Inspiration: Uncle Flynn

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Continuing my series on inspiration and influences for my books, here’s a look at texts that informed my debut novel, Uncle Flynn.

uncle-flynn_cover

A thrilling treasure hunt inspired by local history and walks on Dartmoor with my oldest son, Uncle Flynn is a good old-fashioned adventure story for young and old alike, with a surprising twist in the tale. It delves into themes of overcoming fear and the dangers of mollycoddling, but the heart of the story concerns the restoration of a relationship between father and son. Here are five key influential texts:

Five on a Treasure Island (Enid Blyton) – Not my favourite Famous Five novel (that would be Five go to Smuggler’s Top) but certainly the biggest influence on Uncle Flynn in that it features a map, treasure and villainous rival treasure hunters. Like all good treasure hunt stories, the real prize is not the gold but something greater – in this case, lonely George gaining lifelong friends in her cousins. In the case of Uncle Flynn, the afore-mentioned restored relationship between Max and his father is the real prize.

Treasure Island (Robert Louis Stevenson) – I could hardly exclude this. As well as obvious treasure hunt iconography (maps, gold, etc), there are elements of Long John Silver in the darker side of Uncle Flynn. My book doesn’t have pirates though.

Swallows and Amazons (Arthur Ransome) – Another obvious touchstone, and a classic of children having adventures out of doors. The inspiration here is more tonal, though other Ransome novels contain elements that perhaps proved a more direct influence on the plot (for example Peter Duck and Pigeon Post, which are both treasure hunt stories).

The Goonies (Film) – Childhood nostalgia plays a big part in my affection for this film, a treasure hunt adventure packed with secret tunnels, maps, boobie traps, villainous treasure hunters and so forth. Obviously there are also treacherous secret tunnels and treasure chambers in Uncle Flynn, so the influence is obvious.

Mary Poppins (PL Travers) – To be fair, the film provided much of the inspiration here, since the character arc of Mr Banks isn’t really present in the novels. Uncle Flynn shares a certain amount in common with Mary Poppins, in that he enters the story at a point when Max really needs him. They go on great adventures, like Mary Poppins with the Banks children, so in that sense both the books and the film are an influence. But it is the film that features the restoration of the relationship between Jane and Michael and their parents. Just as Mary Poppins leaves “when the wind changes” so Flynn leaves once Max’s relationship with his father is restored.

You can download or buy print copies of Uncle Flynn from Amazon here.

Out of Context

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I recently noticed Goodreads and Amazon contain features that allow readers to highlight quotes from my novels. Seeing these snippets out of context is interesting, because in some cases they cease to be the thoughts of my characters and become statements of belief or insights into life.

Folded Valley cover

For example, in the case of my most popular novel to date, Children of the Folded Valley, here are some out context thoughts:

On school:

“It was the culture of school I took a great disliking to; the idea that academic study is the be-all and end-all, and that to fail is to fail at life.”

On adolescence:

“When you feel the whole world wants you to act like an adult, but it continues to treat you like a child, you no longer trust the adult world.”

On selfishness:

“People often use childhood or adolescent trauma as an excuse for selfish decisions they take, and I for one refuse to offer such a simplistic explanation.”

On nostalgia:

“I do not long for the past, yet nor do I think of it as exclusively bad. I don’t ever want to go back, but I want things that are trapped there, lost forever.”

If any authors reading this have had a similar experience, by all means drop a few of your own out of context one-liners in the comments.

 

Plot Twists versus Unexpected Plot Turns

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I have noticed some people confuse plot twists with unexpected plot turns. Here I shall attempt my own definitions of each, to explain the difference.

Earlier this year, I was most amused by a “bad” review of my novel Love vs Honour on Goodreads. The reviewer took great exception to the third act, stating the following:

“No…just No….
I hate such endings..
Wtf….
When the story got interesting then the author has to shock us?
No…
That’s bad..”

Obviously the reader is entitled to their opinion, and I am pleased that my writing got under her skin, but I maintain (and this is supported by many others who have read the novel) that the third act of Love vs Honour is not a pointless exercise in shock tactics but an outcome that was hinted at throughout – indeed the very first chapter clearly telegraphs where this is all going to end up.

LvsHonour 1600 x 2400

That said my intention in writing that novel was to create an unexpected plot turn, despite the hints that had been dropped. The third act should still feel like a shock, even though in hindsight it ought to seem inevitable. This was not a twist, but a new and unexpected narrative direction. However, an unexpected plot turn does not mean earlier events are viewed in a different light. In Love vs Honour, the first two acts are not open to drastic reinterpretation as a result of the third act.

