Rye Bookshop continued its series of book-signings with the launch last Saturday September 2 of a local crime-writer’s new book “Blood on the Tide”.
Chris O’Donoghue lives at Pett Level with his wife Greer and his Jack Russell Terrier, Aggie (who also appears in the book). He told me how he came to start writing books. He had made a career as a potter modelling cottages, and also local churches, some of which were used by Rye Castle Museum in a display. Then he changed tack to become a gardener and created three award-winning gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show. Modelling remained a hobby however as did his interest in narrow gauge railways, so he created a fictional scene loosely based on Rye Harbour and peopled it with characters.
There beside him in the bookshop was this very model, which activated his imagination and got him weaving a plot which became the story of the book, a 1950s detective novel of intrigue and murder.
The book-signing was a success with some 10 copies sold and more available at the Rye Bookshop, priced at £7.99. The second volume in the series of Inspector Sonny Russell Mystery tales comes out shortly.
Photo: John Minter