It\u2019s been manic here of late and regular blog readers will have noticed I haven\u2019t had much time for reading and blogging. However, that doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019m not finding out about brilliant sounding books and it\u2019s my pleasure today to welcome Blair J Collins to Linda\u2019s Book Bag<\/em> to tell me all about his debut novel.<\/p>\n Welcome to\u00a0Linda\u2019s Book Bag<\/em> Blair. Thank you for staying in with me.<\/strong><\/p>\n Good evening Linda. Thanks for inviting me over. I hope you don\u2019t mind, I\u2019ve brought a bottle of red, already at room temperature plus a few nibbles to accompany the book I hope you read and want to discuss further. <\/span><\/p>\n Ah! I\u2019ll eat the nibbles as we chat but sadly red wine makes me really unwell so you\u2019ll just have to drink that alone. So,<\/strong> tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?<\/strong><\/p>\n The book in question is my first novel A Coastal Shelf<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The book is set in the world of the fire service. Having said that it is not the main theme, simply the plot device that carries the story. That theme being what we hand down to the next generation and the effects, both positive and negative, that they have.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That sounds fascinating. Where did the title come from?<\/strong><\/p>\n The title A Coastal Shelf<\/strong> is taken from a poem by Phillip Larkin, This Be Verse<\/em>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I quote.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Man hands on misery to man \/ It deepens like a coastal shelf\/ Get out as early as you can\/ And don\u2019t have any kids yourself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Oh yes! I thought it sounded familiar. Thank goodness you\u2019re only quoting that part! What can we expect from an evening in with A Coastal Shelf<\/em>? Is it as bleak as Larkin\u2019s poem?<\/strong><\/p>\n No. Despite that dour extract the book is laced with humour, drama but most importantly love. Eddie Hart, the main character, is conflicted by the love heaped on him by his mother and the lack of it from his father. He needs to know why, while struggling with his own private agony regarding his mother\u2019s recent demise. He is a lonely man. As a manager he is caught in a power struggle at work, his relationship with his father is poor to say the least, then there is Jane and the unrequited love that they both must deal with. Can he bring these differing strands together to a satisfactory conclusion?<\/span><\/p>\n Oh, I think those are themes so many of us can relate to Blair. And loneliness does seem to be becoming the prevalent human condition.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n What else have you brought along this evening and why have you brought it?<\/strong><\/p>\n It would be great to bring Eddie along so you could meet him. Despite his inner turmoil, Eddie is a nice guy. He is popular with almost everybody he comes into contact with. German people use the word sympathisch, it translates as sympathetic, the connotation however is more. This is a guy you would be happy to spend time with. His persona is interesting, he is clubbable and behind those eyes there is a hidden depth of which we want to know more which is slowly revealed in this book and the sequel already written.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Interesting. Tell me more.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2018It started to rain\u2019 is the phrase from which this whole novel grew. As well as the wine and nibbles I mentioned earlier, I\u2019ve also brought along a chapter of the book that starts to reveal the relationship between Eddie and Jane plus the heavy weight Eddie is carrying. What we don\u2019t know yet is why:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Eddie drove out to Hullbridge. Hedgerow and trees were budding in various shades of green. The fields would soon be hidden from the road behind dense walls of foliage. The remainder of the day had been quiet apart from the volleyball that was always loud and abusive with the recruit getting most of the stick but he had played reasonably well. He was physically quick, his eye to hand coordination good. Verbal badinage was not his forte so he laughed at crude and corny comments that came his way and had done his best to let his game do the talking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Normal day then Eddie thought. A shout, politics, sport.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He parked up and walked into the pub garden that ran down to the waters edge. It was sparsely populated in the chiaroscuro of early evening. Couples were dotted around in quiet conversation and a large family with kids that ran around noisily were being indulged by all the customers who hoped they would be gone soon. The tide had left for other shores leaving the Crouch low enough to make the riverbank on the other side almost accessible. A Heron stood stock still one leg raised. A gull flew close over the Herons head laughing. The Heron never moved.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Jane had chosen a sunny spot and was seated at a wooden table with a bench attached either side. In front of her was a pint and half of lager.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Eddie sat down opposite Jane, one leg either side of the bench.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBit clandestine,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Jane ignored the comment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEvening Eddie, I got them in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCheers\u201d he said taking a swig of beer, \u201curgh what\u2019s this?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cShandy, you\u2019re driving.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes Mum.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jane thought the remark was a perfect in for the conversation she wanted to have but decided against it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSeriously why here. Have you come to tell me you\u2019re leaving Neville so we can run off together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jane sipped her drink and looked at Eddie. His face now had the shy embarrassment of his adolescence. He knew he had overstepped.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She could ask him why on earth would she leave such a good kindhearted man that has given her and her daughter so much. She could say she would leave Neville at the drop of a hat, ruin lives and throw it all away to be with him, if he asked her, if he meant it. She looked out over the river Crouch allowing a few seconds for her mind to reset.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat and be next in the long line of women, casual dates a thousand flirtations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He was stung by her harsh comment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou were the first Jane. My very first girl friend.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYea and I won\u2019t be the last.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n She is not pulling her punches tonight he thought .<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m just saying we go back aways.