessive, announcing that if William came near the house again, he’d get “the two barrels.”  An optimistic friend of William’s suggested perhaps it meant he’d get two barrels of beer (ah, bless).  But somehow, William didn’t think so!

Gina’s dad was a devout Catholic who, whilst working for the Forestry Commission, naively joined the UDR part-time during the early days of the Troubles.  He decided to leave quite quickly when he concluded that metal shutters on his windows and front door and having to meet callers after dark with his shotgun was not conducive to a happy home life. 

A year after the couple started seeing each other, they got engaged on Gina’s 21st birthday.  William was asked to meet the local priest one evening for a “wee chat..”  Unfortunately, he’d also accepted an invitation for a few drinks with the lads in the cutting room at the factory as it broke up for Christmas.  When he did manage to make it back to pick up a furious Gina, she’d shouted angrily at him, “look at the state of you! We’re seeing Father Malley tonight!”   

William apologised profusely and tried his best to pacify her as he explained, “but I only had a few drinks with the lads.”  It goes without saying the eventual meeting was not a success since Gina’s parents were later told by Father Malley “that one’s too set in his ways!”

Sadly the relationship with Gina’s parents collapsed, and the young couple booked a holiday to the Caribbean island of St Lucia.  William secretly ticked the “Honeymoon Special”, and after changing flights at Heathrow, the BA cabin crew announced there was a honeymoon couple on board.  The whole flight clapped and congratulated them, and they were presented with a bottle of champagne.  Gina was a little shocked but delighted even though William warned her it was going to be a very small wedding.

During the first week, they organised the church and the licence, signed by the Governor of the island as was the legal requirement.  Word spread quickly as the couple made friends with guests and hotel staff.  The best man was actually there on his own honeymoon, and his wife became Gina’s bridesmaid.  William borrowed a jacket from another holidaymaker who gave Gina away, and another couple suggested their young daughter act as a flower girl.  Another guest even offered to video and photograph the whole event!  Remember, this was 34 years ago before packaged “Weddings abroad” were even thought about :)

As William was leaving the church, he was approached by a guy who introduced himself and his French Canadian wife.  He explained he was originally from Pennyburn in Derry and had emigrated to Canada 25 years earlier.  When William invited them to attend the reception, he accepted immediately, saying, “me ma will never believe I was at a Derry man’s wedding in St Lucia!” 

Although there was no immediate family in attendance, the guest list had somehow grown to 30, with the hotel laying on a cake and champagne.  It’d been a truly wonderful day!

Arriving back home just before they were due to return to work, Gina rang home to tell her parents she and William had married.  Her mother worked in the same factory, and Gina wanted to prepare her.  The following day word spread fast around the site, and Gina’s mother became so upset with all the questioning she had to leave for home.

There was no communication from then on with Gina’s family until the birth of their daughter Orla a while later.  Gina’s dad contacted her and asked if he and his wife could see Gina and meet their newly born granddaughter.  This resulted in a complete reversal of fortunes, and the ice was finally, and to everyone’s relief, broken.

Shortly after their son Shane was born seven years later, William was offered the position of Operations Director with a UK-based company.  It meant the whole family would move to Colombo, Sri Lanka, where the offshore production facility was.

The children attended an international school made up of 26 different nationalities.  There were Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian pupils with no mention of Catholic or Protestant.  Home was never far away from their thoughts, especially when William’s driver, Randolph, continued to play his favourite Daniel O’Donnell tapes in the car!

The family never encountered any religious bigotry whilst in Sri Lanka and had friends from all sections of the community.  However, upon returning home to Derry, Orla was quickly asked what religion she was.  She was proud to respond by saying, “I’m half and half.”  Even though Shane returned to his original primary school class, he was renamed “P*ki” given his skin had become so dark from the sun. 

Within days of returning home to Derry, William was surprisingly offered a job in Tarapur, India and Gina was left to unpack their 20 ft container of personal belongings from Sri Lanka.  Ouch!