By contrast a plot twist, particularly a final act plot twist, turns the entire story on its head, providing a rush of insight that causes the reader to see all events and characters in completely new terms. Said twists must be cleverly woven into the narrative in such a way that they come out of left field, and yet like unexpected plot turns, also seem inevitable in hindsight, causing the reader to wonder how on earth they didn’t see it coming.

In a number of my novels – including Uncle Flynn, The Birds Began to Sing and most recently The Thistlewood Curse – there are big, final act twists which mean the entire story has to be reassessed in light of the new information. How well these big twists work is of course up to readers to decide, but for better or worse, the events in those finales do mean the entire plots of those books are turned on their heads, hopefully in an entertaining and enjoyable way.

To conclude, a good example of the difference between the above narrative devices occurs in Alfred Hitchcock’s film Psycho. The notorious shower stabbing is an unexpected plot turn, whereas the finale in the cellar (when the nature of Norman’s “mother” is revealed) is a plot twist.

Here are some other examples of both from books and movies (I will tip-toe around spoilers):

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – The man with two faces finale is a big plot twist.

One Day – The bike accident late in the novel is an unexpected plot turn.

The Sixth Sense – Bruce Willis’s final discovery about himself is a justly famous plot twist.

His Dark Materials: The Amber Spyglass – The upshot of the romance between Will and Lyra, as a result of the difficult choice they are forced to make, is an unexpected plot turn.

Planet of the Apes – Charlton Heston’s final discovery on the beach is a plot twist.

Great Expectations – The demise of Miss Havisham is an unexpected plot turn.

The Empire Strikes Back – Darth Vader’s big revelation is a plot twist, one that turns the entire story of not just that film but also the previous film completely upside down.

Million Dollar Baby – What happens to Hilary Swank’s character following the sucker-punch is an unexpected plot turn.

Les Diaboliques – The nail-biting bath finale is a plot twist.

Dead Poets Society – What happens to Neil after he performs in A Midsummer Night’s Dream is an unexpected plot turn.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – The identity of the mole in MI6 is a big twist.

Sherlock Holmes: A Scandal in Bohemia – Irene Adler’s escape is an unexpected (and unconventional) plot turn.

Murder on the Orient Express – The finale is one of the most famous whodunit resolutions of all time, and one of the biggest twists.

Kind Hearts and Coronets – The delicious irony of why the protagonist finally gets arrested is a particularly amusing unexpected plot turn in this sublime black comedy.

I could go on and on, but hopefully that clarifies my definition.

Download Uncle Flynn FREE – for five days only!

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For five days only, my debut novel Uncle Flynn is available to download FREE from Amazon Kindle.

Uncle Flynn was received very positively. On the surface it is a properly old-fashioned treasure hunt adventure, but it contains underlying themes about overcoming fear and the dangers of mollycoddling. The book is dedicated to my eldest son, and was largely inspired by our many excursions over Dartmoor, as well as a bit of local history.

Here is the blurb from the back of Uncle Flynn:

When timid eleven year old Max Bradley embarks on a hunt for buried treasure on Dartmoor with his mysterious Uncle Flynn, he discovers he is braver than he thought.

Together they decipher clues, find a hidden map and explore secret tunnels in their search. But with both police and rival treasure hunters on their tail, Max begins to wonder if his uncle is all he seems…

Here are a few reviews from various readers:

“Harking back to the wonderful adventure stories of Arthur Ransome, Uncle Flynn is a welcome return to the excitement of outdoor exploits in wild surroundings. Excitement, tension and peril combine in a well-written tale where The Goonies meets Swallows and Amazons. The evocative descriptions of treasure seeking on Dartmoor will have you longing to visit and explore for yourselves. Action-packed puzzle-solving pleasure for children and adults alike, with a neat twist in the tale to keep you guessing.”

Mrs Alice R Brewer, Amazon.co.uk

“A treasure for all ages. Kids and teenagers would love this fast-paced adventure story. Most adults would also find it a light and enjoyable read.”

B Fraley, Amazon.com

“Don’t pass this one by. I have been burning through the free NOOKbooks and this is the absolute BEST. Doesn’t matter what type of fiction you like to read, I can imagine this would capture just about anyone’s attention – and heart.”

willreadanything, Barnes and Noble.

“Could not put the book down, so enjoyed the journey. Recommended it to my 12 year old grandson who now wants me to be his book reading adviser. Loved by three generations.”