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n They both took a drink.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI asked you out here because I want to talk to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTalk to me or tear me off a strip?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSorry,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCouldn\u2019t we do that in the shop I need a trim.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNo I need to concentrate on what I\u2019m talking about.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMust be the only woman that can\u2019t multitask.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll multitask you in a minute.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n They were back on familiar ground.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou could come round the flat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh yea and if Neville found out I\u2019m going to your place on my own then what.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNeville wouldn\u2019t mind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh really! He knows our history, he ain\u2019t as dumb as he is cabbage looking and for a smart bloke you can be pretty thick at times.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI know I know I\u2019m just fucking with you Jane.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n It was unlike Eddie to use a course phrase in Jane\u2019s company but after a day at work sometimes the boundaries blurred.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She ignored the vulgarity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to sit down with you where we would not be distracted and talk about your mum.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Eddie grimaced and looked away.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEddie look at me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He watched the Heron fly off, the neck retracted, head tucked in close. Was it a fish in its long beak, he couldn\u2019t tell.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He turned and looked at Jane, his face now drained of any warmth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t Eddie, don\u2019t look at me like that. You have not been right since the accident.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m supposed to be right am I Jane, OK I\u2019ll just make myself right\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>for you and everyone else.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n It was her turn to feel stung.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDo you know how long it\u2019s been. He never let her answer. Five years, three years, two ? No. Its been exactly 294 days. So still quite fresh in the mind. Give me till 300 and that should do it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Wow thought Jane. She never realised how much he was still hurting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI know Eddie,\u201d she put her hand on his, \u201cwe all mourn in our own way and in our own time but Eddie you ain\u2019t mourning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you want, me collapsed on the floor crying my eyes out in a darkened room.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNo but it would be more natural. I\u2019ve been watching you and I\u2019ve been asking about you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell just Jim and your Dad.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat do they say?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNot much it\u2019s what they don\u2019t say. Not bad, doing ok. He\u2019ll be alright. Normal male rubbish. But I see you\u2019re not OK. I remember a man that laughed easily, got on with people had an easy going manner was, she stopped, is respected and listened to. Always on a date, Mr cool who is now,\u201d she hesitated \u201cwho is now Mr cold.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n They both took a drink becoming calm again with one another.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m alright\u201d he said after awhile. \u201cI was having a joke with Jim and Adam today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWere you, really having a laugh a big old belly laugh. Laughing your head off were you ?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Eddie frowned thinking back.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n They sat in silence Eddie running a thumb and forefinger down the condensation formed on the outside of his glass.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTalk to someone Ed, it doesn\u2019t matter who it is, a counsellor, your boss, one of the watch, me even but please talk to someone, you need to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou are the only one who calls me that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEd.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell everyone knows Eddie Hart don\u2019t they, but I know you. Please Ed for me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Eddie nodded.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDo you want another drink\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNo let\u2019s get out of here before people start talking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n ****<\/span><\/p>\n That\u2019s a great introduction to the story and to Eddie. Thanks so much for staying in with me to chat all about it Blair. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Well what a nice evening. I thought for \u00a32:50 the wine would be better than that, even so I hope I have enticed you to read A Coastal Shelf<\/strong> and recommend it in your blog.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You have! But if that was the cost of the wine, I\u2019m glad I gave it a miss! You drink up and I\u2019ll tell readers a little bit more about A Coastal Shelf<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Eddie Hart, a devoted officer at Langdon Fire Station, grapples with the lingering grief over his mother\u2019s demise and the burdensome secret he harbors concerning her death, a truth he finds impossible to share with his seemingly detached father. At the firehouse, he faces the challenge of appeasing senior managers hell-bent on either reining in his Watch or disbanding it altogether, all while guiding the new recruit through the demanding facets of the profession. Amidst the workplace turmoil, the ghost of a past romance resurfaces: Jane, his high school sweetheart, now wed to the imposing Nev, but the lingering connection between them persists.<\/p>\n As the disparate threads of Eddie\u2019s life converge towards a pinnacle, the pressure mounts. Will he navigate the tempest of professional challenges, mend the rift with his father, and reconcile the embers of a bygone love? Or will the surmounting adversities cause his life to unravel into chaos?<\/p>\n Published by Austin Macauley on 8th November 2024, A Coastal Shelf<\/strong> is available for purchase here<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lindasbookbag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/a-coastal-shelf.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nStaying in with Blair J Collins <\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nA Coastal Shelf<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nAbout Blair J Collins<\/h3>\n