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Most writers are happy to release just one book but local
author and playwright Ian Pauley has published three! Regular
'Wyenot News' readers may well remember Ian's first play,
Resonant Frequency, which ran at The Phoenix Theatre last
October to much critical acclaim. (See issue numbers 113
and 139.)
'The
time felt right', said Ian. 'Herefordshire library service
recently took delivery of the first three volumes of the
Bernard Baker series and it felt right to make the books
available to a wider audience.'
So how would you describe the books?
'They are historical, comedy, action, adventure stories;
a cross between Young Winston, Indiana Jones with a liberal
sprinkling of Pythonesque humour.'
Are there heroes and villains?
'The books would be nothing without them! The heroes are
Bernard Baker and his batman Sam Johnston. They
go around the British Empire at the behest of the army and
find themselves confronting troublesome natives, interesting
food and awkward wildlife.'
When are the books set? 'Cairo to Khartoum is the first
in the series and is set against the battle of Omdurman
in 1899. In Cape Crusader Bernard and Sam are sent to South
Africa to fight the Boers and in Pekin Tom they are sent
off to China to unravel the complexities of the Boxer rebellion.
The
intention is to take the series up to 1939, chronicling
the downfall of the British Empire.'
So who are the villains?
'Holmes had Moriarty, Tom had Jerry and Bernard has Jeremy
Blasford-Smythe; a thoroughly despicable character who would
sell his grandmother's bath chair and false teeth if it
suited him.'
He sounds ruthless.
'Oh he is, completely.'
As you mentioned Holmes, is there a Reichenbach Falls moment
at the end of the series? '…no comment.'
What about future plans? Are there more books and plays
in the pipeline?
'I have started to collaborate with local poet Robin Baldwin
on a play about a poet who has trouble selling his work.
It will be a comedy.'
The
Bernard Baker books are available exclusively by mail order.
If you would like to order one or more copies then follow
the link to Ian's website and go to the shop page. www.ianpauley.co.uk.
Wyenot
news is happy to announce that Ian's next play, Poppy Appeal,
will run from the 22nd to the 29th of September at The Phoenix
Theatre.
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