CONNECTIONS

 

 

For those out there reading the above novel which, as some reviews pointed out, ended abruptly. But taking on board those reviews of wanting a decisive ending, I began to research the aftermath the war had left, not only on the British, but the Germans too. Then along came RESTORATION published last year, 2019.

 

There are two characters that connect the novels above: Hauptmann Heinrich Josef Beckmann and Isabelle May Rouchon. FORBIDDEN LIAISON begins in late 1943 when they begin an affair and ends just after the D Day landings.

RESTORATION begins where FORBIDDEN LIAISON ended, just after the D day landings when he is taken a Prisoner of War. And without giving too much away, the story ends at the beginning of 1947 in Frankfurt Germany.

Happy reading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE SEQUEL TO FORBIDDEN LIAISON

Long awaited sequel now available at the reduced price of £0.99.

Find out what happens to Hauptmann Heinrich Beckmann when he is captured in Normandy in 1944.

 

WHY DO I WRITE?

D.H. Lawrence as a young man.

 

Question: Why do I write?

Answer: I like to tell stories.

Question: Why?

Answer: Because people fascinate me. Books are about people. Their good points, their faults, their insecurities, their guilt, their passions. The list could go on.

Question: So which author inspired you to write?

Answer: The one above, D.H.L. whose German wife Frieda called him simply ‘L’. (‘L’ happened to have had affair with the wife of a German Professor at Nottingham University, and they ran off together, to Mexico, I believe). The picture gives the impression of an intense looking man, whose passions run very close to the surface.

Question: Why him in particular? Why not one of the Austin sisters?

Answer: You will have to wait as I have just had a flash of inspiration. If I started, ‘I was born in… my parents were … I was schooled at … BORING.

So this morning folks, I am beginning my biography. My short chat with you has given me the inspiration I needed and the HOOK I wanted to kick-start the book. Watch this space folks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESTORATION

Restoration has now been published and can be found on Amazon as from a few days ago.

 

RESTORATION

 

Throughout this novel epistolary narrative is used as a window to look at World War 11 from both sides, survival and relationships being the common denominator.

I began researching this story in early 2018, but it has taken so long to complete as Hubby became seriously ill at the beginning of 2019. He is now home after two operations and several stays in hospital throughout the year. I am his main carer, along with a district nurse who comes in every other day, but I finally finished the novel by working first thing in the morning. Presently, though, I feel I am taking one step forward then two steps back regarding its publication date as my first priority is my husband and the days are simply flying by. I am hoping it will be available towards the end of November, and I will keep you posted as to the date.

Here’s a summary:

Hauptmann Heinrich Beckmann leaves the Channel Islands in late October 1943 for the killing grounds of Normandy. He is captured in late August 1944 and sent to a POW camp in North Yorkshire. England. Heinrich soon becomes the connection between the prisoners and the British Camp Commandant, but his rank isolates him as he tries to fight off the memories of the past few years. It is not only the worry about his family, but the boredom, the frustration and the loneliness that constantly dog him. But the other constant in his life is the intense feelings he harbours for his British lover, Isabelle.

One day, Heinrich receives a bunch of letters that have followed him around. One informs him his estranged wife and eldest daughter are presumed dead after a bombing raid on Frankfurt. But in 1945, Heinrich receives his first letter from his lover, Izzy. Heinrich quickly writes back, but Izzy’s reply shakes him to the core. After the German surrender in May 1945, Heinrich receives another letter saying Izzy and her mother are leaving the Islands because of reprisals. His feelings and worries intensify, along with dealing with the guilt he and his country is made to feel after the discoveries at the concentration camps.

Not only does Heinrich try to restore relationships, but endeavours to regain some of his pride by becoming instrumental in restoring a new Germany.

 

RESTORATION

 

Three years ago, in 2016, when I self-published FORBIDDEN LIAISON some said it bordered on pornography, others said it ended too abruptly. I admit it did end abruptly, and after thinking about it I decided to resurrect the main characters by writing a sequel. So what happened next? You will have to read the book, but for those of you who are partial to a few descriptive passages of straight sex then you will not be disappointed.

I am hoping RESTORATION will be published in the next few weeks. It has to have one last proof-read then formatting to kindle.

Will keep you posted of the publishing date.

 

NB:   You might also like to know I have recently published second editions of Operation Mainspring, Forbidden Liaison, and Stopping by Woods.

 

 

THE OXFORD COMMA – ARE YOU IN, OR OUT?

