Present: Adele (chair and minutes), Harry, Ian, Jenny, John, Kaz, Michele.
Apologies: Gill, Laura, Lesley, Pip, Suzanne.
Topic: Members’ work-in-progress.
News and updates:
No updates from any members this meeting.
…read an extract from her book The Undesirables, about the Boer War and its aftermath. She reminded everyone that previously Anna had returned home to the family farm after the war ended but was to move to Johannesburg for a nursing position at hospital and Finn had returned to Scotland to his family home. Finn has gained a position at the same Johannesburg hospital as a doctor, so missing each other terribly the two meet up again.
It is now Nov 1902, and Anna is being shown the hospital layout and her shared room with another probationary nurse, Isabelle. She has a new nurses uniform and is excited about her new life despite missing her family, her horse which she is reminded of when she unpacks and sees the wooden horse made for her by her now dead brother. Memories and sadness of earlier times flood back to her.
On her way round the ward, she sees the doctors doing their rounds and sees Finn; their fingers touch and rekindle their love, following which he asks her to dinner that evening.
There was a discussion in the group about Boer and non-Boer races, the future and the structure of the book. The group recognised similarities with Gone With The Wind.
Michele said there was approximately one third to go. There would be some turning from the women’s experience of the war to that of the men’s, and conflict between Anna and her brother who takes over the family farm.
…read an extract from his memoir on board ship, 1960, with Beryl, his wife accompanying him on this trip. This piece covered a stop off in Djibouti, French Somaliland, where the group experience patisserie and coffee, saw a mangy stray dog, and a learned a little about the cost of provisions in the catering department on board ship, which was why they endured Camp Coffee.
The group enjoyed the extract as it evoked a real feeling of presence with the smells and tastes of the setting, and although Harry wondered if was overworked, everyone enjoyed it, disagreeing with him on this point. A discussion on the merits and memories of Camp Coffee ensued. All thought it was an acquired taste and were glad it was largely a thing of the past. Harry revealed that the label, which used to show a kilted officer seated before his tent being served by a standing Sikh orderly, now shows the two sitting side-by-side.
… handed out copies of a synopsis of his latest book; a children’s adventure story based partly on historic fact and partly in a magical setting with dragons and fantasy adventure, at the heart of which, is 11-year-old Charlie, who gets superpowers after finding a whistle.
The group enjoyed the idea of the story and discussions ensued about the age range of the audience with the feeling it should be aimed at the 10-14 age group, and that it had similarities in idea to Tolkien, Rowling and Pratchett. Ian saw similarities with That Hideous Strength by C S Lewis.
Perhaps consider whether the historic references to famous people in the 1970s would resonate with today’s young audience. Also the synopsis concentrates too much on historical events rather than the fantasy adventures of the protagonist, Charlie. This makes the proliferation of individually banal villains confusing. Ian suggested just one Order of villain which can take various forms, e.g. as in The Matrix. Any publisher or agent needs to be gripped from the outset, so advisable to work on this element primarily.
That said, all thought it was a good adventure story and were keen to hear more of it.
…read the final extract from Summer and Autumn 2023 from her Covid Diary, It was a rounding up of information and detail to finish off the whole diary and Adele wondered whether the group thought it was a fitting ending.
A discussion ensued about needing to have hope for humankind rather than ending on a note of pessimism. Maybe recall the extraordinary things done by ordinary people, doctors and nurses, and how we are only human but we will endure.
…read again from his uncle’s book Chota Sahib, describing his adventures as a box-wallah in India between 1913-1916.
The ship has reached Bombay (modern Mumbai) and upon disembarkation he is met by Mr. Robbins who takes him to the office of his new employer: Gore & Co. There he meets his work colleagues: two Europeans, Sandland and Brace who have been there about 10 years, plus a host of Indians, many of whom speak no English. For his accommodation the hero is taken to the CMC (Christian Men’s Club) – “catering mainly for the godless” as Robbins says. Robbins secures him a small, uninspiring room which will nonetheless cost him nearly half his monthly pay, and helps him to employ a servant. An initial 10 applicants is quickly boiled down to two roguish-looking characters. Nida, overwhelmed by the idea of having a personal servant, picks the giant, as someone he can at least have some respect for.
There is also the mandatory social club to join: the Commercial Gymkhana, with its many fine sporting facilities.
The meeting closed at 1.00 pm.
Whitby Writers Group 
