A Retrospective was my first novel published in 2013.

Prior to this moment it had been the cause of elation when it was picked up by an agent. Sadly, it failed to be taken up by any of the publishers to whom it was then sent. Hence it’s publication on Amazon, thanks to Drew Westcott

This time round, 12 years later, I’m travelling from annoyance to joy. The joy that a friend has bought and influenced her book club to read and discuss A Retrospective. And, even better, has asked me to go to their meeting to talk about the book.

How fantastic! Is there any task more enjoyable for an author than talking about their writing when it has already been read? It’s akin to telling people about someone you love and of whom you are proud. I say has ‘already been read’ for otherwise to give a brief summary of what I’m writing at that time is as daunting as the initial admission that I’m a writer. The annoyance comes as I do the reverse of promoting my writing, merely mumbling that I write stories when asked what I do with my life.

Here then is my opportunity, if all goes well, to tell them that the opening paragraph came from an exercise in writing punchy opening paragraphs and then to see where they lead. Edward came as my protagonist and I understood his awful dilemma. The setting was the imagined orchard of a garden which was opposite the house where I lived as a child. A woman, who for some reason I feared, had once shown me and my sister her back garden with huge cherry trees where the unripe cherries were protected from the birds with sleeves of white muslin.

Eleanor with her bird cage entered and I immediately knew her. The surprise was the opening of Part Two, Eleanor’s turn to narrate. And it was truly as if she was doing just that, the shocking actions taking place without my hand.

I had immense fun with the descriptions of paintings as the opening of each chapter. I have been to enough art exhibitions to know the heightened language used when describing the provenance etc. of each painting. Especially in this case, as it related to what would happen in the subsequent chapter. 

I will need to read A Retrospective again and despite the hours spent in it’s creation, I’m looking forward to it.  

Can I learn from this? Must make a mental note to myself; be ready with a quick summary of what Bill and Betty are about, the novel I’m working on at the moment. Keep the doldrums at bay!