There are No Smoking signs posted at either end of the room but the smeared and dirty state of windows suggests years of people defying that advice. When we first met, I was willing to give the man the benefit of doubt, but the way he looks at me now is a challenge; maybe I was right - he is a total bastard after all. In all fairness it’s been a long day for him, and an even longer one for me. Leaning back in his chair he stares into space for a full two minutes before speaking, his voice gravelled with fatigue.
“Let me ask you this Ryan. If we swapped places and you were me, sitting here in my chair, would you believe one single word of the statement you’ve made today?” He takes a breath before continuing. “You need to quiet the waves.”
“Sorry?”
“You need to pull something special out of the bag to get you off the hook here, Ryan. You’re on your own in a single boat in the middle of a raging storm and without a change of direction to pacify me you’re in real trouble my friend.”
My friend? I’m screaming inside - it is not a story - it’s the truth, but the point he’s making is fair, because even I have a job to believe the witness statement I’ve just signed. Much has happened in the few days since I left Rennes, almost too much to recollect properly and somewhat impossible to comprehend. Last Friday seems like a hundred years ago, and yet it feels like only a few hours have passed since I was sitting in the city square, relaxed, drinking coffee and reflecting on my life.
I am delighted to welcome Michael Ross, the author of today's featured book, to the blog!
Michael Ross: Thank you so much for hosting today. Hopefully, it will be an interesting stopover.
Topic: Convince us why you feel your book is a must-read.
This book has been hanging around in my head for 30 years, inspired after I delivered a car from the UK for a friend to Portugal. I loved the journey, just me, foreign travel, time to stop and start whenever and wherever I pleased. I stayed the night in a random hotel in Northern Spain, and when I paid the bill in the morning, the receptionist was moody and wouldn’t meet me in the eyes. I got back into the car, and as I drove south, whichever radio station I tried was playing the most miserable music, even down into Portugal. After lunch that day, I got a phone call from a friend telling me that Princess Di had died in a car crash that night. My oblivion to this world-shattering event has stuck with me; I started twisting the story to have my main character delivering the car back to the UK, not realising just how important this journey would be in the story of his lifetime.
I had no idea of the direction or style (or title eve) of the novel, but once I found my main character and the setting for the book’s opening, the ideas came faster than I could type them. There was no plot defined in my head, and there was little that I deliberated over changing, except if I had been a big-name author, I would have most likely ditched the prologue, but I’m not, so I didn’t. I think, as a reader, it is a must-read understanding that you are traveling the same journey as the writer. I had no list of characters with well-researched backstories; I had no conclusion that I was heading for, no landmark everts to slot in.
Before release, I shared the text with a couple of dozen people and the response has been incredibly positive. It’s a page-turner, and I had no idea of the twists and turns coming within the storyline, so the reader should find themselves kept on their toes.
Of course, other views are available.
Best wishes,
Mike
Mike has self-published (including Quiet the Waves) five short story anthologies and five novels. Readers can contact Mike via email at
Thank you so much for hosting today.
ReplyDeleteThis looks really good. Thanks for sharing and hosting this tour.
ReplyDeleteI would enjoy reading this story. Sounds really interesting.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting today, Paula Mike
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very interesting book to read.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the post.
ReplyDeleteInteresting guest post!! Certainly does sound like a must read!! Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDelete