S.K. Keogh's Blog: The Jack Mallory Chronicles, page 9

“Fly” Through 17th Century London

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Pirate Flag That Changed The Course Of WWII

(From the Daily Mail, Nov. 1, 2013)

It was one of the most audacious missions of World War Two that saw false information about Allied plans to invade Italy planted into the hands of a German intelligence officer.

And today a Jolly Roger flag from HMS Seraph - which had a crucial role in the clandestine mission known as 'Operation Mincemeat' - has emerged, 70 years after the famous event.

In April 1943 the senior crew of the Royal Navy submarine dropped the body of a Welsh tramp, dressed up as a uniformed commando, a mile off the Spanish coast.

False identity papers showed the corpse to be that of Major William Martin of the Royal Marines and attached to his wrist was a briefcase containing secret bogus plans.

The highly-sensitive papers falsely stated the Allies planned to invade Italy through Greece and Sardinia.

As planned, when the body washed ashore in southern Spain the documents ended up in the hands of a local German intelligence officer.

As a result the German high command diverted troops to Sardinia and Greece - away from Sicily where the Allies successfully invaded two months later.

It gave the Allies a foothold on Hitler’s fortress in Europe for the first time since Dunkirk.

The extraordinary deception was later the basis of the film The Man Who Never Was.

To mark the special operation the flagman on HMS Seraph added a dagger emblem to the submarine's Jolly Roger to go alongside five others for clandestine missions.

It was tradition for Royal Navy submarines to have its own skull and cross bones after a World War One Admiral famously compared submarine warfare to piracy.

Emblems were added to the flags each time the submarine sunk an enemy or completed a mission.

One of the other daggers on the flag signified a bizarre special operation which involved the entire crew speaking in American accents to appease an English-hating French general they were rescuing.

General Henri Giraud refused to board a British craft and so the sub hoisted the Stars and Stripes and pretended to be American.

The HMS Seraph's Jolly Roger was kept by a junior rating, whose role was to update it, after it was replaced by a new one in 1944.

He handed it on to his son who has now made it available for sale at auction and is estimated to fetch £10,000.

Auctioneer Steven Bosley, of Bosleys of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, where the flag is to go on sale said: 'It is rare for these Jolly Rogers to come on the open market because most of them went to the submarine captain or ended up at a museum.

'It is hard to value it because they are so rare but this one does carry a premium because of the association with Operation Mincemeat.

'The flying of a Jolly Roger on a submarine is a British tradition that still goes on today and whenever an operation has been completed a new emblem is stitched on to it.

'The provenance for this one is excellent. The vendor’s father served aboard HMS Seraph as a junior rating but it was his remit to look after the Jolly Roger and update it.

'A new Jolly Roger was taken into service when the submarine had a new captain in March 1944 and this one was preserved by the vendor’s father who took it with him on leaving the vessel.'

HMS Seraph was chosen to take part in Operation Mincemeat because of its previous success with special operations.

Its commander, Lieutenant Bill Jewell, knew the truth of the operation but he had to tell his men the canister carrying the body of the dead tramp, whose real name was Glyndwr Michael, contained a meteorological device.

At 4.30am on April 30, 1943, HMS Seraph surfaced a mile off the Spanish coastal town of Huelva, and Lt Jewell and a few senior officers gently pushed the body into the sea.

It was found washed up by a fisherman at 9.30am and was reported to German agent Adolf Clauss.

As well as the ‘top secret’ documents, love letters from the body's pretend fiancee were also placed on his body to give the deception more credence.

After the war HMS Seraph was broken up. Its conning tower was preserved as a memorial at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, US.

It is the only shore installation in the US where the Royal Navy ensign is allowed to be permanently flown.

The Jolly Roger flag, that measures 31ins by 48ins, is being sold by Bosleys on November 6.

INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR LINDA COLLISON

Readers of nautical fiction will be familiar with Linda Collison from your engaging Patricia MacPherson series, published by Fireship Press. Tell us what inspired you to branch out into the Young Adult realm.

Having been a teenager, having raised teenagers (or, more appropriately, sheltered and fed them as they morphed into adult beings), I have a soft spot in my heart for these awkwardly beautiful, self-absorbed, often tormented creatures.

Ever since I was about twelve years old, I’ve liked coming-of-age stories. Like, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Member of the Wedding, Catcher in the Rye, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, etc. Novels about children or teenagers on the cusp of adulthood. It’s not so much the plot as the character I care about. What goes on inside their mind and heart.

My first novel, Star-Crossed, was published by Knopf as young adult historical fiction – even though I didn’t set out to write a YA novel. So I guess I write for teens even when I don’t intend to!

