I think fiction must feature settings that are taken from the author’s imagination, whereas historical fiction must, by its nature, be set in real places in order to lend authenticity. Continue reading Open Book Blog Hop, 20th April
“I don’t know him personally. But I do know he’s not fit to be an MP.”
“If the women voters knew what he’s really like they wouldn’t support him.” Continue reading MPs Abusing Clerks
Today another extract from Transgression seems appropriate in view of recent allegations concerning MPs and the young women who work in Westminster. During the 1987 general election in Britain a woman comes to a local journalist in the constituency of a Conservative MP seeking re-election. This extract has been edited to fit the space but contains her allegations and his response. I had no ‘inside knowledge’ to inform this imagined scene. However, I had often enough witnessed the way some men – too many, in fact – behaved towards women in the workplace and it seemed to me when I … Continue reading Men With Power and the Women They Disrespect.
A cameo suggested by The Writing Reader’s exhortation to write about the night before the morning after. Joanna tried to remember when it all went wrong. Was there a single moment, or was it the culmination of a series of small events, insignificant in themselves but building to create, first, suspicion, and, then, the certainty, that Carl was no longer the man she had married? It was supposed to have been a night to celebrate five years since their first date. A candle-lit dinner in a quiet corner of their favourite restaurant. Why did he have to invite Celia? His … Continue reading Third Person
When I was young, an ‘outing’ meant a day out. A trip to the seaside perhaps, or the zoo. Later it came to mean the practice of revealing the secret sexual orientation of a public figure. At the UK general election in 1987, I acted as agent to a Liberal Party candidate. There was speculation about the sexual preferences of the Conservative incumbent. Although the man would appear in the constituency at election times with a glamourous female in tow, the rumours persisted. Several of our party workers wanted us to refer to these suggestions in our election literature. I … Continue reading Outing: #atozchallenge
Yesterday I posted an extract in which two people discuss the possibility that a third might be a paedophile. In this second extract the accuser recalls an incident involving a radio DJ when she was 14. “He was staying in a small guest house just off the promenade. He invited us in. Got us dancing. I didn’t like the way he started groping us. We were lucky. He didn’t try to stop us when we ran out.” She resumed that business with the front of her jeans. Smoothing, scratching, smoothing. He guessed there must be something else. A memory too … Continue reading Aftermath of abuse: Transgression extract #2
The idea for writing Transgression came about as a result of the original revelations about Jimmy Savile and Stuart Hall. A writer’s friend is accused of being a paedophile. In this brief extract, the writer discusses the prospect with his partner. “You’re very quiet,” Connie said. “I was just thinking about what Sally said. You know, that if her father was much older than Madge he was probably a paedo who couldn’t stop himself, that there are probably other victims out there.” “Like all those women who came forward after Jimmy Savile was outed?” “I suppose, yes. And then all … Continue reading Turning a Blind Eye: Another Novel Extract
I’ve written before about how I feel comfortable writing female characters. I said I thought it might have something to do with having been brought up without significant male role models. In this interesting article the author points out that, if you worry about writing from the point of view of someone of the opposite gender to your own you are mistaking stereotypes for characters. I am pleased that most of those who have read my book Transgression (you can purchase it by clicking the image on the right) have praised the characterization. The Irish author and playwright John MacKenna … Continue reading The Gender Dillemma
Re-blogged from Jennifer Young’s author page “Frank Parker, I salute you. You’re an extraordinarily versatile writer.” http://jenniferyoungauthor.blogspot.ie/2016/01/book-chat-versatility-in-genre.html?showComment=1452169244185#c2115513123389332777 The author of several romance novels and the intriguing “Looking for Charlotte” has posted about two of my books. I feel quite flattered by her generous praise. Continue reading More praise from an established author
You won’t find them in my novel Transgression. Which probably explains why one reviewer said it was boring and went on to claim that there was “not a lot going on.” There are two deaths from natural causes, a couple of suicides, a rape, the sexual abuse of a minor by a radio DJ, people-trafficking for underage sex and a middle aged married couple who make love in a Welsh woodland whilst on holiday. All pretty ordinary run of the mill stuff – certainly no exhilarating car chases or terrifying shoot-outs. I know it shouldn’t, but that comment, my first … Continue reading Car Crashes and Shoot-outs
