THE STORY SO FAR: PART 201

IF YOU ARE HIT WITH THE SUDDEN IMPULSE TO CHEER ME UP—BECAUSE, FOR INSTANCE, YOU HAVE INSOMNIA, OR WANT TO FEEL WARM AND FUZZY FOR DOING A GOOD DEED—SEND ME (OR ANY WRITER YOU LIKE) A FAN LETTER

Yes, I freely confess, I love my fan mail—especially when it arrives on one of those days when life doesn’t seem to be working out too well.

Here I don’t mean my writing life which seems to in commendably good form—it appears to have declared near independence and have something close to an existence of its own—but  all the rest of the stuff we clutter up our existence with.

What do I mean by that? I mean everything from out-of-control consumerism to the Social Media, from keeping up appearances—to stressing about the traffic. 

I would give more examples, but I am conscious that I am in danger of wandering into controversial territory. Do I really think that granny should be left to starve because the writer is obsessed with finishing a chapter.

No, I’m not that bad—and, as it happens I was devoted to my grandmother—but I will admit that I find coping with life outside writing extremely difficult at times. I am a writer not an administrator and find dealing with such matters—the guts of normal life, if you will, stressful in the extreme.

But then another e-mail arrives from a fan, and my sense of wellbeing is restored.

The following was sent by reader Cassie Hill via Facebook—and is utterly charming.

"I saw where you've been writing e-books. Where are they available? Not on Amazon that I've been able to find. Missed your writing muchly."

I would never have the nerve to write: “Missed your writing muchly.” It is not correct English, apart from anything else—but it works perfectly (which is the whole idea of really good writing).

Thank you Cassie. I am deeply touched.

And now you are wondering when my new books will appear on Amazon. Very soon now is the answer – so keep checking this blog. The whole story is a saga—which will appear in my memoirs—but the immediate delay is caused by my having to move. The reasons are all good, but it is proving to be decidedly disruptive.

I’ll get over it. As I have remarked before, given the vicissitudes of life, it is important to appreciate that a writer’s life demands fortitude. But—if you take the long view—it is worth it.

If you take the shorter view, frankly, life can suck.

 

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 200

CYPRUS—THE ONLY PLACE WHERE, SO FAR, I HAVE SAT ON A SNAKE

IT DID NOT APPEAR TO ENJOY THE ENCOUNTER—AND, FRANKLY, NEITHER DID I

Cyprus—a beautiful island with an extraordinary history, by the way—rarely hits the news, so it is strange indeed to see it as the focus of a financial scandal which may well threaten the stability of the European Union. Apart from anything else, the Greek Cypriot population is not much larger than 1.1 million—scarcely significant in an EU population of about 500 million. But the Greek Cypriots have long had a reputation as hustlers, and they certainly seem to have lived up to it when it comes to banking.

Before getting into the details of my very brief personal story, let me quote Wikipedia on the island in general.

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia (both in terms of area and population). It is also the world's 81st largest by area and world's 49th largest by population. It measures 240 kilometres (149 mi) long from end to end and 100 kilometres (62 mi) wide at its widest point, with Turkey 75 kilometres (47 mi) to the north. It lies between latitudes 34° and 36° N, and longitudes 32° and 35° E.

Other neighbouring territories include Syria and Lebanon to the east (105 kilometres (65 mi) and 108 kilometres (67 mi), respectively), Israel 200 kilometres (124 mi) to the southeast, Egypt 380 kilometres (236 mi) to the south, and Greece to the northwest: 280 kilometres (174 mi) to the small Dodecanesian island of Kastelorizo (Megisti), 400 kilometres (249 mi) toRhodes, and 800 kilometres (497 mi) to the Greek mainland.

I went to Cyprus because it was degenerating into a civil war—and I wanted to get a sense of such a dangerous environment without actually getting shot. For some strange reason, I felt that if I was going to write thrillers, I should experience danger at first hand. If that sounds pretty damn foolish, you will get no disagreement from me. I am now older and wiser and have learned that violence is both unpredictable and unpleasant.

At the time—1974—the Greek Cypriots were gunning for the Turkish Cypriots and there was a definite sense that the island was about to explode. My main recollection is of Greek irregular forces, bristling with weapons, rushing around in long wheelbase Landrovers, and of Turkish villagers not quite knowing what to do. The Turks, who comprise less than a fifth of the population, were totally outgunned. What was absolutely clear is that something bad was going to happen.

