Work In Progress

sue bentley

Lastville

Hello again readers, writers and fellow book-lovers! Today I want to share a little about my current WIP. The book is set in Lastville, a fictional town in Northamptonshire, and centred around the death of a brutish and unpleasant shoemaker. Miss Minerva Shaw, twenty-six years old, opinionated, stiff-necked and resigned to being a spinster, forms an unlikely friendship with the dead man's son. Their investigations lead them into the very heart of a secret club, where death itself is currency.

As part of my research for Lastville, I visited Springline -- the only remaining last manufacturer in Britain -- and was shown around the factory. It’s very exciting to have a bespoke pair of boots made for me. The process has been the same for centuries, Northampton shoe makers were and are very skilled. It's been such an inspiration for my writing and novel-in-progress.

Here I am with Michael James, master last-maker of Springline, with measurement drawing and below you can see the lasts for my bespoke boots plus the finished boot made in fine tradition by Cheaney, of Desborough, Northamptonshire -- soon to be part of an exhibition!

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I absolutely love my new boots. My feet feel extra special when I'm wearing them!

That's all for now, time to return to my editing cave...

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Thoughts and ramblings for the weekend.

By sue bentley • 16 Mar, 2024

It's almost proper Spring - lighter mornings making it easier to get up, and head straight to my writing desk. My book in progress The Making is going well, after a lot of cuts, and re-writes. I'm planning on delivering it to my agent before too long. There are bound to be more changes that need making, some tightening up that needs doing. But I'm a perfectionist, and have learned to expect this work which will make my book come alive. I want my reader to empathise with my characters, feel immersed in the world they inhabit. It is though, one of the things most authors struggle with. I doubt any one of them, even a winner of the Booker prize, is ever completely satisfied with their finished book. When I pick up one of mine that has sold very well - sometimes around the world, had great reviews, even been featured on the Sunday Times best-seller listing, I still criticise the writing. Making imaginary new edits. Wishing that I'd chosen this word over that one. That's the thing about being meticulous, and I know I owe my readers that level of detail. Only my best is good enough. It comes with the writing territory! Or it should, if you're doing your job well?