Getting to Know You (Again): Ruth Jacobs

After her guest post on this blog last year, Ruth Jacobs has taken time out from her busy schedule to talk to us about her life as a writer.

What do you like most about writing? What do you dislike (if anything)?

There is so much that I like about writing from developing plots to having my characters trash them and do their own thing – in fact, I like that best. I love living in the world of my characters, being out of my reality – it’s like a drug. I don’t dislike anything about writing, except not having as much time as I would like to do more writing.

What inspires you to write?

Mostly it’s my own life experience, whether something from the past, or the present, something that I see or feel or hear or something that happens to me or someone else. Sometimes, things just come to me, as if I am told them. I had that happen a lot through my novel, ‘Soul Destruction: Unforgivable’, and it happened again the other day when a poem came to me. I haven’t written poetry in a long time, so it was a strange thing to have happened.

Do you find time to read, if so what are you reading at the moment? 

Not nearly as much time as I would like. The next book on my to-read list is ‘Paid For’, my friend, Rachel Moran’s life story surviving prostitution.

Which author(s) has/have had the biggest influence on your writing?

With the issues I have with my memory, I can’t say for sure. Although I know what books I’ve read, and what writers I have enjoyed, I can’t remember why nor remember what the stories were about. I read a lot of Martin Amis and Martina Cole so perhaps they’ve had an influence, I don’t know. I can say, as it only happened last year, that reading Ian Ayris’s novel, ‘Abide With Me’, inspired the voice of my leading character, Trisha, in a short story called ‘Protection’ that was published on Near to the Knuckle.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing?

Watching television. It’s barely on now, but my activism is taking more of my time than writing fiction currently, though I do need to find a better balance to continue with the rest of the ‘Soul Destruction’ series.

What do you think are your strengths and weaknesses?

I’m not naturally good at description – I don’t think. I tend to write the story as it’s happening, as I see it playing out in my head. For some reason, I am always focused on what is going on, what the characters are thinking and feeling, who’s saying what, and the action, and not enough about how the setting looks. I tend to go back and put that in after. Perhaps it’s because I’m rushing to report on the action that my fingers, though I am a quick typist, aren’t fast enough to keep up with that and the setting at the same time. Another weakness would be doubting myself and my ability to write. I’m generally very critical of myself. As a strength, perhaps perseverance and determination. Perhaps my life experience too, being able to use that in my writing whether for situations or developing characters, but then I hope my writing has been good enough to carry it off. I love developing plots, but as has been the case with ‘Soul Destruction: Unforgivable’ my plot was shafted by the characters who went off in their own direction. The original plot is now going to be book three in the series, as long the characters play along.

What are you working on at the moment?

Most recently, I’ve been focused on pushing for the Merseyside hate crime model for crimes against people in prostitution to be made UK wide. I’ve been publishing interviews on my blog that show why this is critical and writing articles. One article has been published on Ms Blog in the US, and I have another piece being considered by the F-Word, so I’ve been more involved in non-fiction for human rights. For my fiction work, I’ll be picking up writing the second novel in the ‘Soul Destruction’ series very soon, which I began some time ago. There is also ‘Soul Destruction Diary’, a spin-off series from ‘Soul Destruction’. The first diary, ‘Inescapable’, is partly published on my blog, and I am very keen to finish that. I’m not sure yet if the rest will be published on the blog, or in a book. I guess that will depend on how ‘Soul Destruction: Unforgivable’ is received.

Where can we find you online?

There is my Soul Destruction website www.soul-destruction.com and also my author website www.ruthjacobs.co.uk.

My Amazon author pages are UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ruth-Jacobs/e/B008OJ0ZMC and US: http://www.amazon.com/Ruth-Jacobs/e/B008OJ0ZMC

I am on Twitter http://twitter.com/RuthFJacobs and on Facebook way too much http://www.facebook.com/rujacobs.

When you’re a famous author and you write your autobiography, what will be the title?

‘Without Restriction’.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Not to give up, to keep on writing, and don’t let anyone else’s criticism, or your own, deter you.

What’s been your proudest moment?

Receiving the offer from Caffeine Nights to publish ‘Soul Destruction: Unforgivable’. Shortly after, I also received an offer from a literary agent, and now they are keen to represent the translation rights in non-English speaking territories. Once it’s all confirmed, I can say more.

