The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike, #2)(24)

‘I don’t want to read any more bad books; I had enough with the Brothers Ballsache,’ said Strike. ‘Anything about Quine?’

‘Loads,’ said Robin, ‘assuming he’s the man she calls The Famous Writer. TFW for short.’

‘I doubt she’s sleeping with two authors,’ said Strike. ‘It must be him. “Famous” is stretching it a bit, though. Had you heard of Quine before Leonora walked in?’

‘No,’ admitted Robin. ‘Here he is, look, on the second of November.’



Great talk with TFW about Plot and Narrative tonight which are of course not the same thing. For those wondering:- Plot is what happens, Narrative is how much you show your readers and how you show it to them.



An example from my second Novel ‘Melina’s Sacrifice.’



As they made their way towards the Forest of Harderell Lendor raised his handsome profile to see how near they were to it. His well-maintained body, honed by horseback-riding and archery skills –





‘Scroll up,’ said Strike, ‘see what else there is about Quine.’

Robin obliged, pausing on a post from 21 October.



So TFW calls and he can’t see me (again.) Family problems. What can I do except say that I understand? I knew it would be complicated when we fell in love. I can’t be openly explicit on this but Ill just say he’s stuck with a wife he doesn’t love because of a Third Party. Not his fault. Not the Third Party’s fault. The wife won’t let him go even if it’s the best thing for everyone so we’re locked into what sometimes feels like it’s Purgatory



The Wife knows about me and pretend’s not to. I don’t know how she can stnad living with a man who wants to be with someone else because I know I couldn’t do it. TFW says she’s always put the Third Party before everything else including HIm. Strange how often being a ‘Carer’ masks deep Selfishness.



Some people will say its all my fault for falling in love with a Married man. Your not telling me anything my friends, mySsister and my own Mother don’t tell me all the time. I’ve tried to call it off and what can I say except The Heart has it’s reasons, which Reasons don’t know. And now tonight I’m crying over him all over again for a brand new Reason. He tells me he’s nearly finished his Masterpiece, the book he says is the Best he’s ever written. ‘I hope you’ll like it. You’re in it.’



What do you say when a Famous Writer writes you into what he says is his best book? I understand what he’s giving me in way’s a Non-Writer can’t. It makes you feel proud and humble. Yes there are people we Writer’s let into our hearts, but into our Books?! That’s special. That’s different.



Can’t help loving TFW. The Heart has it’s Reasons.





There was an exchange of comments below.



What would you say if I told you he’d read a bit to me? Pippa2011



You’d better be joking Pip he won’t read me any!!! Kath



You wait. Pippa2011 xxxx





‘Interesting,’ said Strike. ‘Very interesting. When Kent attacked me last night, she assured me that someone called Pippa wanted to kill me.’

‘Look at this, then!’ said Robin in excitement, scrolling down to 9 November.



The first time I ever met TFW he said to me “Your not writing properly unless someone is bleeding, probably you”. As follower’s of this Blog know I’ve Metaphorically opened my veins both here and also in my novels. But today I feel like I have been Fatally stabbed by somebodywho I had learned to trust.



‘O Macheath! thou hast robb’d me of my Quiet – to see thee tortur’d would give me Pleasure.’





‘Where’s that quotation from?’ asked Strike.

Robin’s nimble fingers danced across the keyboard.

‘The Beggar’s Opera, by John Gay.’

‘Erudite, for a woman who confuses “you’re” and “your” and goes in for random capitalisation.’

‘We can’t all be literary geniuses,’ said Robin reproachfully.

‘Thank Christ for that, from all I’m hearing about them.’

‘But look at the comment under the quotation,’ said Robin, returning to Kathryn’s blog. She clicked on the link and a single sentence was revealed.



I’ll turn the handle on the f*@%ing rack for you Kath.





This comment, too, had been made by Pippa2011.

‘Pippa sounds a handful, doesn’t she?’ commented Strike. ‘Anything about what Kent does for a living on here? I’m assuming she’s not paying the bills with her erotic fantasies.’

‘That’s a bit odd, too. Look at this bit.’

On 28 October, Kathryn had written:



Like most Writers I also have a day job. I can’t say to much about it for secuty reasons. This week security has been tightened at our Facility again which means in consequence that my officious Co-Worker (born again Christian, sanctimnious on the subject of my private life) an excuse to suggest to management that blogs e.tc should be viewed in case sensitive Information is revealed. Frotunately it seems sense has prevailed and no action is being taken.