Radio Ga Ga

Ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, ai, Legion of Fans (LOF)! Or, should I say, "aye aye".

I feel sorry for writers who know nothing about Army life (something I've had some experience with) and have to include military scenes in their books.

I know nothing at all about the navy or life at sea (well, I know a little bit more, I think, than I did before I started researching and writing my new pirate book, IVORY) and am now a bit brain dead after my umpteenth read through of the proofs of IVORY, trying to make sure I've included all the correct jargon and nauticalisms that go with a life on the ocean waves.

I've been helped in my research by no fewer than three master mariners, a retired South African Navy Captain and, as of today, an Australian Navy Captain and... wait for it, an ADMIRAL.

I really can't thank all these people enough for giving me their time. One of the great things about writing is that I've never had someone tell me to go jump or "walk the plank" (more appropriate in these circles) whenever I've asked for help with a book. I find people are incredibly generous with their time, and very patient with my many stupid questions and ridiculous scenarios.

I must add that sometimes a writer has to walk a narrow plank (sorry, had to use it again) between striving for technical accuracy and stretching the bounds of credibility. I've tried to do both in Ivory - ie be accurate and stretch credibility.

So I'll issue a blanket thank-you, now, to all the salts who have helped me with this book (as it sails dangerously close to the printing presses, into harm's way etc etc etc) and a blanket apology for all the dodgy bits that have to remain (in order for the book to be made into an even more improbable Hollywood blockbuster).

Anyway... back to the title of this post. What does that mean? I'm so brain dead I can't remember.

Oh, wait... that's it. I meant to say, at the start of this post, I'm too busy writing non-fiction book number two to even blog.

Instead, with the help of my techno-savvy and smart-mouthed PR mate, Jimbob, I will very soon by uploading my first ever home-grown PODCAST.

Stay tuned, as it were, for some ramblings (aided by the several beers Jimbob and I consumed to lubricate our golden tonsils while recording our first podcast) of the verbal kind in the very near future.


What about you, LOF? Ever been put into a positon where you've had to write or talk about a subject you know nothing about and sweated over it? I have. Every bloody day of my life.