Here is An old poem of mine, a play on Lady Macbeth’s speech from the Shakespearean play Macbeth. Losely Shakespearean Dialogue. With a tip of hat to Geoff at TanGental.
He arrived on my doorstep looking like this. Well I had to ask him in I really could not leave him outside, what would the neighbours think.
It wasn’t so much what he was wearing, though, that threw me but more the aeriel sticking out of his head. Anyway he’d bought cake so I did what I always do in these circumstances and put the kettle on.
So Geoff, The Art Of Spirit Capture , that’s an intriguing name for a book. Knowing you the content will be as unusual as the title.
Here lets get that hat and aeriel off , it will save a lot of damage on the wood work.
Can you tell us, Geoff how did you find your Characters and the Main Protagonistfor the book?
In all my fiction, character is as important as plot, at least to begin with. Eventually plot begins to take precedence so I’m sure the story hangs together and is credible. But finding my main characters is crucial and I often default to people I’ve known down the years or come across in fiction to start my hunt.
The Art started life as a 500 word piece with one main character, the inventor of the spirit capture, Ben Wood. Logic would dictate the story followed him but I soon decided that wasn’t how I wanted to go.
In the 500 word piece you had to be in the know to take advantage of Ben’s discovery and invention. It was something that was being kept secret, to stop Ben being overwhelmed. A sort of mutual understanding amongst the locals to keep quiet.
It would better, I reasoned to begin the book with someone who knew nothing about the captures and their effect and have him or her discover what they were. And as is often best in fiction, put him or her in some jeopardy once the secret was revealed.
More tea vicar..I mean Geoff, it’s your dress, it is confusing me. Where did inspiration come from?
There is a Bill Forsyth film that I love. Local Hero came out in the 80s and made me fall in love with the Highlands of Scotland. It also has one of the great instrumental pieces in film, from Dire Straits, one of my favourite bands.
The lead character in Local Hero is a stressed oil executive from Texas who is dispatched to Scotland to persuade the locals of the benefits of allowing the oil industry in. He is bemused, out of his depth and beautifully played for a patsy as the locals, who want the money the oil will bring. They exploit his conviction that they will be against the exploitation. I wanted to capture a little of that confusion, that reversal of roles.
In the film there are several ‘characters’ amongst the locals and I knew I wanted to populate my community with a similar range. But also to give them differing and overlapping motivations.
Thus Jason Hales, recently single, redundant, with his brother in a coma and now homeless became my hero. His is a journey for sure.
Well all I can say is I am looking forward to reading this!
The Art Of Spirit Capture, here is the Blurb
Jason Hales is at his lowest ebb: his brother is in a coma; his long-term partner has left him; he’s been sacked; and Christmas is round the corner to remind him how bad his life has become.
After receiving an unexpected call telling him he’s a beneficiary of his Great Aunt Heather’s estate, he visits the town he vaguely recalls from his childhood, where his great aunt lived. Wanting to find out more, he’s soon sucked into local politics revolving around his great uncle’s extraordinary glass ornaments, his ‘Captures’, and their future.
While trying to piece his life back together, he’ll have to confront a number of questions: What actually are these Captures and what is the mystery of the old wartime huts where his uncle fashioned them? Why is his surly neighbour so antagonistic? Can he trust anyone, especially the local doctor Owen Marsh and Charlotte Taylor, once a childhood adversary, but now the lawyer dealing with the estate? His worries pile up, with his ex in trouble, his flat rendered uninhabitable and his brother’s condition worsening. Will Christmas bring him any joy?
Set in the Sussex countryside, this is a modern novel with mystery, romance and magic at its core, as well as a smattering of hope, redemption and good cooking.
Now if you don’t know of Geoff Le Pard and his blog TanGental where have you been? Here is his information and a list of all his fabulous books and where to buy them.
Geoff Le Pard started writing to entertain in 2006. He hasn’t left his keyboard since. When he’s not churning out novels he writes some maudlin self-indulgent poetry, short fiction and blogs at geofflepard.com. He walks the dog for mutual inspiration and most of his best ideas come out of these strolls. He also cooks with passion if not precision.
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Famous poets reimagined, sonnets of all kinds, this poerty selection has something for all tastes, from the funny, to the poignant to the thought-provoking and always written with love and passion.
I was nominated by my friend Geoff Lepard to one favourite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation, then to nominate someone else to participate. That’s 10 days, 10 travel pictures, and 10 nominations. Now I nominate Lisa Coleman of Our Eyes Open Please link to me so I know you have participated. If you are not interested, no problem. If you want to guess where this is, feel free. I might even let you know if you are right.
I was nominated by my friend Geoff Lepard to one favourite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation, then to nominate someone else to participate. That’s 10 days, 10 travel pictures, and 10 nominations. Now I nominate Jane of Janedoughertywrites Please link to me so I know you have participated. If you are not interested, no problem. If you want to guess where this is, feel free. I might even let you know if you are right.
I was nominated by my friend Geoff Lepard to one favourite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation, then to nominate someone else to participate. That’s 10 days, 10 travel pictures, and 10 nominations. Now I nominate Betty Hayes Albright at SeasoningsPlease link to me so I know you have participated. If you are not interested, no problem. If you want to guess where this is, feel free. I might even let you know if you are right.
I was nominated by my friend Geoff Lepard to one favourite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation, then to nominate someone else to participate. That’s 10 days, 10 travel pictures, and 10 nominations. Now I nominate Robbie at Robbiesinspiration Please link to me so I know you have participated. If you are not interested, no problem. If you want to guess where this is, feel free. I might even let you know if you are right.
I was nominated by my friend Geoff Lepard to one favourite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation, then to nominate someone else to participate. That’s 10 days, 10 travel pictures, and 10 nominations. Now I nominate John W Howell at fiction favourites.Please link to me so I know you have participated. If you are not interested, no problem. If you want to guess where this is, feel free. I might even let you know if you are right.
I was nominated by my friend Geoff Lepard to one favourite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation, then to nominate someone else to participate. That’s 10 days, 10 travel pictures, and 10 nominations. Now I nominate Di at pensitivity101Please link to me so I know you have participated. If you are not interested, no problem. If you want to guess where this is, feel free. I might even let you know if you are right.
I was nominated by my friend Geoff Lepard to one favourite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation, then to nominate someone else to participate. That’s 10 days, 10 travel pictures, and 10 nominations. Now I nominate Mister Ohh! at Mister Ohh’s sideways view. Please link to me so I know you have participated. If you are not interested, no problem. If you want to guess where this is, feel free. I might even let you know if you are right.
I was nominated by my friend Geoff Lepard to one favourite travel picture a day for ten days without explanation, then to nominate someone else to participate. That’s 10 days, 10 travel pictures, and 10 nominations. Now I nominate Dale at A Delectable Life . Please link to me so I know you have participated. If you are not interested, no problem. If you want to guess where this is, feel free. I might even let you know if you are right.
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