Newsletter #17
What Do You Think of the Show So Far?
September 2023
I have a lot of fellow feeling for Ernie Wise, and the play what he wrote. But this Newsletter draws on the immortal words of Eric Morecambe, “What do you think of the show so far?”
If your instinctive reaction is to shout “Rubbish!”, then you’re either very cruel, or you’re showing your age.
To those of you less than half a century old, I refer you to Google, Wikipedia and YouTube. Look up “Eric and Ernie”, or “Morecambe and Wise”, or “The Breakfast Sketch”, and think about the 20 million people who watched the Christmas Special in 1977.
Anyway, back to the here and now.
Can you spare me a few minutes to let me know what you think of the stories we’ve shared over the last couple of years?
It would really help me get a grip on whether this is all heading in the right direction. And I could do with that right now.
I’ve created a short survey for you. It’ll take maybe five minutes to complete. Ideally, it would have been anonymous, but I’m afraid the technology defeated me – so bear in mind that I will be able to see how you’ve voted, and who said what in the comments!
It’ll ask you about all four short stories. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t read them all. Just let me know what you think of the ones you have read. As a reminder, the four stories are…
It’s 1896. The dawn of the motor age. Sarah Quicke, the wilful daughter of the Rector of All Saints, Harnham, plans her escape from the weary confines of village life.
1900. A flagstone quarry in the Yorkshire Dales. George Calvert, youngest son of the quarry owner, is hurt, and scared. He probably deserves it.
Dublin. 1907. William’s future looks bright, his engagement to Alice a formality, but a potential blackmailer has evidence of an affair that could ruin everything.
Bermondsey, South London. 1920. Demobbed from the army, Bert has got himself a cushy job as a railway porter, and his future all mapped out. But a scrap of yellow paper could change that forever.
Click on the images or titles if you want to read them (or read them again).
If you’re reading this old newsletter on the website, then I’m afraid the survey is now closed. But you can always drop me a line, and let me know what you think.
As always, if you’ve enjoyed this Newsletter, and if you have like-minded, book-reading, story-loving friends who might enjoy it too, please do pass it on to them. They sound like just the kind of person I’d love to share this journey with.
Let’s sign them up at subscribepage.io/paulcmercer.
All the best
Paul C. Mercer 