What's in a name? If anyone is wondering why my father's family name, husband Paul's family name and my name are the same, it is because my maiden name and my married name are both Martin. That is because when we started medical school we ended up on the same dissecting table having been allocated our places in alphabetical order. It is (?was) not uncommon for medics to pair up thus although less common, I suppose, for them to share the same surname as well as the same dissecting table. What's in another name? My website Favicon is meant to represent the Cumbrian Herdwick sheep, descended from the hardy sheep which the Vikings brought with them when they invaded Cumbria. Their colour scheme is contrary: they have black or brown wool and light coloured faces. Like the Cumbrians, they are stoical survivors in hard conditions, so I thought I would honour them by calling my own self-publishing 'house' Herdwick Books and use its icon for this website Favicon. I liked the idea then of having go at the survival course of publishing one or two books myself on a shoestring using only a printer. I'm still here to tell the tale (Phew!) but, on the whole, I wouldn't recommend it. I learnt the very hard work way, luckily without any catastrophes, what the huge difference is between a printer and a publisher. And if I had to pick only one reason for using a publisher, I'd say it's the cover. That's what sells the book.
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Thanks to a Legion member who put me in touch with Margaret Lowe of the Tytherington Family Worship (non-denominational) Church, Macclesfield, I gave a talk in February on In Our Fathers' Footsteps to members of the Ladies Group. Some were old enough to share their own memories of World War II, poignant but inspiring for their stoicism and humanity. I took along with me copies, not only of In Our Fathers' Footsteps but also of Aftermath, its prequel, published 2014 to commemorate the centenary of the start of World War I. The short stories and poems in Aftermath are based on those whose stories are told in In Our Fathers' Footsteps. I found here, as before, that some people like to buy the books as a pair. I left the meeting with a warm sense of peace and friendship and a glimmer of hope in this troubled world, and gratitude, on my behalf and that of those whom the Legion still serves, especially Margaret Lowe for organising and running the meeting. Monument in St Nicholas Churchyard, Whitehaven, to the town's sons who lost their lives |
AuthorIt's almost two years since I published In Our Fathers' Footsteps (see under BOOKS). My latest book, One Dog and His Cop, about my cousin's police dog,was published 30 November this year (see under BOOKS). Archives
September 2021
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