Fizzy Days & Plastic Monkeys

The descriptions and scene setting within this book transport you to deep within your story. The style is detailed and yet flows and never bores.
I think the whole thing oozes quality and will be keeping it on my bookshelf for a long time to come.
Great work
Dave Hill
SEE-SAW

Writing Biography/Memoir is not an easy thing but you have done it so fantastically that makes me to read more of it. A hooking story which deserves to be termed as excellent. Highly starred.

Mark, hi, I like the settings and the style. Crewe, Bryson’s comments, the Grand, the Romantic notions of a golden age in Britain. I like the gizzajob bravado of, “back to my life in the movies”. This is not Hollywood, and Beefymeat is both enthralling and revolting at the same time. With the London job comes great descriptions of London. Good work. This should do well.

Hello Harry,
Came to this as you are a friend of Chris Carr's and you have a surpressed madness about you in your photo. And it follows into your prose. What a bollocking good read. I stopped being a writer within a paragraph or two and surrendered to that rare immersive state here on Authonomy of complete, simple 'readerness'.
Negatives-you would get a better effect from shorter chapters split at 'cliff-hanging' moments in the prose eg. written as a spoof blog with reader comments as a subplot at the end of each chapter? That would dilute the 'first person singular' prominence a little.
Thank you for a great read. On WL and stars. Has got lots of potential Harry,
All the Best.
John
Dropping Babies.

As soon as I saw this I had to read it. I used to work in the film industry (husband still does) and in a past life I was assistant to the Commissioner of Independent Drama a the BBC. I know just how hard it is to get a script read, never mind into production. I really enjoyed your story so far. It's well written, funny and shows a lot of potential.

As a reader, I did feel that your chapters were too long and would be better broken down into more bitesized chunks. I did tend to skim read in places. I would like to have read more about getting your script accepted with the backstory of your life in Crewe, travelling, etc bought in as the chapters developed. Your writing is really good and your descriptions are superlative. I'm there with you, living and experiencing your journey. It's on my watchlist and I'll keep a look out for more chapters. A fine array of stars for you for the moment.

Melanie
La Vie en Rosé

this story is easy to get caught up in, credible and skillfully told.
j
what every woman should know

I read the first chapter and pictured the town In Uk. Yor descriptions were bang on and the the dialogue really flowed well.I especially got a vivd picture of the blood stained knife at Beefy Meat and I could almost smell the stench through the computer. Well done. Hope to get back to it to read the other 2 chapters.
Regards,
Red
Illusions of Comfort

Hi Mark, Your synopsis and prologue were effective, telling the facts about script writing and then surmounting them with such colorful memoir material. Leading up to the film ambition with description of the hometown, the factories, the pretend missions, and then the luscious stuff about the movie theatres then fuels the narrator with his necessary writing. I especially liked the juncture of place and people with the television and film that were on then. Didn't understand this phrase: "needing their property returning" ? Otherwise, the pace flowed and the details were absorbing, making so many pictures. It does remind of Truffaut's film (or was it Fellini or both) about his love of film when he was in his own surroundings. Shelved & many stars - Katherine

Chapter one got me hooked ( I have accumulated a pile of similarly worded letters from publishers over the years). Your story is well written, touching, very readable and seriously funny. I have awarded six stars and added it to my shelf for a spell in the limelight. I wish you the very best of luck.
Yours Bea

I read though chapter two and found myself getting caught up in the story. Your writing only gets better as I read on. I cringed and felt sad at the death of the baby rats and laughed at the MC knowing what brand tires the sandals were made of. I loved your account of your mum's form of discipline. The story about the teacher and the booger and the chair and the fall was funny! Wow what a life you've led!
Very well written story that keeps the reader's interest. Nice flow from one idea to another, flows effortlessly. Highly starred and watchlisted for now...
Georgia
The Woman From E.A.R.L.

From tyre-fitter to tyro movie writer, that's the author's journey told is a nostalgic but unsentimental story.

It's fun, it's clever and I back it.

Hello Mark-

book- Fizzy days and plastic monkeys--

Read the three chapters of this biography of yours-
I Certainly did not lose interest in it, as i found the pages turning fast and got engrossed in the read-

Your working life in England is so gritty and authentic and told in a truthful manner, pulling no punches
and hiding no secrets-
And then off to Butlin's holiday camp and on to America to make it good in the film business'
All in all I found it makes a most intriguing and interesting read- a roller coaster really-
You capture the sights and sounds of the places very well-

good luck with it Mark-
tom bye
book- from hugs to kisses-
please oblige and read my story of growing up in Dublin in the 40s -thanks

Have you considered grouping your novel with Literary Fiction? It really has that feel to me. I finished the first chapter and truth be told, as an American, 20% of this goes right over my head, especially the cultural and geographic details that likely bring an additional level of depth and reality for your target audience.

