THE FORTUNES OF WAR - a writer's inspirations

THE FORTUNES OF WAR

a writer's inspirations.

Last week I finished writing BLOOD ON THE STRAND, book three in the DI Sonny Russell series of crime novels. Hurrah! and Oh dear! I felt a sense of satisfaction for sticking to something for over a year coupled with a strange sense of loss. I've felt this before and the best thing, I find, is to get on with the next project - straight away. But what to write?

I've long had an interest in the esoteric, particularly Tarot cards and the germ of an idea featuring them had been lurking at the back of my mind for some time. But how to use them in a story? I remembered I'd come across an actual unsolved case known as The Wirral Pillbox Murder where the body of a prostitute was found in a WW2 pillbox in 1955. Despite a huge manhunt, which saw 40,000 people being quizzed across the country, her murder still remains unsolved. 

Now, if that didn't start my imagination rolling, nothing would. Obviously, I wouldn't use the story - I write fiction, after all, but a fortune teller and a body in a pillbox? A rotten cold has meant an enforced rest from anything physical but pounding a keyboard isn't physical - is it? So, I'm happy to say that BLOOD ON THE CARDS has seen the light of day and is now well underway.

CITROEN DS - the 1955 Motor show sensation

CITROEN DS

the 1955 Motor show sensation

At the London Motor Show in 1955 there was the new 2.4 litre compact saloon from Jaguar, the latest MGA sports car and Rolls Royce Silver Cloud, plus a Sunbeam Rapier coupé with whitewall tyres. But the star of the show had to be the vehicle innocuously billed as the ‘2-Litre Six-Seater saloon’ on the Citroën stand. For the previous 21 years their staple offering had been the Traction Avant range.

Citroën had been working on their Voiture à Grande Diffusion (VGD) project since the 1930s. By 1950 the prototype was renamed ‘Projet D’ and in 1955, the DS was launched at the Paris Salon; by the end of that day Citroën had taken over 12,000 orders. 

It was the DS styling that caused the initial sensation, for even in repose it looked like a basking shark.

Variations included The Safari

A beautiful coupe 

And the most bizarre variant, The Reactor

The Reactor was a custom aluminum show car designed by Gene Winfield and completed in 1965. It was based on a 1956 Citroën DS chassis and powered by a Chevrolet Corvair engine. It gained fame when it was renamed The Jupiter 8 and appeared in Star-trek as well as being driven by Eartha Kitt in a Batman film.

I have featured the Citroen DS in my DI Sonny Russell crime novel, Blood on the Tide, when his French opposite number, Inspecteur Guillaume Bruissement has one on trial. I have also written one into Blood on the Strand, soon to be released.

Finally, a Tissier van was developed in the 1960s. 

I've researched this wonderfully futuristic looking vehicle but can find very little information about it. If anyone can supply more details I'd be delighted, so please contact me.

GHOULIES AND GHOSTIES

GHOULIES AND GHOSTIES

Kate, the landlady and boyfriend Bob

Following on from a post last month when I discussed the inspiration for the Shipwrights Arms in my novels, I paid a visit to 'Doris's' aka The Red Lion at Snargate, near Appledore. As it was October 31st, the theme was naturally, Halloween. My daughter, Saskia, made a spooky spider costume for Aggie and cleverly carved her likeness on a pumpkin.

Spooky spider Aggie

My effort was much simpler, inspired by Jack Skellington in Tim Burton's delightful, Nightmare before Christmas. And, despite stiff competition, it one first prize.

My winning pumpkin

All the entries.

The Goacher's bitter was rather too easy to drink and I'm afraid I celebrated rather too well.

MORRIS J TYPE VAN

MORRIS J TYPE VAN

I've long been a fan of the Morris J type Van. It was launched as a Morris Commercial in 1949 and continued in production until 1961. It boasted (!) a 1476cc four cylinder engine driving through a three-speed gearbox.

It was available in several variations:

minibus

Pick-up

Ice-cream van

I like them so much that I have featured two different vehicles in my book, BLOOD ON THE SHRINE, available from Amazon in kindle for only £1.99. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Shrine-Chris-ODonoghue-ebook/dp/B07DK8YMKC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1540825815&sr=1-1&keywords=blood+on+the+shrine

Here is an extract featuring the van used by the baddies!

Bates put the van into gear, and was just driving towards the gate when he stopped. ‘Hang on, there’s something wrong.’

‘What do you mean?’ There was panic in Atkins’s voice.

‘I think we’ve got a flat tyre.’

‘Bloody hell! Is that all? Christ! I thought something terrible had happened. Come on, let’s have a look.’ Sure enough the nearside rear wheel was down on its rim.

