For my WIP I needed some quotes from the French classic poet Baudelaire – his ‘Flowers of Evil’. I bought it dead cheap in Waterstones and was dipping into it on the bus home when a strange woman (ugly, but maybe beautiful inside) sat next to me, even though there were plenty of vacant seats. She immediately quoted verses in French! No idea if they were correct ie from Baudelaire, but she didn’t stop… When I disembarked I wasn’t sure if I’d been in the presence of a cultural beacon or a mad woman!

 Far be it for me to blow my own trumpet, but I was flattered today by comments from the editor at DDP who is working on my Exit, Pursued by a Bee scifi novel and who read my Abandoned short story about a tower crane driver deserted by his wife on the ground and by his workmates in the air.  I’ll let you read what he kindly said:

Hello, Geoff, I thought I’d pass this along for your interest and edification.  I have been doing this sort of work (writing, editing, proofreading and copywriting) for fifty-two years plus a couple of months and I have seldom encountered cleaner manuscripts than yours.  So far I have found a few typos, fewer words out of place.  …   Your plots are taut as a bowstring and quite close to flawless.  Same holds true for the material you submitted for TWISTED TAILS.  The only other author I can say this for is Raspal Chima, also in the UK. ..  may the force be with you…  J.