Few, if anyone, could have had a life like Alice Gilmore. It was almost unbelievable yet carried on under the cover of a respectable middle-class existence.
You might strongly disapprove of what she did, but Alice was determined. She overcame insurmountable obstacles to keep the love she longed for.
Her single-minded fight to live out her love makes a gripping, riveting story that one eminent literary person called ‘staggeringly readable’. It is shocking. Her methods will upset some, but are you with her or against her? Your decision.
This is no misery memoir. It’s a story told with joy, wit and fervour – the astonishing story of the overwhelming love Alice Gilmour was determined to live out.
Excerpt
And then one day he was gone.
A whey-faced professor and his wife, both good friends, knocked on my door and practically pushed me back into the house out of sight of anyone (not that anyone could see our front door from the road) to tell me that David had been shot dead while giving a lecture at the university. A student had come into the room waving a gun and looking for some girl he loved who had dumped him in favour of a female and then come out about her lesbianism. The gunman, already clearly unbalanced, had got a lot of ribbing about his inadequacy in causing her to change sides, so he was after both of them. They were in David’s lecture. He wanted to shoot them in front of the whole class, lesbian seducer first, former girlfriend to watch it before getting hers. All this came out later when it emerged that he had told his roommate what he was going to do and the wretched roommate had simply not taken this wimp seriously. He didn’t even own a gun but that was quickly remedied with some dollars and a driver’s licence.
David knew the gunman well and as people dived for cover suggested he sit down if he had come for the lecture. He was reported as saying, ‘Howie, why don’t you give that to me, sit down and pay attention? You could use some of what we’re dealing with here.’ When this failed he stood between the gunman and the students and continued to try to talk him down. He was, apparently, having some success when a female voice shouted in fear, ‘Why don’t you fuck off, you inadequate creep?’
Interview
Do you have any tattoos? Where? When did you get it/them? Where are they on your body?
Absolutely not, none. Apart from the visual aspects of tattooing the idea of sticking needles into myself for fun repels me. I hate the thought of any sort of needle or anything like that being stuck into me. It makes me quiver with horror. I always have to look away when even a drop or two of blood is being taken from my arm. To subject myself to perhaps hours of it revolts me. It isn’t the pain involved. It is something else. I always say that there is no fear of my ever becoming a heroin addict. The needles render it out of play.
Is your life anything like it was two years ago?
Roughly the same. The big change was ten years ago when my husband, the love of my life, was killed. Before that the world was a completely beautiful place. Since then it can only ever be partially beautiful; there will always be a reserve of pain in part of me.
How long have you been writing?
In small amounts, for the last fifteen to twenty years. I had one very busy period after my husband was killed to try to get my memoir finished in case the truth about my life leaked somehow to my children. I wanted my version in their minds first.
What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?
If you don’t actually physically enjoy it, then don’t. If you do, it is a glorious way to spend your time and your mind. Just go for it no matter what.
Tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.
I can’t. Not because the blurb has everything. It doesn’t. It is because there are certain aspects of this story that should be revealed as you read it. I hope that anyone who is thinking of reading the book is on spoiler alert and that reviewers don’t blow the important core of the story but they will. It only takes one short sentence. But what looks like the central matter actually isn’t. That is simply a means to an end. The theme of my story is… but I cannot say it until you have read it. It is there on the page, not the obvious one that will get the publicity but a more subtle one that runs parallel with the one that will be talked about.
About the Author
If you want to know about my life and background read this book. I can scarcely add to what I have written about myself in there. I earnestly hope that the rest of my life is too uneventful to even consider writing anything else, I am no novelist. The life I have described was full enough and rich enough for me. God knows what I would come out with if I had to invent. If you find you need a good chef I shall consider anything not too energetic – which rules out most jobs in the kitchen.
Giveaway
One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteGood Morning! Thank you for the book description.These tours are great and we have found some terrific books so thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteWould you ever like to see your book turned into a tv show or a movie?
ReplyDeleteI don’t see how it could be a TV show but if somebody wanted to make a film of it they would have to be very brave because there wold be substantial opposition in my view. However, it could make a terrific film if somebody dared. Yours, Alice.
DeleteThank you for hosting my book, and I hope a few are encouraged to read, Alice xxx
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a book I'll enjoy reading, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteFascinating reading, but a bit shocking. I'm not sure how I feel about this story.
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Really many thanks
Sounds like a great read!
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