As Marcia awaits her editor's comments
on the last manuscript, I am reminded of another novelist for whom
Totnes became home: Mary Wesley. She and Marcia knew each other when
Marcia started writing but before she had a publisher. During this
period, Mary was always very supportive. Then came the day that
Marcia received her first contract. They met – quite near to The
Brioche as it happens – and what Mary said has remained with Marcia
ever since.
“Many congratulations. You will never
be happy again.”
“What?” asked Marcia.
“Well, you will finish another book
and then you will enjoy ten minutes of euphoria. That will be
followed by all the questions. Will my agent like the book? Will my
editor like the book? Will the great British public like the book?”
Long silence and then. “You have
signed a two-book contract you say. Are you sure you can write
another book?”
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| I had just walked down Totnes High Street to meet Marcia when I saw this artist painting East Gate. As I took his photo I realised that there, in the background, was Marcia. These novelists get everywhere. |
It may not sound like it but Mary
continued to give Marcia encouragement and they remained friends
until Mary died. I have a vision of them on the lawn in the Inner
Courtyard at Dartington Hall during a Ways With Words Festival. The
sun was shining. A game of croquet was in progress: Mary Wesley and
James Long versus Marcia Willett and Joan Brady. Marcia and Joan
lost: Mary and Joan fiercely competitive, James and Marcia far more
laid back. Four very different novelists but all hugely talented.
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| So, I thought I would put these two creative people together for you. The one on the left needs no introduction. The one on the right is local artist Stephen Bower. He has a gallery at 1a High Street so, if you are in Totnes, why not pop in and see what's on display? |
Oh, and yes, Marcia could write another
book.
Over the years, inevitably, people move
on. Mary has died, Joan has moved to Oxford and James to Bristol.
James and I keep in touch – just – via “social media” and he
seems to be quite happy. We have lost touch with Joan. This year
there will b e another “Ways With Words” at Dartington but, as
with all the literary festivals, it has changed. Now the speakers are
far more interesting than writers – they are people of the world
who can (and do) speak on almost every subject under the sun. As such
they are far better value than the novelist who spends most of life
in a private world away from the hustle and bustle of real life.
This may sound as if I am unhappy at
the changes. Far from it. It seems to me that it is through their
books that the novelist lives and by their books that a novelist is
best remembered. Too often knowing a creative person (I have a
feeling this is also true of composers and painters) gets between the
work and the reader/listener/viewer. Some novelists manage to be
“people of the world” as well as writers but they are few and far
between.
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| What a difference a few days of sun and warmth can make? Driving home,. we suddenly realised that the ferns on the lane banks has arrived - just like that. A week ago and you were hardly aware of them but now they are obvershadowing everything else. |
Marcia says, and I think she is
absolutely right, that she has one story to tell (the story
explaining how she became a writer) and she has told that story at a
number of festivals. Since the people that go to festivals tend to go back year after year and she has no desire to become a bore by repeating
her one story to substantially the same audience, she gently but firmly declines all invitations to such
events.
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| Yesterday, my friend Roger and I spent the day on the River Dart so that I could take some photographs and shoot some video. Here's a sample. |
Finally, I have good news to share with
you: the ash tree lives. Thus we may reasonable expect a splash this
summer. I really do need to buy a new watering can (my favourite got
lost in the move – no idea how). Some watering cans seem to balance
nicely and you can control the flow with ease: others seem to make
one awkward and are difficult to carry. I sometimes wonder whether
the people who design such simple things ever use them.
Two months ago, Hermione's life was turned upside down when her people split up and neither of them could keep her. It was Katherine who came to the rescue and the two of them are now happily living together.