Even without the benefit of a British centric viewpoint, the narrators voice grew on me as the chapter unfolded. Your writing style is unique, yet coherent and often surprising. I liked the asides, and occasional informal tone. There were instances of truly inspired, beautiful writing, none of which seemed overt or showy.

My main issue I have with this novel is that it reminds me of most literary fiction in that it is long on characterization, scene setting, theme, etc, and short on plot. That's not a knock on your novel, it's simply an admission on my part that I am biased against novels that aren't plot driven. That said, I'm not qualified to critique this or offer any suggestions for changes.

Entertaining and original. Deserves great success!
Backed with pleasure, Laurence Howard, The Cross of Goa.

your original writing style is perfect for this book. lts fast and fluid and full excellent and full descriptions. and l think it deserves six stars...
backed...
read SEASONS...

Hey mark I decided to beat you to the punch. I just finished reading about your adventourous life. As you probably read , I would like to have my book be made into a movie. Now I really have a clue as to what it is that I'm up against. Excellent storytelling. Highly rated and starred.

Loved this - wit, charm and reminiscence - fabulous!

PICK THIS UP AND READ IT - ITS GREAT!

This is great stuff, Harry, took me right back -'The Munsters' was the first thing I saw on TV, and teenage thieving was a favourite sport. Your endless stream of stories and anecdotes are truly entertaining. Where your 'book' falls down, imvo, and the reason so few people here are showing interest is twofold: first, this is a 'diary', isn't it? i know that because my book started out exactly like yours - a personal account of my life so far, with what one person commented 'no plot, no target audience, no narrative arc, no chance of being published.' I cried for days. But they were right. second, your 'chapters' are too long. No-one here will read a 3/4000 word chapter. How about splitting them up a bit? Also (and I realise you're never gonna back me ever again, but I see your potential and I want it to shine) how about 'setting' your chapters in time and space. It would be good, for instance, to head your first chapter '7th July 1977'. As for the bus trip to Kathmandu, I covered this recently (as a 'diary' memoir, up here a few months ago) and 28 hours in a phlegm (not 'flem') filled bus is something that should stand on its own, as part of a 'Appalled in Nepal' chapter, to give it a controlling idea.

You write with wit and charm, my friend. Five stars for now, would like to read again after your next round of edits.

Joe Kovacs
Rupee Millionaires

(please consider the 'I' narrative. It works as a diary, but not as a travelogue.)

The descriptions and scene setting within this book transport you to deep within your story. The style is detailed and yet flows and never bores.
I think the whole thing oozes quality and will be keeping it on my bookshelf for a long time to come.
Great work
Dave Hill
SEE-SAW

Just read the first chapter, and you have a nice, clear prose that lends itself well to the genre. I felt as though I had been to Crewe and back. The anecdotes you offer really personalize the town, and I thought the inclusion of the Bill Bryson quote was a nice, self-deprecating touch.

Just read three chapters and really enjoyed them. Really funny travelogue stuff, very interesting too. Funny to read about hitchhiking, it's really not something you see people doing these days is it? ut when i was a kid you'd always see people with their signs on the side of the road. Now it's so rare.
I think you could maybe do with a quick reread, just to tighten up some bits and remove unneeded phrases. The phrase "But i digress" is very over-used in non-fiction, and your writing is too good to have things like tat detract from it.
Very good stuff though, high stars and i'll be back to read more.

Okay it's there now Mark.

Tried to put this on mt watchlist, look at the message

Either the page you are trying to view either does not exist, or we are experiencing minor technical problems.

Our Technical team have been notified of this error and will look into it as soon as possible.

Mark I recognised those first lines of your novel as much as I recognised Crewe. I used to get the train from Wigan to the Limelight Club and watch live music. I also do the Nantwich Music Festival. Anyway back to your novel. I was in LA looking at the Hollywood logo on the hill and it's like sod America's history cos back to the 1960s England is where I'm going and sod me I just had the best history lesson I've ever had. And you know why? Because it was about me. How the hell do you remember so much? Know what else I like, I like your style, the way it comes over and the touches of humour are typically British. I will get around to reading much more of this, I think it's a gem. No, Better than a gem, this is gold. This is a unique, rare and valuable thing that has been buried below the surface until you, my good man, had had the insight to dig it up and how it shines for all to see. Okay there's not much action here but there doesn't have to be, this is a remarkable account of working-class history that I loved the bones of. Well done Mark, this is a great achievement. Ps I know who Ronnie Biggs is, got him in my book, he's the neighbour of my main character.