Brinney, Barnes and Noble.

“What a wonderful book for young readers and anyone else who loves a book with a great twist on an amazing story of courage over fear.”

Beansie47, Barnes and Noble.

“I’m an 83 year old woman. Your book was a joy to me. I felt I was having all the adventures myself at this ripe old age. Your book was like a cold drink of water on a hot day. Thank you.”

Joan McLaughlin, commenting on the Uncle Flynn blog.

“I downloaded the book for my boys to read, and thought I’d just read the first few lines… Needless to say I read to the end! Well written and most enjoyable – great adventure with life lessons woven into the story.”

Cecile Weyers, commenting on the Uncle Flynn blog.

Uncle Flynn is available to download FREE here. Print copies are also available (not free) here.

Managing Metaphors

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Sometimes metaphors in novels can seem crass and unwieldy. Other times they can be sublime. But what is the difference between good and bad use?

Folded Valley cover

My general rule of thumb is that deliberate metaphors should only be included if they are also a vital part of the narrative. For example, in my novel Uncle Flynn, when Max is stalked by the panther, it is an essential ongoing element of the story, without which the plot would fall apart. But the panther is also a metaphor for Max’s fears, and his responses to the panther illustrate his progress in this respect.

In Children of the Folded Valley, the trains form an equally essential part of the story. Without them the plot would simply cease to exist. And yet, the trains take on an increasingly metaphorical role as the novel progresses; lost childhood, the passing of time, the end of an era and so on.

There are a number of excellent metaphors in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series that adhere to my above principle. For example, in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Dementors are essential to the plot, but are also a metaphor for depression. In the same novel, the hippogriff Buckbeak, unjustly sentenced to death, is a metaphor for another character who has also suffered a miscarriage of justice. Again, Buckbeak is pivotal in the climax. In the final novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, one character’s silver doe patronus symbolises their ongoing love for a deceased character – a very poignant metaphor. Patronuses are, of course, an ongoing and vital part of the series.

There are exceptions to the above rule from time to time, but generally I get irritated when a metaphor takes me out of the story and draws attention to itself when the plot could exist perfectly well without it. When that happens, I feel as though the author is deliberately popping up in the middle of the narrative to announce how clever they are. I have had many an eye-roll for this reason, often when reading critically acclaimed high-brow literature.

Download the entire George Hughes trilogy FREE – for five days only!

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The George Hughes trilogy is a thrilling, action-packed space tale set just over a hundred years in the future. Each story is a stand-alone adventure, but I recommend reading the novels in order nonetheless, as they do follow on from one another.

All three can be downloaded FREE from Amazon Kindle during the next five days.

Also, I must emphasise, these books are not just for children. Adult readers have found plenty to enjoy too (especially those who have picked up on some of the subtexts).

Here is the blurb from the back of George goes to Mars:

When George Hughes discovers he has inherited the planet Mars, he goes from poverty to becoming the richest boy on Earth overnight.

Accompanied by his new guardian, a mysterious secret agent and a crew of astronauts, George voyages to Mars to sell land to celebrities wanting to build interplanetary holiday homes. But sabotage, assassination attempts and the possibility of an alien threat plunge him into a deadly adventure…

Here is the blurb from the back of George goes to Titan:

The thrilling sequel to George goes to Mars…

A year on from his adventures on Mars, George Hughes faces an even deadlier peril as he travels to Titan on an urgent rescue mission. The mysterious Giles returns to help him, but assassins are once again on his tail, and a new, far greater alien menace lurks in the shadows waiting to strike.

Here is the blurb from the back of George goes to Neptune:

In this spectacular sequel to George goes to Mars and George goes to Titan, George Hughes faces his most dangerous adventure yet.

Following the Titanian invasion, a deadly and very personal threat forces George to undertake a voyage to a top secret Martian research base on Neptune.

On this remote outpost, he uncovers a diabolical plot. But George is too late to prevent the catastrophe.

A catastrophe that will change his life forever…

Here are a couple of reviews from adults:

“A thoroughly enjoyable read” – Mark, Amazon.

“Reading like a cross between one of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ pulpy Mars adventures and a Robert Heinlein ‘juvenile’, this improbable yarn (just how many “saved in the nick of time” coincidences can one novel contain?) about a rags-to-riches-to-hero boy named George was nonetheless page-turningly entertaining. Perfect rainy day/sick day reading.” – Elizabeth Olson, Goodreads.

