Am I too obsessive? In the final draft of Plain Dealing I had written that my three villains abandon their car next to Virginia Airport and run into the bush, chased by two policewomen. I had been at the site some time before but as I approached the finalisation of the draft I did a check on Google Earth of the environment for this specific scene. No problem. It looked just like it did when I saw it last. But just before going to print I was in the vicinity and decided to check it out once again. Damn! A huge security fence had been erected, unseen by Google Earth. So I quickly grabbed the draft manuscript and changed it to have the villains abandoning their car, but instead of running straight into the bush I now had them leaping up on the bonnet of the car, scaling the security fence, and then running into the bush. So what, you might ask? Who cares? Well, for me, if there’s only ONE reader who says: “Great. I go surfing there every day. This guy obviously knows this place” then I can only be pleased. I’d feel bad if he/she said “Huh! What does he know? He obviously doesn’t realise there’s a huge security fence there.”
I suppose it’s a game, in some sense. But as with academic research, there is enormous pleasure in getting away from the desk, undertaking field work, casting one’s net and then pleasurably searching for any little jewels that one might find. Then fashioning it all into a (hopefully) cohesive story.
Hi Goldie. I don’t mind at all: criticism is most welcome when it is reasoned and explained, as you do very clearly (it also helps that you like the book even if you don’t like the audio as much!). I’m glad you like the character of Mashego himself, though. He’s growing on me and demanding another book from me… Best wishes. Ian.
I like all of that, but I hope you don’t mind my criticism below of the audio version of your book on GooglePlay, read by someone who’s name I couldn’t decipher but who I take to be a local Zulu-speaking South African. I said:
“I totally loved this book when I read it but I think the audio version is less good. I understand the whole thing about second-language speakers, in order to ensure the veracity of the experience, the authentic voice when the characters are black South Africans and not white, and all of that, and all of that, but I think the narrator is not experienced enough to convey the brilliance of the writing (for brilliant it is: I really loved reading the book). I can tell from what others have said that the author thought it would be politically less correct for him to read it himself in the audio version. But I don’t buy that. He read his earlier book “Plain Dealer” superbly and I thought he should have read this one, too. Anyway, I still love the character Mashego. He is my real hero.”
Sorry to tell you that, but I thought that although she was good in parts, the narrator didn’t quite capture all the strength of your characters.
Good to see this. I’m impressed with the detail you provide in your books. Very accurate. Are you a detective?
No, Tshepo. But my dad was.
Hope you enjoy it, Theresa. Feel free to review it – whether you feel positive or negative about it. Always willing to learn from honest and constructive criticism.
Nice blog. I agree. I get irritated when writers get things wrong – like the incorrect rank of a policeman, for example. There was one recent book (Scandinavian, but I forget the writer’s name) where the author wrote about his main criminal getting captured in South Africa and facing the death penalty: decades after capital punishment was abandoned! I like writers of fiction to do proper research as if they’re writing non-fiction. I look forward to reading your quartet, which I’ve just got hold of through a free promotion (thanks!).
Thanks, both. I appreciate your comments. Yes, Des, that’s a pen-name. I’ll probably do a blog about why I prefer a pen-name…
I agree. Just because its fiction doesn’t mean you should scrimp on the facts. Your short stories were lovely, by the way. And I really liked your after-word. Is it a pen-name you use, or your real name? I reviewed on Goodreads. Hope you like it.
How true. I like that. I also want the facts accurate , the type of weapon must be correct, and all that. Fun, and not so good when it is wrong.