The end of a chapter
Actually the end of a book.
Today I finally finished the novel I started writing 24 years ago.
Back then it was going to be my ‘magnum opus’, my semi-demi-autobiographical debut on the literary scene, which would launch me to fame.
Instead it underwent surgery several times over as its second half was altered, either more or less drastically, interspersed with long periods of convalescence in my bottom drawer.
Its various titles bear witness to its different guises:
- Kingfisher Fire until I discovered that Rumer Godden had beaten me to it with her ‘Kingfishers Catch Fire’ – a big blow that
- Black Gentian
- The Green Tree
- The Colours of the Sea
- The Warden
- The Jay’s Feather
- Wild Goose
Clive read through the final version. He found a phrase which he said sounded like ‘To the Batmobile!’
The photo is a possibility for the ’cover’ of an electronic book version.
Wild Goose
Like this:
Categories: Writing
autobiographical, book, chapter, debut, electronic book, Kingfishers Catch Fire, literary scene, magnum opus, novel, Rumer Godden, Wild Goose
All the more to be proud of and to inspire others! Congrats on finishing your novel!!
Thank you for that! I celebrated with a mug of hot Ribena …
It sometimes feels like a marathon.
My wife said something apt (you living in Italy) when I was struggling half way through my first book – “Think of it like a pizza. It looks too big to eat, but slice by slice, it goes down a treat.
Best wishes.
I’ll remember that! I have actually written 2 other novels – one on Fridays only (my day off from work), while the latest started life as ‘The kingdom, the power and the glory’ and ended up as ‘Queen Anne’s Lace’!