Just where would you put the Oxford comma, or commas, in the above statement, or wouldn’t you? I’m an adherent of the Oxford comma and was once criticised for using them, but as they are an optional part of punctuating, and the English language is the only language to use them, I will carry on doing so as I was taught to punctuate this way. When reading novels nowadays, I find this comma sadly defunct. But, it does have a purpose: not only can it be used to add emphasis, and tone, to the written word, it is also used as a pause, especially when reading dialogue. So, all-in-all, I am in favour of using the Oxford, or Harvard comma, as it is also referred to, and will carry on doing so. Happy reading and writing.

AN INTERVIEW WITH MYSELF.

Q: Do you feel that male eBook writers are more successful?

A: Yes, I cannot make a living at it like some of my male author friends.

Q: Is it because they are better at ‘putting themselves out there’?’

A: The ones I know, yes, definitely.

Q: Do you think you need to do something about it?

A: Probably.

Q: Then why don’t you?

A: I could give a thousand reasons why, but I feel it may be my age. And don’t come back with ‘age is only a number’.

Q: Well it is.

A: My most successful male author friends attract quite a lot of followers perhaps because they are only in their 40’s and early 50’s.

Q: Don’t you think that’s a lame excuse?

A: Probably. But I feel I should spend my time writing as I am of the old fashioned mind-set that if my books are good enough someone will spot me.

Q: Do you think your books are good enough?

A: Yes, because over 95% of my reviews have been positive. And only recently had a 5* one word review which simply said EXCELLENT.

Q: Then you already know what your problem is.

A: Yes, I need to solicit myself.

Q: So which corner will you be standing on tonight?

A: I’ll be leaning on a lamp-post at the corner of the street until a certain little agent goes by.

Q: That sounds familiar.

A: George Formby, you know the man who sang the funny innuendo songs. Like, ‘With My Little Eukele in my Hand’. No, it was not a euphemism, he actually had a eukele and strummed it whilst singing.

Q: I’m surprised he wasn’t dragged off the stage.

A: I think he was banned from the wireless – radio to you – at one point. I know it seems tame to what you can see on television these days.

Q: Do you think it better to be more open?

A: Definitely. Can’t stand brushing things under the carpet, not talking about certain subjects, not being allowed to voice your opinion or feelings: being so far up your own backside that you don’t see daylight.

Q: What is really bothering you?

A: The fact my work has been termed by one reviewer as pornographic and more explicit than 50 Shades of Grey. What a liberty! And there’s the rub. If they had compared me to D.H. Lawrence then I would have been much happier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

STRAWBERRIES

To all my friends and acquaintances I would like you to know I have not dropped off the end of the earth but have been without broadband for one week. ONE WEEK!
It has been like having a limb amputated or part of my frontal lobe removed.
As you will be aware we were victims of Storm Doris earlier this year which ripped, yes, virtually ripped, through our bungalow. We have now been re-housed for six months whilst building work is carried out. Should be back just in time for Christmas. Oh joy! another move.
As you can imagine it’s been a nightmare at times and what with Hubby’s condition and my metal hip which has groaned under the strain at times, we are settled into a small semi-detached with a downstairs loo quite near an airport.
It reminds me of when my son lived near Heathrow 5. The planes came over so low you could see the features of the pilot and co-pilot. But even with the bedroom window open at night because of the heat, I’ve been so knackered I’ve slept through all the take-offs and landings.

What’s with the strawbs you might be asking. Well, we found the back garden abundant with strawberries and raspberries. Picked three lots of strawbs in the first two days. Not got around to the raspberries yet, but I have been picking them and eating them straight away.
Am now reasonably happy, especially with the broadband, but it’s not like home, more like a long holiday in holiday let.

STOPPING BY WOODS

France, February 1944:

As Celeste – an SOE agent – awaits the arrival of a Resistance leader, she discovers he has been caught and executed. With no other alternative, she makes her way to the coastal city of Caen in order to help co-ordinate surprise attacks on the enemy to coincide with the D Day landings. But two things stand in her way, a boy who is left alone after losing his mother, and an American pilot she finds hanging by his parachute from a tree in nearby woods. In their own way they are all at a disadvantage, Celeste by gender, the American by ethnicity, and the boy by a genetic disorder. Celeste decides to pass on the American to a life-line that would get him back to England after leaving the boy with relatives, but nothing goes to plan as they make their way across the French countryside.

I started this novel in January 2016, and by now I would usually have another one well on the way to publication. But the ill health of Hubby, a total right hip replacement for me, Hurricane Doris blowing off our roof, then water ingress in 3 rooms that have now to be stripped, re-plastered and re-decorated, 2017 has proven to be a real challenge so far.

Things are slowly improving though, and the other good news is, I am now researching my 8th novel.

Hope you like Stopping by Woods and look forward to your feedback.