Open book

Sorting through the family photos can be an enjoyable experience. There will be those moments when reflecting on the picture we remember sad moments. After my mothers death I asked for one thing, the family photos. For what reason I never really thought. Maybe to hide the embarrassing ones of me dressed as a little girl called Monica for a fancy dress competition. Don’t think I won. There was one photo I knew on what day it was taken even though it was torn at the edges. June 3 rd 1953, the day the Queen was crowned. Our street had a party for the children inside some one house. Sandwiches, cake, ice cream and jelly would have been the menu. It was after all just after the Second World War and the rationing of food was coming to an end. I look at the picture and wonder what happened to the others who sat down at the tables. I grew up with them, many I played Cowboys and Indians. I think I was always an Indian. Okay, I like the feather hat. With a few of them I played doctors and...

The book is finished and has even been edited by a professional editor. Those who have read it, and some are English academics tell me it is very good. So why hasn’t it sold? Do I need to revisit and re-edit? I took several books off the shelf on ‘editing your work’. They all seem so broad in suggestions as to what I might need to do. Of course there is always the reader critic who also happens to be an editor. The problem like so many today is my lack of cash. This is my dilemma and like all problems I sit and mull over looking for the best solution. I will read again Michael Seidman book “The Complete Guide to Editing Your Fiction.” If my memory serves me well I didn’t really find it helpful the first time because I had already had the book edited and there seem nothing wrong with it. Maybe I should look for over long sentences. My protagonist is a very likable young man; he does have extra baggage with his very large family. The sub plot carries the story along ...

The Eurythmics once again asked us to direct their music video ‘Sister are doing for themselves’ featuring Aretha Franklin. We were shooting in Detroit, Michigan so Aretha Franklin didn’t have to travel too far from her home. It also meant that I saw another part of America at the time when Detroit was a booming car-making city. The producer told me Miss Franklin was just about to arrive. I told Annie Lennox that I would go and meet Aretha so Annie didn’t have to be interrupted having her make up applied. Aretha’s car arrived with its number plate Zooming but Aretha wasn’t inside. A long black limousine pulled into the Studio parking lot. The driver ran around the limo and opened the car door. Miss Franklin stepped out of the limousine dressed in a red suede dress and coat. Ermine tails hanging down from the coat. She knew how to make an entrance. I greeted her as though I was meeting the Queen of England after all she is the Queen of Soul. She was very gracious took my ...