On the writing front the new novel is on schedule for delivery to Headline Review mid-February 2011, with publication either later that year or early next.
At present it amount to 92,000 words but at least the end is in view.
Monthly Archive for November, 2010
Two things worth reporting.
Tony Calvey (see October) stunted his Stampe biplane over our house recently, concluding his display with an inverted pass. Unfortunately we did not have visitors at the time, which denied me the chance to remark nonchalantly: ‘ It’s one of my readers. Happens all the time.’ Soon I hope to take up Tony on his invitation to go for a flip. 
A little ‘hands-on’ at the controls of a biplane, even a high-powered one like the Stampe, will not only be fun but help with writing my sequences about flying over the Western Front in 1915 (see High And Over).
About the same time a friend of mine, Chris Hoggarth, who owns a Porsche wangled me a place in a driving day at Silverstone in February. This means I’ll have a chance to try out various models of the new 911 Carrera GTS.
As I’m renewing my competition licence for next season it’s a great opportunity to get my (somewhat rusty) hand in.
Mick ‘Taffy’ Payne writes:
Dear Mr Barnard,
I have just finished reading ‘To Play The Fox’. I don’t normally read fiction but my wife found this book on the shelf in a charity shop. This is no detriment to you, Frank. It makes no difference to what I consider a very good book indeed. Being an old Taff and very much ex-Services it took me a little while to discover the flow of this book, which I did as I went along. Now, how do I find ‘Band Of Eagles’? Does my wife search high and low or will I find it in Waterstone’s?
Anything that flies I read about),
Mick ‘Taffy’ Payne
The following from Ray Palin who last month, my website visitors will recall, was pictured in front of the Shackleton ‘gate guardian’ at St Mawgan. Ray writes:
Dear Frank,
I was amused to see my photo…on your blog. For the ‘rivet counters’ among your fans the Shackleton in question is an MR2, WL795.
The Shackleton in various marques served for some forty years in the Royal Air Force in (mainly) maritime and early warning roles, retiring in 1991. My squadron (201), formerly equipped with Sunderland flying boats, had just received the MR3 version with tricycle undercarriage when I joined in 1958. And by the way, I was a flesh and blood Air Electronics Officer, feeling the pain of flying for hours over the ocean at 1,000-feet behind four twelve-cylinder Griffons with eight contra-rotating three-bladed props…not an ‘electronic officer’.
Shackleton history may be read at www.thegrowler.org.uk or in the just published book ‘Growling over the Oceans’ by Deborah Lake (Souvenir Press),
Ray.
Footnote from FB: Oops, sorry about that missing ‘s’. As a footnote I worked for Ray when I first joined Burson-Marsteller. He always was good at spotting literals dammit.