Sammy and Baker had to get out of the back again and the mailbags needed to be heaped to one side so they could get at the spare wheel. Bates got the jack and cursed as it would not fit under the sill because of the extra weight. So they had to take the mailbags out and pile them on the drive. Then, when the van was jacked up, he found the nuts were corroded on to the wheel and he couldn’t shift them. ‘For crying out loud!’ Atkins exclaimed. ‘Are we ever going to get away?’

Bates was flustered and breathing heavily. ‘I need a lever. A bit of pipe would do.’

‘For Christ’s sake! Go and find something.’ Bates went off with a torch while the others stood around, smoking. Finally, he came back with a length of galvanised gas pipe that he had found in the barn. He fitted it over the end of the wheel brace and using his considerable weight on lever, the first nut suddenly came free, and he tumbled to the ground.

Atkins could not suppress a laugh. ‘Come on Butch. Quit clowning around. We’ve got to get off.’

Bates stood up, a hurt look on his fleshy face. ‘I ain’t clowning around,’ he said indignantly.’

‘Sorry, mate. It was just funny, that’s all.’

Bates harrumphed and finished undoing the other nuts. The wheel came off easily and the spare was soon in place. Bates retightened the nuts then lowered the jack. ‘Oh, no,’ he said miserably.

‘What’s the matter now?’ Atkins snapped.

‘You won’t believe it - the spare’s flat.’

‘Jesus! I thought this was your pride and joy. Don’t you look after it?’

‘Course I do. It’s just one of them things.’

‘What do we do now?’ Sammy asked.

‘We’ll have to pump it up – see if it holds air,’ Bates said.

‘I suppose you have got a foot pump?’ Atkins asked.

‘I think so. Give me the torch and I’ll have a look.’ Bates rummaged around in the back of the van for what seemed like an age but was actually only a couple of minutes and finally emerged triumphant. Even so, it was not a great pump and even with them taking it in turns, it was nearly 10 minutes before the tyre had enough air in it.

‘Hoo-ray,’ Atkins exclaimed. ‘Right. Let’s get the van repacked and get this bloody show on the road. I’m starting to get nervous now.’

WHO PAYS THE FERRYMAN - AND WOMAN>

WHO PAYS THE FERRYMAN

 - AND WOMAN?

 Johnny Doughty - photo Steven J Downey

Where no bridge is available, a stretch of water can be crossed in a boat - and if you don't have one, hopefully there will be a ferry.

Johnny Doughty

Sadly, there is no longer a ferry at Rye Harbour. It probably finished operating in the late 1960s, early 1970s. For decades it was used to take trippers across to the dunes, where there was a salt water lagoon where they could paddle and swim. Also it connected with the Rye and Camber Tram, which ran from 1899 until 1939, carrying fishermen, golfers and holidaymakers.The last ferryman was called Johnny Doughty.

Not only did he ply his trade but he also sang folk songs. He made an iconic record called Round Rye Bay for More. I remember sitting next to him in the William the Conqueror pub (thinly disguised as The Shipwrights Arms in my DI Sonny Russell crime novels) while he was being filmed for a TV programme.

Walberswick Ferry

Luckily, 150 miles away, in Suffolk, there is a ferry that still operates, crossing the River Blyth, from Walberswick to Southwold. But, what is unusual, is that the operator is a ferrylady!

Dani Church 

Walberswick - motor ferry

Dani Church is the fifth generation to operate the ferry and has been doing so since 2001. The ferry runs from Easter to November, usually rowed but occasionally using a boat with an engine.

Compass Point

I've paid my own tribute to these doughty souls (pun intended) on my model railway layout, Compass Point. Although the layout is inspired by Rye Harbour, the ferryman's hut and boat are closely based on the one at Walberswick. The difference is that my ferry is operated by a man, named Jack Spratt.

Reedham Ferry

Finally, a quick trip further into Suffolk brings us to Reedham Ferry. This wonderful craft does carry cars - but only two at a time!

STUDIO/WRITING HUT - re-purposing an iconic structure

STUDIO/WRITING HUT

re-purposing an iconic structure

Back in 2007 I designed and built my first garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Amazingly, I was awarded a Silver-Gilt medal and I met and shook hands with the Queen.

The garden featured drought tolerant seaside plants put directly into 4 tonnes of shingle. The backdrop was the facade of a Victorian railway carriage, beautifully constructed by my good friend and bespoke furniture designer, Robert Patch. Since then the structure has been languishing in his workshop and I kept promising to do something with it.

Finally, this autumn, work has started, utilising it as the front of a garden building I can use as a studio and writing room.

The floor is also re-purposed, made from four, eight foot by four foot decking panels. As the garden slopes at 1 in 4 I had to get two strong chaps to carry them up to the top!

The structure is going to sit very happily in the garden and blend in beautifully. Also the views from inside, towards the sea, are stunning. I can't wait to finish it! Aggie is looking forward to it too.