AN author who has been shielding managed to write a new book during the first national lockdown.
Finding himself confined to his home in March, Patrick Forsyth, of Saltcote Maltings, embarked on third novel A Rather Curious Crime, which is set in Maldon.
It follows cub reporter Alice Carter who always wanted to be a journalist.
Still new to her first job on a local newspaper, she reckons her editor seems to view her as the office dogsbody.
Nevertheless, she tackles everything conscientiously and is learning a lot and hopes planned visits to the local library and a top executive will prove of more interest than competitive pie-eating.
While the routine is getting to Alice, elsewhere someone is laying plans for a criminal act in the town which will mix danger and hope, and is in no way routine.
Mr Forsyth, who is in his 70s, wrote his first book in 1980.
He said: “As lockdown began, I quickly realised how much time I spent out and about at meetings and social events that the new circumstances now ruled out.
“Something constructive was called for to fill the time.
“I’d had ideas for a third novel gathering dust for a while.
“I got these ideas sorted out and settled down to what many writers call the BOSHOK stage – bum on seat, hands on keyboard – which is in any case a solitary occupation.
"It kept me busy and it kept me sane.”
A Rather Curious Crime costs £8.99 from Maldon Books, Amazon or from Patrick himself.
Visit patrickforsyth.com.
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