William describes India as “an attack on the senses!”   Sri Lanka had only partially prepared him for India’s fast, highly populated and industrious society.  This job led to another project in Romania, where he was offered a General Manager’s position.  However, given the lack of English-speaking schools, that would’ve been too detrimental to the children’s education.  He turned it down.

Additional work then took William to Estonia, Turkey, China and Bangladesh. Importantly, he accepted these offers knowing Gina was providing the children with a solid and safe family environment back home in Derry. 

William returned, and he and Gina are now settled and happily living in Derry.  However, no doubt encouraged by their worldwide adventures at such an early age, their two children live in Perth, Western Australia. 

Like many proud Derry families, William and Gina are counting the days until they can once again fly to Australia and finally hug the children they’ve missed so much.   

Bon voyage  (hopefully soon!) :)

*Please note names have been changed to protect the family's privacy.

Jane Buckley

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The Price of “Independence”

My first novel, Stones Corner: Turmoil, was published in February 2021. Since then, I have continually promoted it, and the next book in the tetralogy, Darkness, is scheduled for publication in September. Volumes 3 and 4, Light and Hope, will follow in 2022/23. 

I'm an indie author for many reasons, primarily because most publishing houses were clear at the point of contact; they wouldn't touch the subject matter, Northern Ireland and "The Troubles." Because of this, I went out on my own and published it using Orla Kelly, which proved invaluable.

Buy The Book.ie has also proved a fantastic partner in offering me the opportunity to sell Turmoil and learn tricks of the trade from other indie authors. This platform allows us to share experiences and, overall, reassures me I'm not on my own! These authors, too, face the same frustrations of promoting their work and enticing readers to buy.

What I've learned hard and fast is that nothing happens quickly in the book world. It can sometimes take weeks, if not months, for media, bookshops, bloggers to respond to requests for help. 

Therefore, I wanted to share my experiences so far with Irish indie bookshops, whom I have always supported and, being frank, had hoped they'd help me. Sadly, this sales channel has proven to be futile. I’d assumed they would warmly welcome any indie author.  

For example, I recently contacted the top 35 indie bookshops in Ireland (as listed in the Irish Times, December 2018), requesting them to place my novel in their shops. Only two responded even though I asked them to "just let me know either way if you're interested or not…."

My local indie bookshop in and around Derry, the fabulous, Little Acorns Bookstore and The Bookmark.ie Letterkenny welcomed my book and proved themselves to be self-governing from the leading book wholesalers in Ireland, Gill Books and Argosy. A representative from Gill was sincere and took the time to call me to explain they were not accepting any debut publications and gave me some sound advice. Argosy said something along the same lines.

My point is, to all those independent bookstores, how many of you are truly independent? It seems not many, from my walk-ins and phone calls since your till systems are dependent on Gill or Argosy or both. Unless a reader can order Turmoil from these wholesalers, you can't offer my book or any other work from an indie author.  

What price now is "independence ", and what am I to do to reach new readers?  Answers on a postcard please to hello@janebuckleywrites.co.uk. 

A serious question..

Does anyone out there read ever read my blog? If you don’t - I understand but do please, read this one!

I find each day I’m inundated with emails from companies, people, and services that I’ve signed up for in the past, bought something off or sometimes neither - cheeky. I first look at the name, topic line, and unless I know who they are from and what they want, I quickly and without any remorse or guilt press ‘delete’ as fast as possible. If I rarely have some time, I’ll even unsubscribe; however, that can take a time too!

Ever the optimist, I hope you read my blogs and enjoy them as much as I enjoy writing them. It’s an opportunity for me to update you on what’s been happening in my life, especially with my Stones Corner journey.  

What was the weather like those few weeks back? It was amazing, and I’m thrilled that I FINALLY have a trace of a tan. It’s taken me nearly two summers to get the old tan back up, albeit there are lots of white bits too - I know, let’s not go there! Since the sun was out for that one week , there was no blog, and so here’s my latest news.

