I did a telephone sketch on a scrap bit of paper, one of those idle doodles one does when on the phone. The truck itsefl was a carry over of a vehicle I had designed on Canson paper way back in 1990. I knew my mind was fixated on a real word technology that was given a braoder canvas, so I fleshed out the sketch to become an outline for a CAD model.
The Spartan truck took me a couple of rainy weekends to resolve and I just beetled about adding detail and weight to the truck. It was while I was doing this that I imagined a background palate that was firmly based in a world far away from Earth.
I am not a Sci-Fi enthusiast. Sure, I am a lover of some great films that owe more to science fantasy than science fact and it was here that my adventure germinated. I loved the idea of a prehistoric world that could be invaded and witnessed by generations similar to our own.
In 2017 I joined a writing class and as one of four initial ideas I penned an action sequence that I quite liked. The words flowed easily on to the page and I felt the more i wrote the more I could generate to perpetuate the story.
That sequence became a key sequence in what was to become Mandarin Doom. The story flowing easily either side of the initial narative to provide what I hoped would be an indulgent yet exciting piece of escapism.
I had no formal training, no real idea of literary composition but I like to think that enabled me to free myself of the strictures and habits of a writer. There are so many people making a career out of being an author with almost as many becoming critics and experts. I do not profess to be any kind of expert other than being able to describe the events unfolding in an vibrant and exciting manner. I will quite happily leave it to others to become literary giants while I happily indulge in the adventures of Hudson Meyer.
2018 arrived and I picked up the draft of Mandarin Doom by the scruff of its neck. Untouched for six months I tore through it eagerly with renewed purpose and within two months had a proof copy to give to my wife to read.
Much to my enjoyment this went better than I anticipated, with my ever stoic and much better read other half saying that it was good enough to put into print. With that in mind I took a fairly blind step into self publishing then sat back and breathed a sigh of relief.
I learned so much from the experience, not least there are never too many times to proof read a book!
Mandarin Doom contains so many mistakes that eluded me on second, third, fourth re-reads. I can pick up my copy now and within a few pages find a spelling error or punctuation faux pas.
But then I'm no expert, I havent been paid to write this and I am selling a ticket to escape from life for a week. No doubt I will get better, and once I have fleshed out the second and third stories I will revisit Mandarin Doom to sort those pilot niggles.
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