- Still Inspirational Seventy Years On
Since the publication of Being Tommy Boronovski last May, my time and mental energy has been absorbed by multiple non-writing projects like finding a new home.
Although I have two open manuscripts -- a sequel to Being Tommy Boronovski, and a speculative piece set in 2060 -- I found that after such a long break I was struggling to find inspiration and focus, moving from one to the other and making scant progress.
One afternoon while sipping tea and staring out at the early February snow, a line from Stephen King's 'On Writing' came to me. "In order to write, you must read." It occurred to me that my reading had dropped off to a fraction of what it used to be, and so I read. Michael Connelly's Bosch series, Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole, and most significantly Raymond Chandler.
Considered to be a founder of the hard-boiled school of detective fiction, along with Dashiell Hammett and James M. Cain, Chandler is recognised as being a master of dialogue and simile, and this is borne out by opening any of his books. The Little Sister (1949) is a great example of his style, and if you're new to Chandler, it's a good place to start. Seventy years on it's still a fresh and absorbing read, and in my opinion head and shoulders above almost anything being published now.
The Little Sister by Raymond Chandler (1949)
And so it's with sharpened focus, and renewed inspiration and enthusiasm that I sit back at the desk and sink deep into another world.
Stay tuned for updates, and news about future publications.
Until then, happy reading.