Darkness will be on its way shortly to Orla Kelly Publishing, ready to be typeset and printed for ACR or Advanced Review Copies (I can never remember that!). Anyway, I’ve booked the Verbal Arts Centre in Derry/Londonderry for its official launch on Friday, 24th. September. For anyone who has preordered Darkness, an automatic invitation will be on its way to you in mid-August. The idea is for me to do a quick reading, mingle whilst enjoying a lovely glass of wine or beer and then an opportunity for me to sign and present any preordered copies of Darkness. I’ll also be bringing copies of Turmoil to tease those who haven’t already bought it. So, save the date.

I received a 5 star* plus rating for Turmoil from Reedsy.com books and was thrilled - take a peek! However, on the other hand, I received a 1* review on Goodreads. Simply put, the reader loved Turmoil until the last chapter where she was about to give me 4 *s, having not realised it was Book One. She was correct; I hadn’t made it clear on the platform that it was the first of four and duly contacted her to apologise and update the summary. Job done, and hopefully, she’ll go back and up the rating. Another significant learning on my publishing journey!

Joe Duffy at Highland Radio has been instrumental in helping me advertise Turmoil to the Northwest, last week, you might have heard a few daily pitches for Turmoil. Now that was a fun exercise, and I admit it’s exhilarating to listen to your book being advertised on the radio - thank you, Joe!

My website will be updated shortly, too, and a fantastic company Bounce have been helping me design a site that is not only user friendly, streamlined and focussed but fun and fresh. They’re also producing an e-book sales brochure for me to send to traditional publishers and agents. My editor, Lynn Curtis (who is honestly amazing), felt that the reviews I’ve been getting could add kudos to future submissions!

I’m not sure how many of you saw the recent Derry News article, but it was amazing to receive so much positive coverage, although I was a tad embarrassed when the lady in the shop noted it was Ned (the mutt) and me on the front page!

I’ve also taken the pluge and have appointed a scriptwriter for Turmoil in the hopw with a few contacts, we can pitch it. A humungous task, as you can imagine. Turmoil is now available at Alan Hanna’s book shop in Dublin, and I was thrilled when they accepted my proposal to stock them. Finally, I was a guest speaker at Linen Hall Event recently. It was great fun and an opportunity to spread the word and answer any questions. Take a look for a laugh!

I hope you all have a peaceful weekend and continue to keep safe and sane!

J :)

“If you try, you might fail,

But if you don’t try, you’ll never succeed”

― Thomas A. Knight

The Indie Author Hustle

The Indie Author Hustle

It's been a cracking week! I'm feeling the most productive I have in a wee while, and it's given me a real boost! 

This week, I've had my social media guru Cassie (my daughter) working with me across my desk and boy, can she keep me on my toes! Yes, I'm going to brag! I'm going to tell you how thrilled I was this morning after some zoom calls when she told me, "Mammy, I love working with you!" How proud do I feel? What a compliment for any mammy? 

So, what have I been up to? Well, I've spoken to a scriptwriter, the lovely Ella, about translating Turmoil into a script to send to studios! You gotta’ dream!  I've also talked to a dynamic team who are to rebrand and update my website and social media pages, Bounce Design. I've put a giveaway on Goodreads.com of 100 e-copies of Turmoil to get those old reviews up, and it looks like over 1000 readers applied! 528 have shelved it – meaning (I think) they want to read it at some stage!

And to round it all off, I received feedback from my copywriter Sorcha way down in Christchurch, New Zealand, who is finalising Darkness, telling me, "I'm doing a fine job with Darkness following Turmoil." Music to my ears! I was also proud as punch to see Turmoil on display amongst some great authors at The Bookmark, Letterkenny.

I am delighted to announce the winners of the competition I ran for those who bought Turmoil, asking readers to nominate a name(s) for me to use in Stones Corner, Hope.

The winners are:

Twins, Charlotte, and PJ Moriarty from Christchurch, New Zealand!