What would you say to your sixteen-year-old self if you could offer one word of advice or inspiration?

You might want to die at times, but don’t try because you’ll change your mind in time.

Thanks to Ruth for appearing on the blog today. ‘Soul Destruction: Unforgivable’ is free from Friday 24th May until Monday 27th May.

You can order your copy of ‘Soul Destruction: Unforgivable’ now.

Or download it from Amazon.

Writers’ Poppycock.

Earlier this week, I returned home from a blissful couple of days in the countryside. After having spent a couple of days reading, shopping and eating as well as enjoying countryside air and hospitality, I returned home determined that I would complete my novel ‘Fix Me Up’. I was excited to open up my laptop and start writing after a couple of months of concentrating on academic writing. I remained blissed out until I opened my email account. Sitting there in my inbox was a rejection email. And there ended my buzz.

I had entered a short story competition a couple of months ago, paid the rather stiff entry fee and what did I get in response? A metaphorical kick in the nuts and a generic email identifying what many applicants did wrong – nothing specific to my submission. I understand that these prizes have hundreds, perhaps thousands, of applicants but to charge a not unsubstantial entry fee means even the “losers” expect a little bit of feedback.

What followed over the next couple of days was misery, self-doubt, dramatic pronouncements that my writing career may well be over and a fair bit of self-flagellation (metaphorically, obviously). Below are a few of the internal arguments I’ve had with myself this week:

You’ve got an MA in Creative Writing. Fluff.

People write good reviews of your work on Amazon. They’re just being kind.

You won that Story Tyne award. Dumb luck/not many entries.

People say they love your Creative Writing sessions. They feel sorry for me.

After writing a despairing Facebook post a couple of days ago, I realised that what I was suffering from is an affliction suffered by many of those thoughtful souls who write. When you spend all day chained to your desk, with only Tweets and Facebook messages to connect you to the outside world, it’s easy to feel lonely. That loneliness can lend itself to negative thoughts which can quickly turn into writers block, or worse.  I wonder how many people throw their writing in the bottom of a drawer during one of these episodes, convinced that their writing is bad. How many potentially successful authors, playwrights, poets or screenwriters have dropped out because the demon convinces them their work is no good?

How many of us have suffered from what a friend of mine calls “impostor syndrome”? Have you ever stood in front of an audience, ready to read your work, waiting for someone to shout “(S)He shouldn’t be here, they’re not really a writer!”? Have you ever received so many rejections from agents, publishers, production companies or competitions that you think that must be a sign? It’s not. You just haven’t found the right fit yet.

My friend Andrea Anastasiou wrote an article about using mindfulness techniques to live in the present. You may wonder what that has to do with neurotic writers’ syndrome but some of the techniques she talks about can help you keep the negativity at bay.

I know how it feels to be rejected – it’s likely most of the people you know who inhabit this writing world know that feeling too. It doesn’t mean you should give up.

Vic x

World Book Night Guest Post

I’d like to contribute to this great annual event by sharing some of my thoughts on the importance of reading to my son Tom.

Tom is 17 now. He attends college and is enjoying life. But this has not always been the case. When he was 9, he was assessed and we were told that he suffered from dyslexia and had difficulties with reading. This came as a shock to us because Tom lives in a home where he is surrounded by books and reading is something of a passion. When Tom was very young he was read to and encouraged to read for himself and I have to admit that even now, having had a mass of advice from experts and, yes, read several books on the subject I am still unclear as to what causes dyslexia.

To cut a long story short, Tom was given patchy and inconsistent support at school. He is bright (very numerate) and resented the label “special needs”. He became resistant after being called stupid by one or two teachers and his school years were very unhappy. Tom managed to develop his reading skills enough to just about get by but his attitude to reading became almost phobic.

Academic issues aside, we felt that Tom’s personal development was being limited by his unwillingness to even discuss possible reading formats that he could cope with. He could now construct the individual words on a page but the effort of doing this meant that his comprehension of the story he was reading or the concept being put forward was lost. I had a conversation with a retired soldier friend who had at one time had responsibility for training young recruits and he told me that a good portion of those recruits were similar to Tom. My friend found that, as with any skill, the more it is practiced the better you get to the point where it becomes second nature.

