#GuestPost by @MikeNolanAuthor, author of Charlestown to Charlestown and Beyond @authoright @Fayerogerspr
Favourite things about writing
by Michael Nolan
I guess the most favourite thing about writing a book is the level of discipline and self determination that is needed to get the book finished. It must be true, that there is a book in every one, but not everyone gets round to actually doing it. I suppose that the more you talk to people, then sometimes it appears to them that you have led a not so ordinary existence.
There have been numerous occasions during a conversation that the listener expresses various levels of shock, or even disbelief when you are retelling some of the experiences that you have lived through, with many of them all arriving at the same conclusion, why don’t you write a book.
This idea has been swimming around in the dark recesses of my mind for many years, so the process starts.
The difficult part is how, and where to start. You have to become very methodical with your memory process, the more you you remember the easier it becomes. Soon you have to take copious notes, the process is helped if you have the benefit of photographic reminders of your early years, unfortunately all of our treasured pictures were lost during the shipwreck, so we did not have that luxury.
It becomes very cathartic when you try to real almost every detail of your past when the penny finally drops and you think that you can start it is really a great feeling. It becomes very difficult to make the decision as to what you can include, this is your life story, warts and all.
As you progress through the different stages it is one hell of a shock when you finally grasp the truth that you are living the dream. Then you have to re-asses all of the help and physical effort that were made by countless individuals, that without their direct input the dream could not have been realised. Your Christmas card list has grown exponentially.
You also learn an awful lot about yourself when you realise that you are capable of doing many things that you did not think that you would be able to do. It also makes you put more of an effort into getting reacquainted with friends and family that you have lost touch with for whatever reasons
When you arrive at any one of the pivotal moments it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, you replay the incident over and over in your mind, you look at every aspect with each set of circumstances, and with the benefit of 20 20 hind sight, you have to admit that whatever you think, that you if you should have done anything differently, would the outcome be exactly the same.
You also have to come to accept the inevitable, there will always be situations that you will have absolutely no control over, and no matter what the outcome is you just have to accept it.
On a more positive note, it is a great personal triumph when your work eventually ends up getting published, and you are able to let your nearest and dearest share the dream that you have lived, and the part that was the nightmare is put safely back in its box, because I am still here to tell the tale.
Thank you so much for writing this Guest Post, Mike, and congratulations on publishing your book as well as surviving all life has thrown at you to get here!
Here’s more information about his book, purchase and contact links and this blog tour:
Information about the Book
Title: Charlestown to Charlestown and Beyond
Author: Mike Nolan
Release Date: 16th June 2020
Genre: Non-Fiction
Page Count: 214
Publisher: Clink Street Publishing
Summary:
Mike Nolan grew up in the deprivation of post- war Britain. As a young man he had a dream that somehow became a reality; to live his life on the high seas to indulge his passion for all things nautical. Eclectic employment as a musician, a hod carier, butler and boatbuilder meant that Nolan’s life never confirmed to a nine to five existence. All the while the call of the sea, like a siren, was impossible to resist. His life as a sailor, fulfilled his wildest dreams but saw him hit by a series of catastrophes, including hurricanes and a violent shipwreck. On a more positive note, he did at least manage to save both his wife and her cat! This is a rags to riches story with a sharp sting in its tale.
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53106155-charlestown-to-charlestown-and-beyond
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charlestown-Charleston-Beyond-Mike-Nolan-ebook/dp/B07RWPLPZ4
Author Media links:
Website: http://mikenolan.me
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MikeNolanAuthor
Follow the tour:
Monday 24th June
Tuesday 25th June
Wednesday 26th June
Thursday 27th June
Carry on Beautiful
Friday 28th June
Sat 29th June
Sunday 30th June
Many thanks to Faye Rogers PR and Authoright for providing content for this post and organising the tour it is part of and to Mike Nolan for writing the guest post!
splashesintobooks 