Kerry McClay RIP

Bridie Nicell RIP

I try not to inundate Facebook with too many stories, but all this work is starting to pay off, and I couldn't be happier with the book's reception. I can't explain the feeling since I never, ever dreamt I'd write a book when I was growing up. But I've always said to my two daughters, you've got to believe in what you want to do, but importantly you've got to enjoy what you do – otherwise, you'll be miserable, and success will not come! Simply put, I love writing, and I'm determined to make a success of it.

I've also told myself repeatedly - you know that friggin, annoying nagging voice that sits permanently on your shoulder - that I'm in this "book game" for the long term. It's sometimes so frustrating - nothing happens FAST. However, I've come to recognise it'll likely take years for Turmoil+ to reach 1000 Goodread.com reviews! Well, I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing; it's all I can do.

But whilst I'm working my a** off this end, it would be incredible if you gave me a bit of help by leaving your reviews on Goodreads.com. I KNOW! You've heard this so often, but I don't think I'm going to stop nagging anytime soon - I can’t, reviews are too important.

Here's to the weekend everyone! I hope you all have a peaceful one.

J x 

 

Celebrating Derry’s Factory Girls

Joe Campbell mural in Derry’s craft village.

Hi everyone!

Well, as promised, here is the first of a number of interviews I’ve carried out over this past week. 

Where do I start? What a wonderful lady to interview! She is known by most – if not all – of Derry.  The lovely, Mary White (née Doherty).

We spoke late last year and I can still hear the unending enthusiasm and love in her voice for Derry and her experience of working in a shirt factory.  She talked of her long-time friends when, as a Catholic, she first began to work in the early 60’s in Welch Margetsons.  The site was next to a Protestant area of the city, The Fountain, and so 60% or so of the employees were Protestant.

“Politics was never brought into the factory.  We just got on with our jobs and soon we were friends.   It was funny mind-you,” she recalls, “we never got St Paddy’s day off but we did the 12th July!”

Within a matter of years, Mary left the factory to have her son, Gary.  Living at the bottom of Blighs Lane, between Creggan and the Bogside, she and her family lived in the very heart of the troubles.  It soon became too much when one day her husband noticed a soft drink can had been stuffed and taped around the exhaust of his car.  The usual course of action would’ve been to call the army’s bomb disposal team.  However, in his anger, he quickly kicked the can off and away.  He was lucky it wasn’t a real device; he wouldn’t have survived.  Instead, it’d been planted to entice the army into the area – a trap.  She remembers how upset he was when phoning her from Du Pont where he worked.  They soon moved.

 Full of vigour and life, Mary has so many tales to tell during these troubled times….

…“Jim, my husband had white hair from a very early age and was well known in the town.  As he was walking to his car one day, an army foot patrol were making their way past.  Jim was suddenly stopped by one of the soldiers who asked his name.  Jim White, he answered.  The soldier immediately took offence and quickly grabbed and pulled at Jim’s hair!  He thought poor Jim was taking the hand and was being sarcastic pretending to be the snooker player, Jimmy White.   It took some time for Jim to prove who he was until he presented his driving licence!  It didn’t matter that Jim White the Derry man didn’t look anything like the real man himself!”

Another tale tells of a soldier who stopped Jim along the Quayside in Derry at an army checkpoint.  Recognising Jim’s iconic white hair and his family from hours and hours of watching the streets from one of Blighs Lane Army watchtowers, he told him a story.

One Christmas Day he’d watched Jim, Mary and their little boy and girl walking along the street with their Christmas presents including a doll and a pram.  Mary recalls they were on their way to show off their gifts to their granny.  With tears blinding him, the soldier continued to observe the family.  It turned out he’d a daughter and son the same age and for obvious reasons was missing them that particular Christmas Day. 

 

Left to right in both photos: Helen Cunningham, Rose Doherty and Mary White

Mary recalls the old days as being tough but continues to work with many other factory girls to promote and celebrate the legacy of the city’s once thriving industry.  Artwork, designed by Joe Campbell and painted by UV Arts can be found in the heart of Derry’s craft village.  A factory girls sculpture has been commissioned and once life returns to some form of normality work will commence and it will be placed in the heart of the city centre.

