Tivyside | Archive | 2005 | October | 25
From the archive, first published Tuesday 25th Oct 2005.
The fifth and final instalment of the popular Angel Mountain saga will be launched this weekend.
Newport author Brian John has reached the goal he set himself in 2001, to write, edit and publish five full length works of fiction in five years.
`Flying with Angels' covers the last 10 years of the adventurous heroine's life, and is about the joys and sadness of old age.
Martha knows that death is coming, and a series of family crises tests her resolve, and the loyalty of her friends and servants to the limit. She enjoys one last fling and an indiscretion in Ty Canol wood splits the community. The well-loved character also decides to try and help the Irish peasants during the potato famine, and upsets the secretive and evil society of Sea Serjeants in the process.
She soon realises that sacrifices will have to be made, lives will be lost, and that she will not die in her bed. The story of Mistress Martha initially came to Brian while he was suffering from a high fever on holiday. He spent 24 hours in a terrible state, wide awake and sweating profusely. During that time the entire story of Martha Morgan came to him, including characters, places even conversations.
Brian had never written any fiction before beginning `On Angel Mountain', but the novel was an instant success and the readers' reactions encouraged him to continue with the series.
The books have also turned the Carn Ingli area into a place of pilgrimage, as readers climb the stones and seek out graves, ruins and key locations of the stories.
The first three titles have now been bought by publishing giants Transworld Publishers, and will make the adventures of the feisty Carn Ingli heroine available to readers throughout the world. From March 2006 they will be published by Corgi books.
"I've thoroughly enjoy the writing. It was challenging and I had to learn many aspects on the hoof. It was great to discover how emotionally involved people get with the story," he said.
"There is obvious relief that I have completed the project, it was time to draw a line as it would be difficult to keep on maintaining the freshness of the first book, and there is a limit to the plot lines that can be developed. It will be nice to take a breather."
"Now I really do have mixed emotions, Martha has gone to her grave, and for the first time in five years I will have to survive without her," he added.
"It's been quite a preoccupation, the story has been constantly with me in my head. Martha has not exactly dominated my life, but she has been a big part of it."
The book launch/wake for Mistress Martha will be held in the Boat Club, Parrog, Newport, between 2pm and 5pm, on Sunday, October 30.
There will be drinks, nibbles and readings from the new novel. Signed copies will be available.
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