About the story It is a ghost story based around the Pilgrim Fathers and their sailing out of Plymouth. and gives an insight into the mind of a 'working girl' who, contrary to cliche regards her job as a valid life choice. Although at the moment I'm concentrating mostly on novel-writing, short stories are the perfect antidote, and this story just sprang into my mind, following some work I'd been studying on the Pilgrim Fathers. I started to wonder just what would have happened to someone who'd missed the boat, would anyone have come back for them? And when? About the author | "I work at a local school, stalking the corridors in a dangerously jocular fashion" | |
I was born in Exeter, but in the words of Mae West, 'I drifted', and I've been in Ryedale for 12 years, writing all the time. I've been a prizewinner in various short story competitions and was a runner up in BBC Talent, with a comedy script featuring a bisexual tele-sales guy; I won the Radio Ryedale short story competition in 2004 with 'The Progress of Byron', a tale of a romantically inclined pig, and was a 'long list' candidate in 'Lit Idol' the same year with my novel 'Slightly Foxed'. I'm concentrating at the moment on getting this published. I work at a local school, stalking the corridors in a dangerously jocular fashion, and have just completed the third year of a six year 'Creative Writing' degree. My hobbies include shouting, reading and marshmallows; I have all my own teeth and am available for Bar-mittzvahs and weddings. Jane's writing tips Write. Don't think 'oh I'll get round to it when the children are older/when I've got more time/when I have a good idea...' Ignore the children, make time and don't wait for ideas - write! I spent four years as a single mum to five children, so I know how hard it can be - I wrote my first proper novel as a means of mental escape, it's a shockingly bad book but it fulfilled its purpose and now languishes as a reminder that, if I could do it then, I can do it now. And so can anyone. |