Thank you, Mary and all those wonderful and the proud Derry factory girls! :)

Jane Buckley

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Writer’s Guilt

I actually took a day off!

I did!  I decided I was going to take a day out and attack the garden and boy did I?  I can hardly move this morning but keep looking out the window at my endeavours and I’m chuffed.

When I worked for American Express, a life-time ago, I worked from home.  Not many did.  At first, I found it weird, in fact very weird, but almost immediately and later there were so many benefits.  First and foremost it meant I didn’t have my daily one and a half hour journey each way into Victoria Station, London!  It allowed me to walk my youngest to school and sing stupid songs as we watched and pretended the ducks were speeding along the canal whilst mimicking some Grandstand horse-racing presenter – you had to be there!   It also gave me the time to learn to cook properly which went down very well with the children and hubby. 

I loved it but there were a few difficult things about it, I missed the people, I missed the office buzz but the main thing was this feeling of “guilt.”  I felt I had to be at my desk 100% of the time as if someone was watching me!  As a result, I worked twice as hard and didn’t stop, I’d be checking my emails before dinner, after dinner and before bed!  It’s the same with writing and self-promoting a series of books, you never, ever stop.  You never stop reading or watching articles on how to “Get your book out there!” etc.  You never stop checking your emails/facebook/Instagram/tack tick or whatever it is!  You just don’t stop that was until on Wednesday evening upon hearing the weather forecast was going to be good on Thursday (it wasn’t friggin’ raining!) when I thought I’m taking the day off and Ned and I are going to tidy up the garden.  We had a lovely day so much so; I’m taking today off too!

You can imagine the feeling when I was told that the lovely David at The Bookmark in Letterkenny called my publisher telling her a number of customers were looking for “Stones Corner, Turmoil.”  Low and behold he’s taken delivery of Turmoil as well as The Bookmark.ie in Letterkenny’s Courtyard will tomorrow too!  That feeling of seeing my novel on display next to (okay near to) someone like Jeffrey Deaver and local author Brian McGilloway was surreal.  A huge thank you to The Bookmark.ie.

In terms of my efforts at arranging The Walled City Literature Festival - I’ve already hit a brick wall and hard!  My application to the NI Arts Council has failed miserably for a number of reasons primarily because I can’t provide them with the necessary historical company information ie. no business accounts, confirmed sponsorships and the like.  However, I’m not giving up – so watch this space!

I cannot tell you how many wonderful poets, writers, publishers and the like responded to my proposal to put the festival on in 2022.  Anyway, to them and all the other amazing people who committed to being part of the Walled City Literature Festival 2022, thank you!  I’ll be in touch as soon as I come up with an alternative plan 

Don’t forget! From October 2021, I'll be starting to write Stones Corner: Hope and wanted to give a reader the opportunity to give a gift or remember someone special. If you've purchased Stones Corner: Turmoil and signed up to my newsletter, email me the name of a loved one or friend and I'll include them as a character in Stones Corner: Hope! This offer is only valid until June 30th so get them in quick!

Right! Back out to the garden now :)

Jx

Writing & Wine

I love writing but I also love wine!  And so, what have I learned over the past week when I’ve had family and friends from Oxford and London after what seems a lifetime since seeing them?  Writing and wine DO NOT mix WELL at all!  We used the occasion to sit in the sun, catch up and eat and drink lots after the part easing of lockdown…. my goodness, have I endured in silence. I remember those days when I’d laugh at my suffering from a hangover, but no more, absolutely not! 

But now it’s a new month!  It’s June and it’s going to be a dry one (not literally but then we live in hope the sun will return!). It’s going to be a month of me getting fit, banning chocolate and anything remotely sweet including the temptress Miss Sauvignon! I’m reading Darkness for the final time to get ready to send off to Christchurch for copy-editing and then to the lovely Orla Kelly to prepare for print/e-copy.  I haven’t read it since I finished it in January and I’d forgotten how intense and gripping it is – so watch this space!