Tell us about your new novel, Looking for Redfeather. What do you think is its biggest appeal to a Young Adult audience and perhaps to an even wider audience?

Three runaway teens on a road trip, meet up by chance and go on the road together in a stolen (actually, “borrowed without permission”) Cadillac. Each kid is a misfit in a way, and each is running for a different reason. Ramie’s search for his estranged father, an Apache musician named Redfeather, becomes a shared quest. I hope young adult readers will relate to the characters, their fears and frustrations. I think older readers will see the humor and the pathos in it, maybe more than teen readers.

Music plays a big part in the novel, as it should on any road trip. As it does in my life. I’ve included songs as touchstones for our times, this troubled twenty-first century. And now I’m working on the stage play adaptation, which I hope will appeal to young and old adults alike.

With this novel, you have branched out into the bold new world of self-publishing. Tell us what brought you to this decision.

I’ll be honest: Because my agent wasn’t able to place this novel with a big publisher. I looked around me and saw how many authors were doing it, were publishing their own books. And I said, let’s do this thing. Let’s become a publisher as well as an author. Fortunately, my husband agreed and has been very supportive. I love this story – Looking for Redfeather –it’s been a part of me for six years. I wasn’t willing to have it lay forgotten in some file on my computer. I wanted these kids, my characters, to live. I would do anything – even become a publisher myself –to give them life. (I’m smiling and winking, here.)

How different was your writing process between your nautical series and Looking For Redfeather?

Looking for Redfeather was much easier. Oh, sure, I researched the Apache and I had to check bands, facts, highway routes, dates, etc. but compared to the research that goes into historical fiction, it was a lark. Still, it has taken me six years to write, rewrite, and publish the book! Which, ironically, is how long it took me to write Star-Crossed…

Is there a follow-up in the works for Looking for Redfeather or is the novel meant as a stand-alone?

There aren’t any follow-ups in the works – some novels are meant to stand alone and I think this is one. But I never say never.

How much did you draw upon your own youth or perhaps the lives of your own children for this story?

It’s a mish-mash and a composite, for sure. Snippets of my kids’ lives, and their friends, my nephew’s voice, my granddaughter’s genetic syndrome -- it’s all in there. Even some of my own longings, desires, and insecurities as a teenager. But mostly, it’s all made up. What is absolutely real is the three quests the kids are on. And the places in the book, they’re all real. And the historical figures – Geronimo, Cochise, Victorio and Lozen.

What is next in the prolific writing life of Linda Collison? Will the third book in your Patricia MacPherson series be coming out soon?

Good Lord, I hope so! I ran aground last year and abandoned it for a while but now I’m back on course and planning for publication in 2014. The title is By a Yankee Moon. Patricia goes to the dark side – that is, she becomes an American colonist. A Rhode Islander. Or, as they were often called, Rogue Islanders.

Is there any advice you might give to other writers (myself included) who are trying to make a decision about whether to start with/or stick to traditional publishing versus going the route of self-publication?

I’m no expert on self-publishing! This is my first venture, after publishing five books traditionally, through Pruett Publishing, Alfred A. Knopf, and Fireship Press. What I like about running my own publishing company is that I can control both quality and retail price. What I don’t like about running my own publishing company is that it’s a black hole for my time –and there’s an upfront investment which I may never earn back. I have to learn how to be a publisher when all I really want to be is a writer. But I believe in my book enough to give it life. I’ll take that risk.

Susan, thanks for the opportunity to talk about Looking for Redfeather, my contemporary YA road trip novel. It’s always an honor when an author whose work you admire takes an interest in your work!

Find out more about Linda Collison and her writing by visiting her website: LindaCollison.com

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You can now find my author website at: http://www.skkeogh.com/

PLEASE VISIT MY NEW WEBSITE

This blog is being replaced by my new website: skkeogh.com.

This WordPress site will remain up indefinitely for those who might be interested in the previous articles posted here.

Please visit my new site where you can find current and future blog posts under the “Blog Post” heading at the top of the home page. I hope you like the new look! See you on the other side!

ATTENTION SCREEN WRITERS!

The Weinstein Company is offering a contest for screen writers. They announced it recently on their Facebook page. They are partnering with NextMovie and Film.com to offer the contest winner a chance to pitch his/her screenplay to a Weinstein development executive. To enter, “like” TWC Facebook page and follow the link provided there.

I have entered my screenplay adaptation of The Prodigal. Although I know most production companies run from movies set at sea because of the inherent nightmare of filming on water, I figured it’s worth a shot. I think the structure of the story would work very well in the three-act format of a motion picture.