Hi Mark (or is it Harry?) This is great. Your voice is decidedly British, though you spell the American way! You have led quite a life, interesting and filled with humour. All the makings of an exciting autobiographical account. God I recognised the 70's in your writing, I almost forgot about a lot of the stuff you mention. It brought it all back to me. And now living the American dream hey? Or almost. I'm dying to know what happens next. You write really well, making every word count and kept my interest the whole nine yards, well done, I hope this does well on here and like I said, would love to know the rest of the story. Also meant to say, love the dry humour and the 'matter of fact' way you tackle things. Julie x

Hi Mark (or is it Harry?) This is great. Your voice is decidedly British, though you spell the American way! You have led quite a life, interesting and filled with humour. All the makings of an exciting autobiographical account. God I recognised the 70's in your writing, I almost forgot about a lot of the stuff you mention. It brought it all back to me. And now living the American dream hey? Or almost. I'm dying to know what happens next. You write really well, making every word count and kept my interest the whole nine yards, well done, I hope this does well on here and like I said, would love to know the rest of the story. Also meant to say, love the dry humour and the 'matter of fact' way you tackle things. Julie x

Hey Chippewa-Makes me laugh now - when I read people saying they have submitted to dozens of agents-I past the several hundred mark as regards submission queries-5 contracts/option agreements-that have led nowhere-years ago for my script and am approaching the 80 mark for the one I have posted here!--I guess I should take the hint as to my products quality and merit after all these years! But no--you just need one!--a lot of people on this site clamering for their product to be read! May as well join the throng what else you gonna do!

Mark, had an interesting development with a 22 year old script I'd written and nearly had picked up back in the eighties. My wife and I had a return guest (we run a farm stay) that i finally determined was a script agent in Los Angeles. I took the opportunity to place my script in the bookcase in the cottage where he and his wife were staying. At breakfast the next morning, I made mention that I rarely missed an opportunity and asked if he had seen the script. He said he did, and laughed at my joke. He said, Wasn't it released in the early 90s?" I was dumbfounded, Come to find out, my title, "Blind Side" was already produced and he thought I was putting one over on him. When he learned that it was an original screenplay, I asked if he would take a peek at it. He said he would do even better and take it with him. Getting a script past readers is an accomplishment, getting it in the hands of an agent a major coup. My fingers are crossed. Chippewa

This is a wonderful read. Crisp, great scene settings and wonderful details of a life full of humor (or is it humour?) and meaningfulness. His description of the Hollywood script scene is on the button (I have had a long history with that frustrating activity).

Mark, thanks for the kind words, and you are right, our backgrounds seem very similar. I particularly related to your exercising that dozer. All I could find to fidddle with was a military crane truck. Your reference to the cook book by a celeb creating a potential bidding war is precisely what is wrong with the writing game. I recently had a guest who was raised in Hell's Kitchen in New York. He wrote a bio on a group of kids, much like the Dead End Kids, that was a sensational book. It was rejected by over 200 agencies. One of the last agents wrote a note on the rejection slip, "You're a nobody...no one reads memoirs about a nobody." He changed his focus on the bpok and made it into a novel, fictionalized it. It was picked up on his first submission. What a plate of crap! After he told me that, I specifically made mention that my memoir was that of a nobody. Back to Fizzy Days...it is a wonderful read. I am on Chapter 2 and loving it. You have found your voice and what a voice it is. I am a newbie, so I'm not sure of myself. I want to tout your book....so, I guess I put it on my shelf? Or do I put it on my watchlist, or both?

Mark,

I started reading chapter 1. I am very impressed so far. Quite a diffferent story to the norm, and told in quite a relaxed and joky style.
You could remove the extra 'the' from '...my place of employment was the "The Grand"...'
Also, when you took the bulldozer, "...and excavated for while..." needs 'a' placed between 'for' and 'while'.

These are just the sorts of things you miss when reading your own work, but nothing serious. I love the memories of the '70's, great to be reminded.

Very good and worth a high star rating

Best regards
Warrick

Mark, I've started reading your book, which, I must say, is sucking me in. Having lived within gunshot ot Hollywood, and coming ever so close to having my script picked up (believe it or not, on the first day of the infamous writers' strike of 1988), I have again brought the dusty thing out and am hawking it anew. I find your voice absolutely hilarious and it would be amazed if it doesn't succeed. I am very new to the site and I'm not sure about some things...I've added you to my watchlist (not sure yet what it is) and I will do whatever I can to promote your book. I look to it as a great read. I think our upbringings are similar. If you get a chance you might check the early years of my bio, Episodes-The Memoir of a Nobody. I came by the title honestly. I had a guest who was raised in Hell's Kitchen, New York. He wrote a memoir of his life on the streets, submitted it to over 200 agents...nothing. The last agent who rejected his book stated, "You're a nobody, no one reads the memoir of a nobody." He fictionalized his book and it was picked up on his first submission. I simply refuse to put gloss on what I have lived.

Hi Strachan thanks for looking-not fiction I'm afraid almost a diary!

Hello , always nice to hear about a fellow writer getting that 'contract' and it is interesting the length of the journey from Crewe to Hollywood - a hell of a leap. Well done - you have successfully pursued 'the dream' which is what most of us on Authonomy are bent on fulfilling . I enjoyed what I assume is a fictionalised autobiography . Watchlisted and starred . Would you be able to look at the first chapter of my novel 'A Buccaneer' , which is set amongst Pirates in the 17th century , with best wishes , Strachan Gordon