Robin Pilcher

A gentle meandering

May 13th, 2009

Another long wait for a blog! That’s because I’ve been using all my brainpower to do the rewrites of the new book which I have to say were quite testing, one or two of the changes altering quite significantly the dynamics of the plot. However, I do think they probably improve the book and the editing notes of Caroline Hogg, my English editor at Little Brown, were quite excellent, the best I’ve ever had to work with. It looks like the book is going to be called ‘A MATTER OF TRUST’ – the suggestion of Karyn Marcus at St. Martins in New York. I think it’s got a really good ring to it, and consequently, for the first time ever, I reckon I won’t need to get embroiled in a lengthy discourse over the title! Anyway, the 2nd draft has gone off so we’ll wait and see!

 

Shortbread, our short story website, continues to thrive and I really am amazed, and pretty gratified, at the quality of writing that has been submitted. If you haven’t discovered it yet, just click on the link at the bottom of the introduction on this page. We are probably getting about ten new stories a week and at the same time we are building up our audio library. What has been slightly disappointing is that I had envisaged established authors in supporting these talented new writers by being a Guest Editor on site, picking a number of stories and making comments on them, but I must have sent out about seven emails and never even got a reply. Maybe I’m being a bit idealistic about this, but I don’t think it’s too much to expect just to get some kind of acknowledgement, even if to say that they were far too busy writing their next tome!

We went the other day with some friends – and Ros – for a sort of pilgrimage up to Glenlyon in Perthshire. Kirsty, my wife, had spent the first seven years of her life there and Ernest Wills, the great-uncle of our friend, Richard Broadhurst, had owned Meggernie estate which was right up at the head of the glen. We stayed at the hotel in the village of Fortingall, which, believe it or not, is reputed to be the birthplace of Pontius Pilate. If you ever come to Scotland, I would suggest you try the hotel out. It is owned by the Glenlyon estate and is really beautifully run. The website is http://www.fortingall.com/ . Glenlyon itself is often described as ‘the most beautiful glen in Scotland’ and the day we went up it, one could quite easily see why. We must have had about four seasons in one day, driving rain giving away to hot sunshine and then followed by sleet and even a few flurries of snow. We were away for only 24 hours, we never left the boundaries of our county, yet it felt like the most restful week’s holiday. How lucky we are to live in such a wonderful place!

Will Thomson, who runs Shortbread with me, is a trustee of the Pushkin Prizes, an annual event set up in honour of Alexander Pushkin by his descendant Lady Myra Butter. The Pushkin is a creative writing award that links schools in Scotland and English-speaking schools in St. Petersburg and is open to children between the ages of 11 and 14. Last week, we went to the 2009 awards and I have to say it was quite mesmerizing to hear some of these stories read out. You should have a look at some of them on http://www.pushkinprizes.net/ . I think probably my favourite is Poppy McLean’s ‘Lethal Tennis’, a brilliant piece which will hit a chord with all mothers who have dealt with the mood swings of daughters!

I am now off to indoctrinate Ros in the art of using a mobile phone! She says she is a technophobe, so I’m going to have my work cut out in changing her opinion!

“Robin Pilcher is popular novelist Rosamunde Pilcher’s oldest son, and living proof that talent does run in families…..with his Scottish sensibility and captivating wordplay, Pilcher is able to craft a fine and fulfilling novel.” (Booklist)

“If An Ocean Apart is any indication of Robin Pilcher’s works, then it is only a matter of time before the author becomes as well-known as his mother.” (Amazon.co.uk.)

“My family was brought up with the feelgood factor, so that’s what I write about. Real people and believable situations. My characters may be criticized by some as being stereotypical, but quite honestly, I take that as a compliment. One can associate with them.” (Robin Pilcher)