How could we find something that would fire Tom’s interest and make him pick up a book? I discussed this with my Twitter friend, Victoria, and she helped me to realise that we should build on anything that Tom had shown interest in when he was younger. Tom loved being read stories by Roald Dahl but as a 16 year old, he was resistant to reading stories for younger children because it reminded him that he had difficulty.By this time, for Tom, aggressive avoidance was the name of the game. Victoria suggested tempting him with a book of short stories by Roald Dahl written for adults and she very kindly sent me a copy.

The package arrived and was opened by Tom who looked at it briefly then put it to one side and we thought well, that’s that. A couple of days later though he was actually flicking through it at the breakfast table and then he went on to read one of the stories. Slowly, over a period of weeks he worked his way through the book and he started to talk about them. He described Roald Dahl as “sick” and “peng”. This is translated to “really good” and “amazing”. He then went on to read HG Wells short stories and some Jules Verne.

Tom’s conversation is much broader than it was; his confidence is greater, although he is absolutely unwilling to read aloud in public because he was laughed at on a number of occasions at school. He is still wrestling with the concept of whether reading is “cool” among his peer group but he has broken through a major barrier to pleasure and development in his life.

Tom says he’s about to start ‘The Hobbit’ (because of the movie) and is wading through an ‘ Encyclopedia of Middle Earth’!

I said that I still don’t fully understand dyslexia and I know that Tom may never find reading as comfortable as most of us but he has at least found the key to reading for pleasure and the riches that it can bring.

Paul Newcombe

Happy World Book Night!

Good evening folks, happy World Book Night. For the second year running, I have been chosen to be a “giver” so I have several copies of ‘The Secret Scripture’ by Sebastian Barry to pass on.

Here’s a bit more info about World Book Night:

“The more I read the more I fought against the assumption that literature is for the minority – of a particular education or class. Books were my birthright too.” Jeanette Winterson, ‘Why be happy when you could be normal?’

UNESCO defines literacy as the “ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society.”

It is widely acknowledged that reading for pleasure improves literacy directly by actively engaging emerging readers in the desire to read.

In the UK over half of adults of working age (56%) have literacy skills below the level of a good GCSE, 40% of these are at Level 1 (similar to a D-G in GCSE English), the government set standard for literacy, and 16% at or below the level expected of an 11-year-old. In teens, literacy levels have been steadily rising as a result of the National Literacy Strategy but directly alongside this, reading for pleasure has begun to decline. Surveys report that between a third and half of the UK population don’t regularly read, see reading as a chore and aren’t interested in or see the value of reading. Many regular readers take it for granted that everyone has had the same opportunity they have – to have been introduced to reading by someone passionate about and to have had the opportunity to develop that passion themselves.

Reading changes lives, improves employability, social interaction, enfranchisement and can have an effect on mental health and happiness.

Through its unique delivery World Book Night involves tens of thousands of people in sharing the value of reading in their communities and delivers brilliant books directly into the hands of those who might never otherwise engage with books and reading.

As a trainee teacher and writer, I am very aware of the power of the written word and that is why World Book Night is one of the most important dates in my calendar each year. The idea that giving someone a compelling book could change their life so fundamentally makes me want to do this every day of the year. 

If you know someone who is not “a natural reader” or “a bookworm”, leave a comment on this post or Tweet me @vpeanuts and I’ll happily share one of my WBN books in the hope of changing their mind. 

Last year I gave ‘Someone Like You‘, a collection of short stories by my favourite author Roald Dahl. The guest post that will follow this one explains how that book made the difference to one young man’s life. 

Vic x

Getting to Know You: Gemma Wilford.

Today on the blog, I’m thrilled to have Gemma Wilford here to chat about her life as an author. She’s on a mission to publish a novel before she’s thirty – I really hope she succeeds! 

Vic x

What do you like most about writing? What do you dislike (if anything)?

I love the freedom to escape to another life and how your imagination knows no boundaries. An idea can come from anywhere and it’s that strong urge to get those thoughts straight onto paper and tell the story that’s begging to be told. I like watching the characters I create come to life and how they develop as I continue to write, especially when they surprise you and take you in directions you hadn’t planned.

