Hi Paul - I have literally JUST, this very minute, finished the Search and came onto Substack to see if you did happen to write on here. What a wonderful surprise to come across not only your whole Substack, but this pieces. I’m fascinated by the process of writing, so thank you for sharing all of these bits with us! It’s an incredible book, and I do truly feel honoured to have spent the past few weeks with you and Scout as I read through your journey.
Ooooh thank you Immy. I've just said to myself, 'isn't Immy's page a great site' I love it and will have a good read. Thanks for subscribing and for reading The Search, I am very pleased you liked it, and I hope you laughed and cried a little too. Keep in touch. Paul
That the words flow so apparently easily on the printed page – better than most books I have read… – demonstrates (to me, at least) what a great writer you are. None of the swan’s paddling and splashing is at all evident; and yet I know just how necessary all that hard grift was… – which is another piece of evidence for your greatness: your inability to shirk, to ignore the tough stuff, the research, the structuring, the deletion of pages that don’t move the story on in the necessary way. And all this after (and still) living through the tough physical stuff.
I am in awe of anyone who writes a book. Those few who pen books this magnificently great (let’s say you and Herman Melville) – well, ironically, I have no words. Thank you, Paul.
An awesome overwhelming read. I have revisited some of my ‘story maps’ and placed them alongside yours and have come to the conclusion that I lack a hero. You have Scout. I have just a group of individuals uncertain as to who they are as they drift through their teenage years, before setting anchor in marriage or an ambition which will push all to one side. Thanks for the thoughts, but I remain in search for that elusive hero I have yet to find and, until reading your post, I did not know existed!🐰
You are a kindred spirit, so you are never confusing. I will follow up in a couple of weeks on your lovely reference to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales with a little story about the first time I stayed with Susan back in 1975, ten days after meeting her and spending two nights together, in her council flat in Mansfield. On her coffee table was a copy of Boccaccio’s Decameron…🐰
Hi Paul, I finished reading The Search a couple of days ago, and wanted to say thank you for sharing your story. Beautifully and sensitively written, and the clarity of the insights painted a picture so detailed, that I felt I was there. It's been a long while since I've read anything that made me connect so closely with a landscape. You are a very gifted writer. My mum was from the Peak, in the Hope Valley, and you transported me there with your writing. The descriptions of the personalities in MR and your team made me laugh (it's exactly the same in mine), and the ending left me in tears. You've also ignited a spark to properly look into trying to train a search dog. Your insight into how hard the process is, with no certain outcome, is hugely inspiring - possibly quite irrationally. Thank you (and Scout).
Thank you Kingsley. I really appreciate you letting me know how you found reading the book. What team are you in? I would definitely recommend taking up a dog, it leads you into a whole new world.
Hi Paul, I'm Lakes based, in Langdale Ambleside team. Have only dogs bodied a few times during Covid. Think that's the first step, to learn more, and take things logically. Thanks for the encouragement!
Hi Paul - I have literally JUST, this very minute, finished the Search and came onto Substack to see if you did happen to write on here. What a wonderful surprise to come across not only your whole Substack, but this pieces. I’m fascinated by the process of writing, so thank you for sharing all of these bits with us! It’s an incredible book, and I do truly feel honoured to have spent the past few weeks with you and Scout as I read through your journey.
Ooooh thank you Immy. I've just said to myself, 'isn't Immy's page a great site' I love it and will have a good read. Thanks for subscribing and for reading The Search, I am very pleased you liked it, and I hope you laughed and cried a little too. Keep in touch. Paul
That the words flow so apparently easily on the printed page – better than most books I have read… – demonstrates (to me, at least) what a great writer you are. None of the swan’s paddling and splashing is at all evident; and yet I know just how necessary all that hard grift was… – which is another piece of evidence for your greatness: your inability to shirk, to ignore the tough stuff, the research, the structuring, the deletion of pages that don’t move the story on in the necessary way. And all this after (and still) living through the tough physical stuff.
I am in awe of anyone who writes a book. Those few who pen books this magnificently great (let’s say you and Herman Melville) – well, ironically, I have no words. Thank you, Paul.
Thank you Stephen. It's interesting to look back after all this time. I didn't realise then how much preparation I had undertaken.
An awesome overwhelming read. I have revisited some of my ‘story maps’ and placed them alongside yours and have come to the conclusion that I lack a hero. You have Scout. I have just a group of individuals uncertain as to who they are as they drift through their teenage years, before setting anchor in marriage or an ambition which will push all to one side. Thanks for the thoughts, but I remain in search for that elusive hero I have yet to find and, until reading your post, I did not know existed!🐰
Thank you Robert. I hope I don't confuse things for you.
You are a kindred spirit, so you are never confusing. I will follow up in a couple of weeks on your lovely reference to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales with a little story about the first time I stayed with Susan back in 1975, ten days after meeting her and spending two nights together, in her council flat in Mansfield. On her coffee table was a copy of Boccaccio’s Decameron…🐰
Oh that is on my list
Hi Paul, I finished reading The Search a couple of days ago, and wanted to say thank you for sharing your story. Beautifully and sensitively written, and the clarity of the insights painted a picture so detailed, that I felt I was there. It's been a long while since I've read anything that made me connect so closely with a landscape. You are a very gifted writer. My mum was from the Peak, in the Hope Valley, and you transported me there with your writing. The descriptions of the personalities in MR and your team made me laugh (it's exactly the same in mine), and the ending left me in tears. You've also ignited a spark to properly look into trying to train a search dog. Your insight into how hard the process is, with no certain outcome, is hugely inspiring - possibly quite irrationally. Thank you (and Scout).
Thank you Kingsley. I really appreciate you letting me know how you found reading the book. What team are you in? I would definitely recommend taking up a dog, it leads you into a whole new world.
Hi Paul, I'm Lakes based, in Langdale Ambleside team. Have only dogs bodied a few times during Covid. Think that's the first step, to learn more, and take things logically. Thanks for the encouragement!