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The Heald Report . . .
Number 5
AUGUST 2003
The good news is that Michael Motley has found a
publisher for DEATH AND THE VISITING FELLOW.
What it is to have a proper agent again! I had
been trying to sell the book myself but met with nothing but frustration. What
was so galling was that hardly anyone turned the book down because they disliked
it. On the contrary most of them loved it but there was always a tiresome
"sorry but" at the end of the enthusiasm. Most of these negatives were
based on the idea that there is no longer a market for what is often,
ridiculously, described as "cosy" crime and that readers today want
big fat books with lots of dismembered bodies in bin-liners and as much violent
and unnatural sex as possible. I disagree strongly - but then I would, wouldn't
I? My view is that people such as myself, Simon Brett, Ruth Dudley Edwards
and others don't write "cosy" crime we write "classy" crime,
with all that this implies. Anyway John Hale of the family firm Robert
Hale presumably shares this view because he's already produced a contract which
I've signed and we are to have an old-fashioned, politically incorrect London
lunch early next month. Watch this space!
Penny and I are just back from a trip to France
combining a lot of pleasure including my beautiful god-daughter's wedding with
some enjoyable business, meaning three travel pieces for the Independent on
Sunday. I may say, incidentally, that the combined fee for all three pieces
comes out at less than the return fare for a small car and two passengers on the
cross-channel Brittany ferry. This is not a whinge, merely a statement of fact.
And it's difficult to complain when one of the pieces is about a caviar farm in
Aquitaine. The prime mover in this enterprise is a Brit which I find extremely
encouraging.
It was interesting, generally, to stay with so
many friends from the UK, Australia and Hong Kong who have settled happily into
France. It makes a mockery of our so-called anti-Europeanism.
No sooner had I got back than I found myself
presenting a cup to the winner of the Cornish Crusaders single wicket cricket
tournament.The champion was an all-rounder called Rob Harrison from Nequay and I
have suggested the Crusaders issue a challenge to MCC. Rob looked quite good
enough to see off anyone they could produce. David Taylor and team were
there to film for the six-part TV series they're making and next Sunday they'll
be back for the match in which my team (Major Rodney's XI) play the Chairman of
Fowey's Invitation XI. I'm a bit nervous as several of my team are coming down
from London and have announced their intention of stopping off in Newquay for a
spot of surf and clubbing. I hope there aren't too many hangovers.
The Folio Society and I are planning some events
based on the After Dinner book I edited for them and I'm being joined by Richard
Ingrams and Miles Kington on the afternoon of October 16th at the Cheltenham
Festival of Literature. Unfortunately the programme notes completely fail to
mention the book which is actually the main point of the exercise. Bit of a
bore! Then on January 10th next year there will be a charity lunch in aid of
"Carers UK" at Rick Stein's famous fish restaurant in Padstow,
Cornwall. I don't know who else will be there but I most certainly will and so
will Sue Bradbury, the Editorial Director of the Folio. Rick's can only
accomodate about a hundred lunchers so hurry, hurry. hurry. It would be good to
see as many friends as possible
supporting a terrific cause.
And now I suppose I'd better go and have a net
and see if I can remember how to hold a cricket bat!
Tim Heald
August 2003
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