In fact, after numerous incidents—normally resulting from Greek Cypriot aggression against the Turks—it did. Turkey invaded to save the local Turkish population—in what was something of a textbook military operation spearheaded by paratroops—and Cyprus remains divided to this day, though no country recognizes Turkish Cyprus except Turkey—which is rather sad. 

My sympathies, at the time, were with the Turks—probably because they were the underdogs—and I spent some time with a Turkish Army battalion stationed in Famagusta under some arcane U.N. agreement. Though they were hopelessly outnumbered by the Greek Cypriots—and knew they were going to be attacked—they were remarkably sanguine about the situation, and impressed me greatly. That said, I liked the Greek Cypriots—apart from the armed thugs—too.

All in all, it was a complicated situation with U.N. troops—who were trying to keep the peace—caught in the middle. In fact, one of my favorite memories is of an Irish U.N. soldier, leaning back on a spindly kitchen chair—at some risk to his welfare if the chair had collapsed—reading a book as if oblivious to the fact that he was stationed between decidedly edgy armed Greeks and Turks who were, quite clearly, spoiling for a fight.

This was insouciance elevated to high art. Later I was to learn that the Irish troops were highly regarded as peace-keepers. They could, and would, talk their way out of any confrontation.

The snake incident happened because I was rather fond of cross-country walking in those days, and, and after seeing a comfortable looking rock out of the corner of my eye, just didn’t look whether it was occupied or not. Careless of me. Of course it was—by a snake dozing away in the sun.

Hard to know which of us was more scared by the encounter. Fortunately, we both headed in opposite directions. I am left with two vivid memories: The feel of the snake’s surprisingly robust body as I sat on it; and the sight of its considerable length as it skedaddled away.

The British still have two sovereign bases on Cyprus. I only visited one—and was stopped at the perimeter—but vividly recall the largest array of aerials and other radio interception equipment I have ever seen. The display seemed to be endless. The reason is simple. Cyprus is conveniently located near most of the hot spots of the Middle East, so the British vacuum up anything and everything from the airwaves that they can.

 

 

 

 

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 199

DO WE REALLY HAVE A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM—OR IS IT MISNAMED?

For some time I have been subscribing to a free newsletter on health matters put out by a Dr. Mercola. Reportedly, nearly two million others do the same thing.

His main business seems to be marketing supplements of various kinds—which I have never bought, (as yet)—but but I do read his mailings and have long thought they, mostly, make a great deal of sense—though I debate his views on vaccinations.

Is he controversial? Of course. Anyone who is so opposed to the status quo could scarcely be otherwise. But, fundamentally, he seems sound; and he backs his opinions with a great deal of data.

I speak, as a layman, of course—albeit I have researched the healthcare area for my book, TITANIC NATION: HOW TO AVOID ICEBERGS—so take my opinions as no more than that.

Here are Dr. Mercola’s beliefs in his own words:

• The US does not have a health care system; we have a disease-management system that is dependent on expensive drugs and invasive surgeries. It’s a system rooted in an ideal of maximized profits, opposed to helping people maintain or regain their health
• The US spends more on health care than the next 10 biggest spenders combined: Japan, Germany, France, China, the U.K., Italy, Canada, Brazil, Spain and Australia, yet the US ranks last in health and mortality analysis of 17 developed nations
• Integrative medicine (IM) is a better alternative to the current system, as it offers a combination of conventional medical therapies and complementary or alternative therapies "for which there is some high-quality scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness"
• The Affordable Health Care Act is likely to make matters far worse rather than better, as the Act does not include any strategies to prevent illness. Nor does it contain any measures to rein in or reduce out-of-control health care costs related to overcharges. Instead it expands an already flawed model of “care” that has been and continues to be one of the leading causes of both death and bankruptcy in the US.

Harsh words—but look at the evidence. You’ll find him at www.mercola.com

 

 

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 198

THE BOOK BUSINESS IS BEING TURNED UPSIDE DOWN AT A TRULY ASTONISHING SPEED

IN NOVEMBER 2012, 28 PERCENT OF ALL BOOK PURCHASES IN THE U.S. WERE IN E-BOOK FORMAT—A DRAMATIC RISE FROM SIX PERCENT IN NOVEMBER 2010

When I was first published back in 1991—which doesn’t seem that long ago, as far as I am concerned, but is pre-history to many people—the book chains ruled the earth, and Barnes & Noble dominated the book chains.