So wish Jack Mallory luck!

THE CREATIVE SUBCONSCIOUS

“If I didn’t have writing, I’d be running down the street, hurling grenades in people’s faces.”   — Paul Fussell

I know what Mr. Fussell means.

Last summer I was faced with a frightening writing dilemma, one which all writers face: that dreaded question, “What’s next?”

For the previous several years I had been researching and writing my Jack Mallory trilogy. Sure, it hadn’t started out as a trilogy, but that’s how it ended up. The first book, The Prodigal, was published, as many of you know, in 2012 by Fireship Press. The future of the second and third book are still up in the air, but if I cannot find a traditional publishing home for them, no doubt I will self-publish them.

But all good things must come to an end, and the trilogy did. After so many years of editing and revising, I wondered if I could still write something new again. Had I creatively stagnated by spending all those years poring over the same narrative? Could I create new characters and new worlds? Fortunately, before true anxiety or writers block could latch onto me, I was inspired by a new story, far, far away from my usual historical fiction genre.

Several months later, I had nearly 150,000 words written in what I hope will eventually be a graphic novel. And, like with The Prodigal, when I reached the end, I found that the characters in the story had much more to do and say, so I’m currently 38,000 words into the sequel.

So while writers fret and sweat about the inevitable, “What’s next?” their subconscious is already way ahead of them, searching for the next plot, scouting for the next characters. That is one part of the process that still leaves me in wonder. It tells me that even if I tried not to create, my mind would never listen and would always churn out more.

A good example was when I woke up this morning. The first image, the first thought in my mind was of a new character for my current work-in-progress. Often when I am struggling with a writing problem, I think of it before I fall asleep, and my subconscious sometimes provides me with a solution come morning. But this time the subconscious completely created a character. I mean, I wasn’t even looking for a new character. I didn’t know I needed one. But there he was, waiting for me come morning, complete with age and backstory and how he would fit into the plot.

So, in the future, if you hear me being anxious over what my next project will be, just remind me to go to bed. Nothing a good night’s sleep can’t fix.

BAY CITY, MICHIGAN, TALL SHIP CELEBRATION

If you are in Michigan this weekend, make sure you stop by Bay City for the Tall Ship Celebration. This festival only comes around once every three years, so get in line, grab your visitor’s “passport” and step aboard a wide variety of vessels moored on the Saginaw River.

I’ve been to the festival in the past and greatly enjoy it. There’s food, maritime music, an art fair, souvenir stands, storytellers, pirates, face painters, and much more. Visiting their website will give you more details: Tall Ship Celebration.

Of course for me the belle of the ball is Erie, Pennsylvania’s Flagship Niagara, a replica of the 1812 U.S. brig.

 

This picture was taken in the morning today (you can see the brown awnings that have been rigged amidships and aft to keep the hot sun off the visitors on board). Lines are already long for folks wanting to tour the Niagara as well as the other ships on display.

If you want to read more about the Niagara and her great history, check out my article about her: A Floating Inspiration. She indeed inspires me, and I’m sure she will inspire many more people this weekend in Bay City.

 

WORDS OF WISDOM REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF CHARACTER IN A NOVEL

Readers of nautical fiction will be very familiar with author Julian Stockwin. His Kydd series has been going strong for years now. I thought I would share a link to a blog post where Stockwin talks about the importance of a novel being character-driven more than plot-driven.

Here is the link to the article: Writinghistoricalnovels.com

Also, here is a link to Stockwin’s author website: http://www.julianstockwin.com/

 

Q&A WITH AUTHOR ROBERT K. LEWIS

I recently reviewed Robert K. Lewis’s debut novel, Untold Damage , here on my blog. Mr. Lewis took the time this week to answer some questions for me about his novel, his writing, and the future of his protagonist.

What drew you to writing crime drama? Have you dabbled in other genres? Tell us about your screenplay experience as well please.

I think I started writing crime drama because I finally started to follow the saying all writers have heard: write what you know. I’ve been reading a LOT of old noir stuff for a very long time, and just love it. Frank Kane. Henry Kane. Don Westlake and his alter ego Richard Stark. Guys like that. Also, I’m a huge fan of 1970’s crime films such as Serpico, The Seven Ups, The French Connection, etc. I have dabbled in other genres, Urban Fantasy for one, however it was mostly me just trying to find my way. I also wrote screenplays for many years before switching to writing novels. Screenwriting gave me a great education in how to tell stories… what constitutes a good story, well told. I spent those years mainly writing action and horror movies. I’ve had a couple options, a few managers, and one small sale. Again, it was a great education.

