My work vs Other’s work

I’ve had to take a break from my own writing projects to help out with projects my friends are working on.

I had a few intense days reading through Robert Fanshawe’s next publishing project, the theatre play All ABout the Boys. This was a passion project for me. Seeing the play performed was my first encounter with Global Fusion Music and Arts and also with Fanshawe’s writing. The play is very good and most of the people who were involved in it then, are now good friends. My role in the publication of the play was to read through the script with all the editor’s notes in it. A bit tricky to check someone else’s proofreading and formatting but I’m not ashamed to say that it was needed.

I have reviewed Fanshawe’s novel The Cellist’s Friend here and he has also produced a promo if you care to check it out.

There has been a few meetings in regards to Global Fusion’s Anthology. Although my editing work was done ages ago, until we have a completed document ready for print, a final read through cannot be done and I keep dipping in and out of this to bring it to completion.

Now I can hopefully get back to the relaunch of my short-story. The exciting news there is that I have ditched the idea of doing a new book cover and I’m instead looking into producing a physical book – or pamphlet. My test on Amazon would render a smaller-than-A3 book of about 30 pages. More to come regarding that in a few weeks.

 

The Cellist’s Friend

It’s hard to write reviews for books written by friends. On the one hand you want to sing their praise because you know how much work they’ve put in and you want them to do well. On the other hand you want to treat your readers to the same level of honesty as you do with other books.

So here it goes, my attempt at sing Robert Fanshawe’s praise while being honest, but first an introduction. This book starts with an execution during the first world war. An unusual event in many ways yet ordinary in the realities of life at the front. However, most of the story, actually takes place on the home front, as main character Ben tries to deal with his experiences in the trenches while faced with the impossible task of build a new life.

The Cellist’s Friend is not a book I would have read if it had not been written by a friend. Although the war years fascinates me I don’t read a lot of war-time historical fiction. When Fanshawe explained the premise of the book before it was published, it peaked my interest. It is a war story in that it is set during the end of the first world war in mostly military surroundings but focuses more on the thoughts and feelings of Ben. I really enjoyed his story, the questions he was asking himself and that he tried to make sense of his experiences through poetry. It made it different from other stories I have come across. I also felt, not only because I know the author, that he is very knowledgeable about the time, the military traditions and the war itself.

My main criticism is that the Fanshawe includes a lot of different issues – racism, women’s suffragette, apart from the philosophical ideas of the purpose of war, what bravery is, redemption and finding your own sense of self. I’m tempted to suggest that the story should have been simplified. The social issues that’s going on around the character sometimes takes away from the main story – this young man trying to understand the world when he has seen so much suffering. Perhaps then, the cellist himself could have been given a larger roll. I do wish I had been given more of his story.

I truly enjoyed reading The Cellist’s Friend and I would really recommend reading it, especially if you have an interest in this time period with a local flavour for South East London.

 

Book Release Celebration

No sadly not my own book release but just as much cause for celebration. Last Thursday was the official book launch of my friend Robert J Fanshawe’s book The Cellist’s Friend at Global Fusion Music and Arts’ open mic night in Woolwich.

Robert decided on self-publishing. I had a very small part to play in the process when I acted as adviser and general bouncing board while Robert was going through the different stages of preparing the book for publishing. Author House is supposedly one of the biggest self-publishing companies out there, with the usual offer of preparing different parts for you or you can choose to do it yourself.

After the usual open mic readings and music performances, Robert introduced the book and read two sections from it. It is very different to hear the author himself read the text as he intended it, in comparison to reading a book for yourself, especially since Robert happens to be an excellent reader and actor. It adds a layer to the story that you wouldn’t otherwise get. I won’t say too much about the story now. A review, or my thoughts about the book, will come soon.

What I will say, is that no matter how small a venue, perhaps even just your closest friends, you should celebrate your book release. Whether self-published, via independent or major publishers, or even vanity publishing – there is a massive amount of work behind and a published book is a great achievement.