The only thing I dislike is my continuing need to improve. Why is this so bad I hear you say? Well, as writer’s we edit, edit, re-write, edit again – a continuous cycle that I find endless as no matter how many times I read a supposed ‘finished’ piece of writing, I still want to edit it further.

What inspires you to write?

I have wanted to do this since I was a little girl and back then, books such as ‘The Famous Five’, ‘The Secret Seven’ and ‘Nancy Drew’ influenced me. Summers were spent with my nose in these books swiftly followed by me writing my own version. I loved my creative writing lessons at school and I had a teacher who was very encouraging (he has just recently published his own novel ‘Beyond Saving‘.)

When I would get ready for school, I often day dreamed about other families and other characters’, stories forming in my head. Their stories would sometimes continue from day to day and I wish I had wrote them down at the time.

I can find inspiration from the most random of things – from a one liner overheard in a conversation, to a TV advert or a fight at a self-checkout til in Asda.

Do you find time to read, if so what are you reading at the moment?

I try to read a little bit before I go to sleep but as I am a shift worker, this is not always feasible. I tend to read on my breaks at work or on my days off. I am currently reading a new release by Melissa Foster – ‘Traces of Kara‘.

Which author(s) has/have had the biggest influence on your writing?

Marian Keyes has definitely had a big influence – her wit and ability to make you laugh and cry in the same book is outstanding. She tackles sensitive subjects and deals with them with such dignity while at the same time keeping a light-hearted pace.

Melissa Foster has had a huge influence; I joined her Amazing Support Team (#GoTeamPIF) back in September. Through this team, I have learnt so much in regards to networking, marketing and editing as well as developing my writing style by reading other Author’s work and taking advice from them in regards to my own work.

If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing?

Tough question – I work full time and write, which has only become my way of life in the past couple of years. I couldn’t imagine what I would be doing if I wasn’t writing and I can’t believe it has taken me this long to get into it (adolescence then the hum drum of working adult life crept in the way of any creative writing.) But in answer to your question, I would probably be a photographer. I love taking pictures to use on my blog and playing around with them, so I would probably pursue that more professionally.

What do you think are your strengths and weaknesses?

My weakness is impatience, I want everything done straight away and done right. However, that is a tough lesson to learn. As writer’s, we are taught to take our time and not rush a book being published just to get it ‘out there’. I learnt this by rushing to get ‘The Ruby of Egypt‘ self-published. Don’t get me wrong, I edited it over and over – I just didn’t get it professionally edited and I used a simple book cover. I have since had it edited and a brand new book cover designed – all things I could have taken my time with.

My strengths? Hmmm I think my crazy imagination? I sometimes come up with the most bizarre of ideas and interpretations of things so as a writer that surely has to be a bonus.

What are you working on at the moment?

I am currently working on a recession based Chick-Lit novel called ‘Little Miss Pooshoe’. I wrote this in January and February of 2012 and I am now taking my time doing a second round of edits before it goes to an editor. The book was like therapy to write as it’s about a woman who loses her job. I got close to losing mine the year before and was placed in a role I didn’t want to be in. It allowed me to vent and put a lot of what I felt down on paper. Fortunately, things have turned out alright in the role I am in and I can now see it worked out for the better – plus a novel was crafted from it!

Where can we find you online?

You can find me over at Missuswolf’s StoryLand. I am also on Facebook as well as Twitter @Missuswolf

When you’re a famous author and you write your autobiography, what will be the title?

Haha I would have picked ‘The Story of Miss Pooshoe’ as it is actually my nickname – however as I intend to use that in my novel I may have to re-think. Once Upon a dream?

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Yes – write, write and write some more! Also the power of online friends and social media is so valuable, it is the perfect world for writer’s to connect, share and help each other.

What’s been your proudest moment?

When I first self-published ‘The Ruby of Egypt‘ and received my hard copy – the feeling of having your name on a book and your words in print is just amazing – a true sense of achievement.

What would you say to your sixteen-year-old self if you could offer one word of advice or inspiration?

Write. You may come to a time when you feel lost and don’t know where to turn so just write – it’s what you have always loved and will continue to love.

Review: ‘Canada’ by Richard Ford.

Another 20p Kindle bargain and what a bargain it turned out to be. 