And here some thoughts from the target audience (at least I assume so, given the tone of their reviews):

“This was totally amazing! Involves space ships, aliens and more! A totally exciting adventure you’ll love!” – Anonymous, Barnes and Noble.

“Pure awesomeness! Packed with suspense and adventure, as well as LOTS of action!” – Anonymous, Barnes and Noble.

“Best book ever!” – Anonymous, Barnes and Noble.

The George Hughes trilogy can be downloaded FREE here

Print copies (not free, alas) can be ordered here (book 1), here (book 2) and here (book 3).

 

The Limitations of Allegory

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lotr

JRR Tolkien famously wrote about his dislike of allegory in the foreword to The Lord of the Rings. Here is what he had to say:

“I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since grew old and wary enough to detect its presence. I much prefer history – true or feigned – with its varied applicability to the thought and experience of readers. I think that many confuse applicability with allegory, but the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the purposed domination of the author.”

I don’t have quite the same issue with allegory that Tolkien had, since I think part of his problem came with the insistence of readers that The Lord of the Rings was an allegory of World War II (amongst other things). I maintain that it is intellectually lazy to read allegory into any literary work unless it is the stated purpose of the author. For example, CS Lewis intended The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to be an allegory about Christianity. George Orwell intended Animal Farm as an allegory of Soviet Russia. However, The Lord of the Rings was never intended as an allegory of anything.

Conversely, it is true that Tolkien’s experiences – particularly of encroaching industrialisation destroying the countryside, as well as World Wars I and II – informed the writing of The Lord of the Rings. His Catholicism was also a key factor, and Tolkien admitted as such in later letters, claiming that in retrospect he could see how these life experiences had influenced his work, regardless of the fact that he never intended it as an allegory.

Therefore, his remark about applicability to my mind makes perfect sense.

In my own writing, I have not written any deliberate allegories. But I know readers have made all manner of metaphorical applications, sometimes confusing them as allegory. For example, George goes to Mars has been read as a pro-feminist, anti-Islamic fundamentalist allegory. I certainly didn’t have that in mind when I wrote it. I simply wanted to write a thrilling science fiction adventure story for children and young-at-heart adults. Yet it is true that my own views are often inherent in my work, and can be detected to a greater or lesser extent. Equally they can sometimes be misconstrued, and that begs the question as to whether or not I have failed as an author. The bottom line is readers will interpret George goes to Mars (or any of my novels) any way they please, perhaps in ways I might even disapprove of.

I have almost finished an animal fiction adventure novel about wolves in Alaska, which I may well decide to fast track for release later this year. Reading back over my first draft, I suspect some may well read political allegories into it. But again, I must emphasise this is not my direct intention, and therefore it is not an allegory, however much readers may wish to label it as such. I do not wish to reduce my work to a single message or lesson, claiming it as allegory, since that would be reductive. Rather, I would prefer the reader to decide what to make of the story, and allow for multiple interpretations.

Download Dr Gribbles and the Beast of Blackthorn Lodge – for five days only!

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My novel Dr Gribbles and the Beast of Blackthorn Lodge is available to download FREE from Amazon Kindle for five days only.

Of all the novels I have published, Dr Gribbles and the Beast of Blackthorn Lodge remains the one that seems to have singularly failed to find a readership or generate reviews. Besides the obvious possibility that people simply don’t want to read it, I suspect there are a number of factors as to why:

It’s primarily a children’s book. 

I am amazed how many readers are put off for that reason alone, especially as my children’s novels are designed for all readers, not just children. Like all the best children’s books I try to appeal to all ages, and take the CS Lewis view that a great story for children isn’t a great story for children unless it can also be appreciated by adults.

Children’s books (at least mine) don’t seem to find an audience on Kindle in the same way as grown-up books.

This is speculation on my part, but I suspect it is a factor.

I haven’t marketed the novel properly.

This is a given, as I am no businessman or marketing expert. However, I think it is perhaps true that, given how protective I am of the twists and turns in this story, I have perhaps been more reticent to discuss the plot than was wise. I shall therefore attempt to remedy this situation a little in this article.

The plot of Dr Gribbles and the Beast of Blackthorn Lodge begins with a haunted house, a monster, and a mad scientist – and that’s just chapter one! Our hero, the intelligent Tim Rawlings, is then drawn into a thrilling, scary adventure involving spies towards the end of the Cold War.