Just over two decades later, the second largest book chain, Borders, is gone, and Barnes and Noble is looking sickly. What is more is that e-books—scarcely heard about until Amazon introduced the Kindle in 2007—have seized a truly significant market share.

Let me quote from mediabistro which is, in turn, quoting from Bowkers:

According to a new report from Bowker Market Research, U.S. chain bookstores lost 13 percent of their share of book purchases in 2012.

Overall, chain booksellers saw their share decrease from 32 percent to 19 percent of volume. At the same time, Bowker recorded some dramatic gains in U.S. eReatailers and digital book growth. Check it out:

In the U.S., e-retailers accounted for 44 percent of book purchases by volume in 2012, up from 25 percent in 2010. In the U.K. the rise has been somewhat less dramatic but still significant, up from 25 percent in January-November 2010, to 38 percent in the same period in 2012 … In November 2012, 28 percent of all book purchases in the U.S. were in e-book format — a dramatic rise from six percent in November 2010.

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 197

IT IS QUITE A PARADOX. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN MORE TO WRITE ABOUT—YET THE NUMBER OF NEWSROOM STAFF IS IN RAPID DECLINE

Without a well informed public, you can’t have democracy—and you certainly cannot have a well informed public without sufficient active members of the media. How many is sufficient? I have absolutely no idea, but a reduction of 30 percent over twelve years—as we increasingly become an information age—seems drastic by any standards.

But surely 40.6 thousand is sufficient? Not necessarily. That figure refers to newsroom staff which includes editors and all kinds of people who support the process of producing the news—and this is a very big country.

Realize also that although  the national news is what has a tendency to dominate, what really counts is local news—and if the Fourth Estate is to keep a skeptical eye on what is happening locally, lots of bodies are needed to do the job.

One of the great weaknesses of U.S. media—in my opinion—is that the profit motive dominates all. In Europe, most stations have to devote time to the news as a condition for having their license in the first place. In the U.S., no such obligation seems to exist, and a license holder can do pretty much as he or she wants.

As a consequence, you have vast numbers of radio stations—to give just one example—operated from a single central location in the interests of efficiency—and the local element ignored completely.

That may be the most profitable way to do things, but I doubt it serves the public interest—and I’m far from sure it is even good business.

 

 

 

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 196

ONE OF THE MANY GREAT THINGS ABOUT WRITING IS THAT ITS POSSIBILITIES ARE LIMITLESS.

I find it somewhat sobering to realize that most of my peers have now retired—and some have been in that status for several years.

I will be 69 in a couple of months—my 70th year—and am very far from retired.

Am I jealous? Certainly not. I wish them all well. However, though I have been gifted (and cursed) with a vivid imagination, I cannot conceive not working pretty much as I do now.

As my faculties age, I will probably have to slow down a bit—I have considered trying out a four day week—but that will be more psychological than real. I write anyway at weekends, but rather enjoy the feeling that I don’t have to; and that I am outmaneuvering my work ethic.

Good grief! Writing is my life. Why on earth would I want to retire from it? As far as I am am concerned, it is what gives my existence meaning. And, though it is uncommonly difficult, it is fun—because you never quite know how things will turn out; what words will appear; what punch-line you will close with; whether you can do the deed at all.

It’s a constant challenge to the death—quite literally. I find that vastly cheering.

 

THE STORY SO FAR: PART 195

I HAVE YET TO MEET ANYONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED COMBAT, WHO IS NOT AFFECTED BY IT

THIS IS A MANIFEST TRUTH—AND YET WE IGNORE IT

The media tells us that the current backlog of veterans’ applications for care is a stunning 900, 000—and that some VA locations are running two years in arrears. Good grief! This is beyond outrage.

Well, one might rant against the media except for the fact that the VA have confirmed such figures in hearings. Despite a major attempt to make the VA paperless—and thus theoretically more efficient—the current situation is a disaster.

Just imagine coming back from a war zone with PTSD—and having to wait a year or two for treatment. At such a point, words fail.

What is so wrong with our culture that we cannot understand that combat is intrinsically harmful to all of those who serve? We train people to do terrible things—which do happen—and then we largely ignore the consequences. This is neglect on an epic scale.

It is even more harmful when those who serve are forced to debate the moral integrity of their actions. On the one hand, they have done the right thing by serving their country. On the other hand, some of their actions could be—and have been—interpreted as war crimes.

We seem to have developed the facility to go to war on a whim—as in our invasion of Iraq—yet to walk away from the terrible consequences while disclaiming any, and all, responsibility.

What are the right words? I have no idea.