Speaking of Darkness, I’ll be sending out the invitations soon for its launch at the Verbal Arts Centre in Derry to be held on 24th September 2021.  I hope as many of you as possible can attend!

As to lock-down, I still find I’m keeping my distance but I’m forever forgetting to put a mask in my bag.  The other thing I’m doing is hating the housework.  I don’t think I’ve ever done so much housework as I have over the past fourteen months.  Even the ironing, I’ve started to hate ironing when I have loved it for so long!  Is it just me?

Next week I’ll be locking myself, John and Ned away as I complete Darkness in between exercising and trying to avoid all those lovely foods that I’ve grown so used to eating!

Be good!  If not good, be safe.

Jx 

The Walled City Literature Festival

I’ve been amazed at the writing, poetry and sheer talent that I’ve uncovered since launching Stones Corner: Turmoil in February this year.  I’ve reached out to so many writing groups, Facebook groups, book clubs, bookstores and not just in Ireland but around the world!  I can’t wait but hope to plan a book launch at the Irish Society, Auckland next January coinciding with seeing my three-year-old granddaughter Alba and six-year-old grandson Charlie, who I won’t have seen in nearly two years!

During my marketing and research endeavours, what struck me was that Derry, our beautiful city and one of the largest cities in the island of Ireland doesn’t hold its own literature Festival!  “Why not!”  I asked.  Most didn’t know and like a rag to a bull, I decided I’d go for it and organise the first – I hope – of many.  Namely, The Walled City Literature Festival 2022. 

The programme will include many of our local writers including Brian McGilloway, Bernie Mcgill, Sue Divan, Byddi Lee from Armagh Flash Fiction, amongst others!  We will also have a selection of poets, with Pádraig Ó Tuama, Jess C McKinney, Hugh McMillan, Jessamine O’Connor running in parallel with a series of Irish language programmes and events.  

For those wannabe authors who can’t get published – the traditional way – we’ll include workshops on self-publishing from Ora Kelly Publishing, Softwood Self-Publishing and Siobhán Prendergast from Dingle Publishing. We’ll also be hosting a workshop with Maid in Media, who will telling us everything we need to do to market our books in a social media world!

One of the events to be held at the Playhouse will be with Tenx9, a storytelling show where nine people have up to ten minutes each to tell a true story from their own life!  We’re also looking forward to Gary Wigglesworth, Hatchett author of “The Book Lover’s Quiz Book” holding a book quiz for Derry’s literature lovers.  Lots more to tell you including competitions so watch this space!

So I’m finding myself registering a CIC (Company in the Community) a nightmare process believe me, to own the festival!  It has to be set up to enable my application for funding to the Arts Council Northern Ireland by 1st June – no pressure!  It’s not going to be an easy feat and so if anyone would like to volunteer to help with the festival, just let me know!

In terms of politics and news this week, it’s been a difficult one.  When I heard the outcome of the Ballymurphy coroner’s report, I cried.  Fifty years.  I can’t say anymore just that no matter what religion or where you’re from – justice must be done.

Other news, the reviews are coming in and are amazing – thank you!  Sales are good but I’d like more (of course I would!) but I have to remember it’s a big book and not everyone reads as quickly as others! 

Next week, I’m locking myself away with John and Ned (the dog) in Le caravan to put a budget together for the festival as well as finishing Stones Corner, Darkness in preparation to go to my copywriter, Sorcha O’Malley all the way to Christchurch, NZ! 

A number of readers who have pre-ordered Darkness will be getting their copies early for preview by early September 2021 – very exciting!  A formal book launch is planned at The Playhouse, Derry towards the end of September more details to follow.

So what more can I say other than it’s GO GO GO in the Buckley household. It’s all so exciting but very hard work. It goes without saying though, that the love and support I have received for Stones Corner: Turmoil is keeping me going strong – so keep it coming! :) 

Best 

Jx

Time for a Giggle

I really enjoy writing this blog. I love being able to connect with you all and give more context to the Stones Corner series, but I’m conscious that my last couple of posts have been quite heavy. Unfortunately, it is the world we live in! So when I was walking the dog this week and wondering what I could write about, I thought I’d give us a giggle and talk about secrets!