From the first line, I was completely enthralled in the story of fifteen year old Dell Parsons and the way in which his life was changed by one stupid, out of character decision made by his parents. While Dell thinks of Bonnie and Clyde, his retired Air Force supply officer father and his mother, a schoolteacher hatch a plan to rob a bank.

The fall-out from this poorly planned and terribly executed crime spans the remainder of Dell and his twin sister Berner’s lives. Shortly after their parents’ arrest, Berner runs away while Dell is smuggled across the border to Canada to live with a fellow American exile. Once in Canada, Dell is expected to grow up fast and he is exposed to yet more crime and drama.

‘Canada’ is a slow-burner and it is a book I enjoyed taking my time with. Richard Ford’s storyline is further enhanced by his rich descriptions of the people and places Dell encounters.

This is a well thought-out, original story about family, snap decisions and consequences that can last forever.

Vic x

Review: ‘Happenstance’ by Carol Shields.

 

I was recommended this book in 2007. I have only gotten around to reading it now and, to be honest, I was pretty disappointed with it.

The idea of it was original enough, the book split into two and told from two different points of view: that of Jack and his wife Brenda. Jack is seemingly a happily married man with a successful career. But when Brenda goes away for a week, he starts reassessing his life. Brenda’s story is that of her new-found freedom during her week away in Philadelphia.

We encounter Brenda and Jack’s irritating children, their neighbours and Jack’s parents but, in this whole novel, there is not one character that I liked.

Out of the two halves, I found Jack’s story more interesting although I must admit that, throughout the whole novel, I just kept waiting for something to  happen. And even when something did happen, it was entirely underwhelming. If that was Shields’ intention, to demonstrate how mundane the lives of these characters were, she succeeded.

Vic x

Getting to Know You: Hunter S. Jones.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a guest here at Elementary V Watson but today we have Hunter S. Jones chatting to us all the way from Atlanta, Georgia.

Tell us how you got into writing.

I began writing for an underground alternative rock paper when I was a teenager.

Describe for our readers the genre(s) you write in and why they appeal to you as a writer.

My novel, ‘Fables of the Reconstruction’, is explicit fiction, erotic fiction, erotica, horror, some readers classify it as occult. It’s been called an allegory. Different readers appear to get something different from ‘Fables of the Reconstruction’. Really, it is best left to interpretation by the readers. I am thankful that they are reading it and taking the time to analyze it. Actually, the story and the genre chose me. As many authors will tell you, the characters will ‘talk’ to you until you tell their story. The thread that ties most of my work together is my love for the spiritual and love for other cultures.

Do you prefer one medium to another?

Horror/Occult seems to be the easiest for me to write. The characters in ‘Magic in Memphis’, my story in Moon Rose Publishing’s ‘A Celtic Tapestry‘ (available for download for just 77p /99c) are normal people. Writing about normal people almost did me in…it’s very difficult.

Where can we find your work? Where can you be found online?

www.Facebook.com/Hunter S. Jones
www.Twitter.com/huntersjones101
https://plus.google.com/u/0/101140416268564688582/posts
http://pinterest.com/huntersjones/

What inspires you to write?

I have no idea where the stories come from. It’s as if the universe sends me a concept, I research the concept/idea and by the time I begin writing, the story seems to write itself. Most of my stories have a spiritual and supernatural aspect. I enjoy studying the beliefs of different cultures. ‘Fables of the Reconstruction’ is interlaced with Haitian and Creole Voodoo. One of my vignettes, ‘The Legend’, is about a Cherokee love spell gone wrong.

In the soon to be released anthology, ‘A Celtic Tapestry’ , the eight Celtic Festivals are brought to life by eight different authors . My story, ‘Magic’ in Memphis, is the Yuletide story. I actually studied with a Third Elevation Wiccan Priest to ensure that ceremonial aspects of their beliefs were correct in the story. The Altar, the candles – their placement and color – it is all so very important to the practitioners and should be acknowledged.

Do you have time to read? If so, what are you reading at the moment? Do you have a favourite all-time read?

I just starting reading Hilary Mantel’s ‘Bring Up The Bodies’. My all time favorite would have to something/anything by Edgar Allan Poe, same with Anne Rice…then there’s ‘Gone With The Wind’…how can you have just one favorite?

Which author(s) would you say have most influenced your writing?

