http://www.frankbarnard.com Frank Barnard - author of Blue Man Falling, To Play the Fox, Band of Eagles Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:37:13 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Good question when related to work in progress. I’m prompted to attempt an answer thanks to an email from a reader in Cambridge, one Meint (sic), who asks: ‘Any more updates on the new book? Do you already have a release date and any more hints on plot/characters? Have really ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/what-news/ A recommendation and a warning. Oldie magazine asked me to review two DVDs marking the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. For my full report see the September issue, out now at all good outlets. However, while Voice From The Battle Of Britain (lst Take £14.95) satisfactorily tells the tale, ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/to-dvd-or-not-to-dvd/ A week ago we watched a DVD of the excellent 1999 TV adaptation of Dickens’ David Copperfield. It had been standing on a bookshelf unviewed for years. One of the strongest performances, among many, was by Clare Holman as a waspish character named Rosa Dartle; Ms Holman ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/what-odds/ July 29th. To the Star tavern in Soho (as Pepys might have said) where I did share a glass of wine with Mr.Ingrams and a goodly variety of literary folk where we did eat and were very merry and had much conversation about the Oldie periodical ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/to-the-star-tavern-in-soho/ Richard Ingrams did a great job on my Oldie article about Dunkirk giving it a double-page spread and including one of my best shots of two of the veterans (one of those lucky chances). Here's a taster. The feature can be read in full by downloading a PDF version here →. http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/return-crossing/ Before I got into fiction writing seriously I was a regular contributor to Richard Ingrams’ Oldie Magazine. I’m pleased to say that they’ll be running my article about the Dunkirk trip in their August issue, on sale 2 July. As before I submitted ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/a-return-to-pastures-oldie/ On 27 May I found myself on board a Norfolkline ferry bound for Dunkirk. Not so unusual you might think until you checked out some very special passengers, old men now with service caps and berets, medals catching the morning sun, crossing to France to remember ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/674/ This was the first time I ever sat in a racing car. Sat in one, note, didn’t drive it. In fact at age 14 couldn’t drive anyway. Place, the paddock at Brands Hatch. The date, some time in 1952. You can’t see it clearly but I was wearing my school ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/%e2%80%98-schoolboy-start-your-engine%e2%80%99/ From: Chris Howells to Frank Barnard Ian Edwards warned us on the RAF site that he was commenting on your mistakes in what he describes as ‘excellently researched novels.’ My late father had a brief tour on Sunderlands in the 1950s at Pembroke Dock. He also had a tour on Operations ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/that-flying-boob/ I’ve never been much concerned by Father’s Day viewing it, in my no doubt mean-spirited way, as a ruse concocted by greetings card manufacturers. However, now I am strongly in favour because Tesco have bought 4,000 copies of To Play The Fox for their special promotion at the beginning on ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/when-did-you-last-treat-your-father/ From: Ian Edwards to Frank Barnard Hi Frank, Thoroughly enjoyed your trilogy, well written, well researched. Annoyed me that a ruddy journalist could capture that spirit I remember so well! I guess you had brilliant fighter pilot consultants but I noticed one glitch. I flew Sunderlands but never heard them called Grannies; Flying Porcupine ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/flying-boob/ Bit of a change for me last night. I’ve given numbers of talks over the years but there’s always been a link to writing and writers. On this occasion, a gathering of ploughmen, the only connection was a chum who farmed the land around our house and turned out to ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/a-new-furrow/ Someone once asked me, when they learned I was a published author: ‘ How’s it feel to be rich and famous?’ I remembered this when two things happened on the same day; the announcement that Barclays Bank is paying out £1.5 billion in cash bonuses as their profits soar by ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/you-can-bank-on-it/ Some of you dipping into this website will be aware of a recurring topic named Derek Robinson, the author of a number of best-selling novels about many subjects but particularly flying in both world wars. Piece Of Cake was nominated for the Booker and made into a popular TV series. Mr ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/call-off-the-hounds/ Dear Frank, I had just finished reading your novel which I had enjoyed immensely when I looked at the acknowledgments. To my pleasant surprise you mentioned the book “Basic Aerobatics” which I wrote some 25 years ago with Ron Campbell. I am so pleased that you found it of ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/tempest-fugit/ Dear Frank , I have just finished reading your really excellent book about RAF activities during the fall of France, which in most respects seems to have been thoroughly well researched. However whilst this may already have been pointed out, on page 83, & page 239, you refer to the ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/ulc/ In 1959 on this date, 3 February, I reported to RAF Cardington to start National Service. For some reason, while I have a very faulty memory about many things that have happened to me over the past 72 years, I possess almost photographic recall about what occurred that day, and ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/seems-like-only-51-years-ago/ Hi Frank, As I am interested in classic aeroplanes and cars my wife came home with Blue Man Falling just before Christmas which she thought I might like believing that I had not seen it. Having read ‘Fighter Pilot’ some years ago when it came to light in my Uncle’s ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/subject-blue-man-falling-a-tremedous-read/ Hi Frank, Thanks very much for these books. I have only just discovered them in the local library - have read 2 and now on the last one. Unfortunately not quite in order. I found "To play The Fox" first and found it one of those that are difficult to put down, ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/thanks-very-much-for-these-books/ Dear Mr Barnard, I’ve just finished reading “Band of Eagles” and found it equally absorbing as “Blue Man Falling”. Its a real tribute to Malta’s ordeal at the hands of the Axis’ air forces. You write so knowledgeably about the RAF and the sometimes strained, relationship between groundcrew and ... http://www.frankbarnard.com/index.php/ground-crew-and-aircrew-an-expert-view/