SECRET

adjective

1.     not known or seen or not meant to be known or seen by others.

Let’s be honest, we’ve all got secrets, although my children and husband tell me I’m useless at keeping them and you know what, they’re right -  I am!  So it’s relatively easy for me to tell you a secret that very few people other than very close friends and only family know. 

There are all types of secrets, good, bad, funny, exciting or those that are simply better not to share for numerous and valid reasons.  You understand. 

As a result, the secret I’m going to share and to brighten your day this week is actually very funny.  It wasn’t funny at the time, indeed it wasn’t funny at all!  However, if I tell you, maybe, just maybe, you might tell me a fun secret by sharing it in my comments box?

Well, it was like this.  My hubby and I were travelling to New York on business.  Me for American Express and him for his work.  We arrived late at night at the lovely Irish owned Fitzpatrick Hotel on Lexington Avenue, Manhattan.  Note to reader, this was a very long time ago when I was still relatively young and shy (I was honestly!).  Anyways, we check in then decide to go for a nightcap that may have turned into two or three but soon it was time to hit the pit. 

Let me first describe the scene, the Fitzpatrick is a small hotel almost like three or four joined up town houses.  We were put in a room that was at the end of a long, narrow white corridor with two doors at the end.  Our room number was 412 and the adjacent room, 413.

What must have been some time later, I wake up.  Naked!  In the hallway!  I’m howling like a banshee inside, walking back and forth like a mad woman and trying to work out if this experience was real or was I dreaming!  I have been prone to sleep walking my whole life and looking back the hotel room was set up similarly to our own room at home, except the door to our bathroom was the door to their hallway.

This. Was. My. Worse. Nightmare!  I look at the two adjacent white doors and can I, can I remember which room was ours?  Heck no!  What happens if I knock the wrong door and I’m standing naked in front of some complete stranger in the middle of the night!  It wasn’t an option, no way, I need to get help!  I frantically look around and notice a small half-moon table that held a number of small, old-fashioned books placed below a huge round mirror. 

Strategically and carefully, I place some of the books in all the necessary places to provide me with some form of modesty and press the call button on the lift. You can imagine! Frustratingly it wasn’t until the following morning, I noticed there was an in-house telephone on the side table next to where I was replacing the life-saving books!

Once inside the lift and to my horror, I find the lift is mirrored from floor to ceiling!  Shaking my head, I step in and press “G” whilst tucking my everything behind the left hand side of the lift frame.  It offers me no privacy as it slowly descends and quietly opens once it reaches the ground floor.  I shyly peek my head out and around to be met by a shocked, uniformed porter who had been, I’m sure, happily reading behind his desk but who now looked aghast at the crying, naked manifestation desperately trying to shelter in the depths of the lift!   

The man stands up and says nothing, absolutely nothing.  Instead, he holds a deadpan, professional expression.  Clearly seeing my distress, he quickly removes his beautifully pressed jacket and passes it through to me.  Remaining silent, he tentatively steps towards me and pushes the fourth floor button and before I know it, the lift is moving upwards.  As it reaches and settles on the fourth floor, the door opens and I find my hero waiting.  He gestures for me to follow him and then leads me quietly towards our room where he opens the door.  We have yet not spoken a single word to each other.

With a curt nod in acknowledgement, he quickly leaves and I enter my bedroom where I frantically shake and shout at my husband in an effort to wake him and blame him for everything - of course it’s his fault!  Given it was the middle of the night and since he’s used to me ranting, John pays very little attention to my tirade so I dress quickly to return the concierge’s jacket.

My heart is racing and I’m sweating as once again I arrive at the ground floor.  Preparing myself as the doors open I find he’s not there!  The whole reception area is empty and I’m certainly not going to go looking!  Instead, I carefully place the jacket on the back of his chair and run like hell back to my room!