William Faulkner and Anne Rice.

Are you working on anything new at the moment?

I am working on a concept for Book 2 of ‘Fables’. Then, there’s a potential collaboration with an English author, so watch this space…

Are you a full-time writer? If not, what’s your day job? If so, what’s the best bit of writing for a living? And the worst?

Thank you for asking. Yes, I am currently a full time writer. The best part? Being a completely creative person. The worst part? The pay is terrible!

What are your hopes for the future?

Hope for the best and expect the worst. I have no expectations although I would like to get involved as a screenwriter, at some point in my career.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Don’t quit your day job.

What do you most like about writing? What do you dislike?

I love the freedom of expressing a concept. I dislike the pain involved when you extract what you think and put it into words. It’s a very painful, excruciating ordeal.

What are your strengths and weaknesses as a writer?

My strengths? For me…I love becoming part of the story…the research, pretending to become the characters…almost the way an actor does. My weaknesses? Many and various.

Many thanks to Hunter for taking the time to chat to us today! Vic x

 

Review: ‘Sinema 2: Sympathy for the Devil’ by Rod Glenn.

 

In ‘Sinema: The Northumberland Massacre’, Han Whitman went on a rampage around a village called Haydon. Not content with slaughtering 395 innocents, Han is back to carry out “Stage 2″ of his twisted plan. However, someone’s on his tail and there’s more than one person with an interest in his whereabouts. Han’s conscience also seems less than willing to accept his transgressions, he’s haunted by a voice he doesn’t recognise.

“Phase 2″ sees movie-addict Whitman turn vigilante, turning on the foulest members of society. Rod Glenn writes Hannibal Whitman’s story with such aplomb, his descriptions are scarily vivid and the situations he puts his character in are completely believable.

Han Whitman is the kind of character that, logically, you should despise but there is something so human about him that it’s impossible not to root for him.

This is an ambitious novel with plenty of twists, turns and red herrings. Glenn doesn’t shy away from the gory details of Whitman’s exploits and this only adds to the gritty feel of the novel. There are certain parts of this book that are so stomach-churning that it makes for difficult reading although Han’s cruel exploits always seem realistic.

This may not be a story for the faint-hearted but if you can get over the blood and guts, it is a great read.

Vic x

Order your copy of ‘Sinema 2′ here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sinema-Sympathy-Devil-Rod-Glenn/dp/1907954066/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Download your copy of ‘Sinema 2′  here: http://amzn.to/VnWm0h

Review: ‘Mummydaddy’ by Jeremy Howe

 

In 1992, Lizzie Howe was waved off at a train station by her husband and two young daughters as she set off to teach at summer school for a week. At the end of that week, Lizzie was due to meet her family at the seaside for a holiday. After arriving at his mother’s house in Suffolk, Lizzie’s husband Jeremy was left irritated by the fact that Lizzie should have called to say goodnight to the girls but that call didn’t come. In the middle of the night, a policeman visited Jeremy at his mother’s house to inform him that Lizzie had been the victim of a brutal, seemingly random attack. Lizzie had been murdered in her office.

Twenty years on, Jeremy Howe reflects on how Lizzie’s murder changed his family’s life. This memoir shares how, moment by moment, day by day, the family regrouped and coped faced with such an unimaginable situation. There is so much packed into this book; how Jeremy decided to be honest with the girls regarding their mother’s death, the thoughts that haunt a widower flung into a life of mummydaddy-dom with no preparation whatsoever.

When I first started reading this book, I thought it was fiction. I thought the author was over-egging the pudding with his melancholic, emotional narrative. However, when I revisited the synopsis and realised that this was a true story, I had nothing but respect for Jeremy Howe. Having read obituaries of Lizzie Howe, if anything, Jeremy played down how successful his wife was. The determination shown by Howe to provide emotionally and financially for his girls is admirable.

Howe’s memories of certain people and events are unflinchingly honest and feature a certain sense of awkwardness. It goes to show how insensitive and thoughtless some people are – and how careless some organisations are – in such a painful situation.

I will never know how Jeremy and his daughters felt regarding the loss of Lizzie but this story goes a long way to help the reader understand the profound grief involved and, thankfully, is testament to the fact that – no matter what horrible situation you find yourself in – goodness prevails.

Vic x