Tim’s path crosses with the eccentric but mysterious Dr Gribbles. Together they are forced to undertake a dangerous hunt on Dartmoor. Along the way spies British, Russian and American help and hinder, or sometimes both. One such spy is Dr Gribbles’s feisty daughter Emily, who plays an absolutely pivotal role in the story.

Thrills galore ensue, including helicopter chases, monstrous encounters and all manner of narrow escapes, including a nightmarish encounter with a room filled with wasps and a nuclear detonation. Secrets are revealed, characters are double crossed, and ultimately spies of all nationalities prove untrustworthy.

The nail-biting final act includes a homage to one of my favourite fairy tales. I cannot say which, although it might be guessable. At any rate, the overall tone is one of fun and adventure, with some scares (particularly in the first act), and plenty of humour.

In short, I think it is a shame Dr Gribbles and the Beast of Blackthorn Lodge hasn’t had more readers as I think it is a rattling good adventure yarn. The book also features my favourite cover of any of my novels and is even dedicated to my youngest son Thomas, since it was primarily inspired by a very imaginative nightmare he had when he was three.

In short, why not give it a go? Download your FREE copy of Dr Gribbles and the Beast of Blackthorn Lodge here.

Too much realism

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I am not a fan of realism for the sake of realism. Nor was legendary film director David Lean, who once said films should feel like dreams. I would argue the same should be true for novels, and I am not a fan of stories that strive for realism at the expense of dramatic satisfaction, regardless of the genre.

As a reader I find it deeply frustrating when interesting dramatic situations and conflicts are swept aside in an unsatisfactory way in the name of realism, often in critically acclaimed novels. Atonement is a good example of this. Just because in real life the lead characters could easily have died in a sudden bombing that intrudes on the narrative mid-plot – before certain injustices could be properly explored and resolved – doesn’t make it a good dramatic choice. That may have been the point, but if so it’s a deeply frustrating one.

Charles Dickens had the right idea. He loaded his books with relevant, challenging social themes, making them “realistic” in the sense that you could feel the grime under the fingernails of Victorian Britain. But at the same time his works are deeply satisfying, superbly crafted tales that do not place “realism” above all else.

Some argue that whether or not a novel or film should submit to realism depends on subject matter, but I don’t think that is true. Lawrence of Arabia is about historic fact, but nonetheless feels like a dream, in accordance with the ideals of its director David Lean. The appalling Victorian social injustices exposed by Charles Dickens in Oliver Twist are wrapped within the framework of a narrative that feels almost like a fairy tale.

As an aside, I find that large doses of realism actually work very well in fantasy writing. The shocking sudden deaths in Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy are a good example of this. The film Pan’s Labyrinth is another example, with the gritty realism of the Franco’s war against communist guerillas providing a backdrop to the fantasy elements. They may seem like oil and water but in fact they compliment one another perfectly.

In my own writing, I am currently penning an animal fiction novel about wolves in Alaska that combines elements of realism with more metaphysical elements. Time will tell whether or not I succeed in this, but at no point in any of my writing do I strive for realism at the expense of all else. Like David Lean, I want my stories to have a magic to them, regardless of the subject matter. I want them to feel like dreams.

Download Love vs Honour FREE – for five days only!

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Continuing my summer giveaways, Love vs Honour is available for the next five days as a free download from Amazon Kindle.

LvsHonour 1600 x 2400

After falling in love, teenagers Johnny and Sabina pretend to convert to Islam and Christianity respectively, to placate the disapproval of both sets of parents. Then it gets complicated as their elaborate deceptions unravel in unexpected ways…

Yes, I know teenage romantic fiction isn’t really a thing I normally write, but rest assured this novel has the dark edges and challenging/controversial themes found in my other works so it really isn’t exclusively for the young adult readership. If you haven’t read it, why not give it a go?

Here are a few review snippets:

“You may find, as I did, it becomes a hard book to put down. The premise of a Christian and a Muslim pretending to convert to each other’s religion to be with each other for the sake of pure, unadulterated love creates a strangely addictive narrative.” – Graeme Stevenson, Amazon.

“This book is one of the few that made me cry. I love it. If you are a fan of emotional books then I urge you to read it. I give it 5 stars.” – Splufic, Goodreads.

“The ending of the book really made the whole thing.” – A Critical Reader, Amazon.

And just for balance, not everyone loved the ending. Check out this “bad” review from I_love_books on Goodreads:

“No… Just No…
I hate such endings…
Wtf….
When the story got interesting then the author has to shock us?
No…
That’s bad…”

Why not decide for yourself if you like the ending? Download Love vs Honour FREE here.