“A page turner” was how author Chris Smith described the essence of his new novel, ‘Channel Tides’ at the launch in the Town Hall last night (Monday 24 November). But Chris Smith is actually Rev Chris Smith, Rector of the Marlborough Anglican team of St Mary’s, Mildenhall and Preshute. It’s not a book – a novel – about faith and public life. It’s about people as every good story will be, but centring on an issue that is very important to many here and also around the world. What is happening today, in the barrier between ourselves and our nearest continental neighbours is happening at many, many other national borders right across the world. It’s a global novel, but set in the English Channel.
This isn’t a review of Chris’s new novel but more of a ‘story about a story’. Did Chris ever expect, or plan to become a novelist? “No” was his answer. But a number of factors came together to create the inspiration. How ‘immigrants’ – or however they are described in the media and in our common parlance – are viewed by some here. And it was direct contact with some of those with such opinions and beliefs combined with the realisation and subsequent questions that arise when a tragedy occurs in the Channel. Who were those that drowned? What were their names, and why and how were they there? That inspired. Their names, never widely reported or probably even known. Thus they are numbers, in contrast to anyone here who perishes through accident (or drowning). We are all people.
Chris’ novel is a story, embracing what a good story should be which is about grabbing interest of the reader. A sympathetic and clear portrayal of characters, a ‘way with words’ and all pulled together into a cohesive and tangible plot that has a start, a middle and an end – or what some in the literary world would call a ‘narrative arc’.
Chris was clear to thank the Church for enabling him the time and space to create this novel. He took sabbatical which allowed that space and ‘Channel Tides’ emerged. But penning the words is just part of the story of the story. Some may say it’s the easy part, but nothing about creating a book, a novel is easy. Once that first draft is finished then the work starts. Proofing, editing, taking opinion, finding a publisher – or going down the self publishing route which nowadays is the way many books eventually appear. That incudes the typesetting (using the right and appropriate software), getting it printed, and then distributed , promoted and introduced to the reading audience. Simple? Definitely not. And potentially costly as the income to cover the costs will come from those who want to buy and read a copy. But Chris has managed that whole process, and ‘Channel Tides’ was here to see, buy and read at the Town Hall.
Chris noted that last night was the fourth anniversary of a tragedy in the Channel, another point of inspiration when a ‘small boat’ capsized and of the thirty three on board, only two survived. ‘Numbers’ noted Chris, but adding “They were people, they each had names”.
How to get hold of a copy of ‘Channel Tides’? Click here for Amazon, or rather than click that link on the phone, tablet or desktop pop along to the White Horse Bookshop or Mustard Seed where it’s stocked locally. “I never ever dreamed that when I was sixteen going in to the White Horse bookshop, a book of mine would ever be on the shelves there”, stated Chris. His role as a novelist wasn’t ever planned or envisioned. Next book? “There isn’t one” answered Chris. “OK, we’ll just look forward to reading it” was the response to that answer.
Marlborough Rugby – Late loss against Chew Valley on a wet, grey and chilly afternoon on The Common