The following morning, I leave the hotel with fire coming out of my heels.  I’ve never returned nor have I ever walked in my sleep in a hotel since - jamming a suitcase and a chair against the door seems to help!  Can you imagine, the gossip in the Fitzpatrick’s staff canteen the following morning.  Cringe, cringe :( 

So to my knight in shining armour, I thank you for your courtesy and kindness and perhaps I will go back and stay once again at the beautiful Fitzpatrick – if they’ll have me!

Some secrets are better kept, some not if they give you a giggle and I hope mine has! And no, there isn’t a photograph available – thank God!

Closing, I’d like to say that I’ve been overwhelmed by the reviews Stones Corner Turmoil has received and even more at the number of you who’ve already pre-ordered Darkness.  For those who haven’t done a review, please do, it’s a bloodline for the book(s) success!  Over 200 have bought the book in total now and I’ve received 20 odd reviews, help me get more :)  

https://www.goodreads.com/review/new/56918213-stones-corner

It’s been a busy week for me and the sun is shining so enjoy the weekend – we’re nearly there everyone, we’re on the road to recovery!

Thank you everyone for all your support.  Doesn’t happen often, but I’m lost for words and a “thank you” doesn’t seem enough.

Jx

Ps.  DON’T FORGET THE COMPETITION!  Buy a paperback of Stones Corner, Turmoil and put a name forward that will be drawn from a hat to become a character in Stones Corner, Light!

 

Grief, Death and Taxes

“Nothing is certain except death and taxes” - Benjamin Franklin, 1789.  

I’m not sure I altogether agree with old Ben!  Why?  Because I can almost guarantee you that every single human being on this planet will experience - at some stage of their lives - two other certainties.  Grief and a broken heart. 

I’ve had my fair share of grief but less of a broken heart. 

The 30-year Troubles have brought with them an unending amount of grief to many of us whether through immediate family, friends, or acquaintances.  My grief wasn’t a result of violence but ill health and a sudden fatal accident.  Upon hearing such news, you never, ever forget where you were, what you were doing that day, or indeed the last words you said to those you lost.   

When writing certain scenes in Stones Corner Turmoil (those of you who’ve read it will know what I’m referring to), I literally cried.  As I wrote, so many vivid memories came back to me that I felt I’d returned to that moment in that room, suffering that awful pain when you think your throat is closing and that constant thump thump of a hammering heart.  Even writing this blog, hurts. 

I’m told there are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. I can be honest and say I’ve experienced all of them but not in any particular order.   Grief eventually becomes part of your DNA and everybody handles it differently.  There is no right or wrong way.  You do what you need to, to survive and live on. 

The reason I’m writing about grief is that we’ve all heard of the Duke of Edinburgh’s death and the effect on the Monarchy.  It’s everywhere!  At times during the constant news coverage, I felt all sorts of emotions and I admit, some not too good.  Yes, it’s sad but what about those who haven’t been able to say goodbye to loved ones or friends lost through COVID!  What about those who’ve had life-saving operations delayed because of lock-down!  I won’t go on but I felt anger and then I stopped - I recognised his wife’s grief, I carry my own every day. 

It doesn’t matter what age or what stage you are in life when someone you love dies, it's shit.  It doesn’t matter whether it’s a man, woman, dog, cat, gerbil, or whatever.  If you love that “someone” and lose them, it hurts like hell.  Fact. 

I could go on and on about the raw, gruelling ingredients that make up grief such as regret, guilt, loneliness, pain, self-preservation even the smells and pieces of music that bring back those sweet memories.  The list goes on. 

One way of trying to heal is to write about those you’ve lost and that’s exactly what my lovely friend Charles did after the loss of his only daughter Heather Jane at a very early age.  His book, Pain – It’s Just Another Word, brought me to tears but also gave me encouragement to keep going and make my life as full as I possibly can.  Why not take a look at his link for further details.
After all that, what’s my point?  It's simple, I wouldn’t wish grief on anyone, not even my worst enemy.  So be kind, we never know what’s going on in someone else's life.