So you live in San Francisco where Untold Damage takes place. You seem to have a wonderful feel for the city and a close relationship with it that comes across well in your writing. I particularly loved the house boat stuff at the end because that would be one of the ways I’d choose to live if I had such a choice. But tell us how you came to know the world of the San Francisco police department and the underworld of narcotics as portrayed in your story.

Well, I actually don’t live in the city anymore. I did, however, live in the Tenderloin for many years. A lot of what I learned about the SFPD was by simply calling them up and asking questions. They’re very cool about answering questions if you tell them you’re a writer who wants to be accurate. I once called up the coroner’s office to see if I could get a tour of the morgue and the guy on the phone said they didn’t give tours but if I wanted to know what it really looked like just go and watch Bullitt with Steve McQueen. They use the real S.F. coroner’s morgue for that movie and he told me at the time it hadn’t changed at all. As for the underworld of narcotics? Well… just by observing people and dynamics that exist in that neighborhood, but also a healthy dose of movies and reading. And no, I’ve never shot up.

How much is your protagonist, Mark Mallen, like you?

I’d like to think we share the same moral compass, the same sense that the line between right and wrong is for the most part smudged and blurred most of the time. He’s certainly like me in one very definite way: he loves Scotch.

Your characters come across in both action and dialogue as real people. I especially liked how you portrayed the relationship, past and present, with his wife, Chris. As I am currently living in a similar situation/relationship, that aspect spoke to me and came across as very genuine. Can you give us a hint on whether or not Mark and Chris will get back together in your follow-up novel, Critical Damage?

Nope, can’t say a word. My agent would have certain sensitive parts of me in a sling if I even alluded to what happens there. However, I do think I CAN say this: Chris is in the second book.

Since I was born and raised in the midwest, I have to ask you to expound upon one sentence in particular in Untold Damage that made me laugh: “She was pretty, in a midwestern way.” When I read that, I thought, “Hmmm, that’s an interesting way to put it. But what exactly does that mean to someone from San Francisco?” Or maybe I don’t want to know.

Hahaha… well, it’s a compliment, actually. I think I better leave it at that and back away slowly. However, as I said, it IS meant as a compliment. Waiter? Another round here, please, and quickly!

Give us a brief glimpse (no spoilers, though!) about Critical Damage and what your readers have to look forward to. Do you have a third book in the works for this series or are you going off in a different direction?

Again, I can’t really say anything as my agent could snip off very important parts of me and toss them in the grinder. I guess, if I could say anything, it would be that I’m hoping to write Mallen for a very long time, and that I’m working very hard to make that happen.

I can easily see Mark Mallen having his own television series. No doubt you would love that. But which would you prefer: television or the big screen, especially considering your background as a screenwriter?

From you lips to God’s ears! I would love to see him dramatized, period. In Mallen, I believe there’s a wonderful opportunity for an actor to play a very fun, dynamic, and layered character. I can only hope that this opportunity becomes a reality.

Who are your favorite authors? Do you read mainly within your genre?

Yes, I read mainly in my genre, however, I feel it’s VERY important to read OUTSIDE your genre, too. I feel very strongly that to be the best writer you can be you not only have to write all the time, but also read how other writers in other genres tell their stories. I have favorite authors from all over the place. Sure, I’m a fan of Chandler, Frank and Henry Kane, Ed McBain, etc… but I’m also a HUGE fan of David Mitchell, Kem Nunn, Vonnegut, Bradbury, Michael Moorcock, and most definitely William Gibson and Alfred Bester. I know… that’s all over the map, right? But what ALL these guys share is the ability to not only tell a story on a level way above the rest of the pack, but to also populate those stories with characters we care for on a genuine level, and thrill at reading.

Tell us a bit about your road to publication. Also what advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Oh man… my road to publication took well over eight years, easy. I’d written about three books before I really got a handle on what it is to write a novel that hangs together as a cohesive story with character arcs, character development, rising stakes, etc. That first real novel was my Urban Fantasy one. But yeah… it was over eight years of writing six days a week, about eleven months out of the year that got me here. And I did this all without readers. Mr. Self Taught, that’s me. Remember though: this was MY road. Your mileage will vary. As for advice? Just write, write, and then write some more. Don’t get hung up on the whole “being a writer” thing. Your job is to tell stories well. Dynamically. It’s like what Natalie Goldberg (author of Writing Down the Bones and The True Secret of Writing) said at a recent signing I attended: Shut up and write.

 

You can follow Mr. Lewis on his blog: http://needlecity.wordpress.com/ 

Untold Damage is available in e-book and paperback formats.