Nothing will ever prepare you for the late-night phone call from a familiar number.
My mother had been very frail for many years. I would go back to visit her in her nursing home in South Wales for a week every month. Some days were good – perhaps she’d smile and we might even manage to have a chat. And other days – well, she’d be fast asleep. But she was comfortable and not in pain, the people looking after her were lovely, and that was enough.
But, as I said, no matter how ready you may think you are; nothing will ever quite prepare you for the late-night phone call from a familiar number.
Mum had passed away, eighteen months after dad, leaving me as the last member of that side of the family. Indeed, I realised I no longer had any family in Wales, a fact that I struggled – still struggle, if I’m being honest – to process.
I still believe I did all I reasonably could have done. Mum had been well looked after. I would see her regularly. To the end of her days, she knew who I was. And yet, and yet…there would be those moments of guilt – the could haves and should haves. My mind, it’s fair to say, was not focused on writing anything.
My editor and publisher were wonderful. Take all the time you need. If we need to delay publication, we can do that. Nevertheless, I had a new deadline to work towards and I was determined to hit it.
I was perhaps one third of the way into The Venetian Redemption and, in all honesty, I’m not sure I can remember what it was actually going to be about. Sure, it was going to feature the return of Nathan Sutherland – British Honorary Consul in Venice – together with his wife Federica, best friend Dario and cantankerous cat Gramsci. But as to the original story – I’m scratching my head now as I try to remember.
I knew I wanted to set it around the great Festa del Redentore in Venice, the great festival that celebrates La Serenissima’s deliverance from the great plague of 1575 to 1577. I also knew that I wanted to make reference to Pink Floyd’s Night of Wonders concert, staged on a floating platform in the lagoon in 1989. But my life had been through a tumble-dryer and I knew that whatever I’d originally planned would not do.
I’d thought about bringing back Nathan’s arch-enemy, the corrupt businessman Giuseppe Meneghini, for a third encounter following the events of The Venetian Candidate and The Venetian Sanctuary. But there was also that word Redemption to play with. Just what had turned him into the person he was? And what if something happened that meant he had to work with Nathan, this time?
I was working through a lot of stuff – about grief, about loss – and a lot of it ended up on the page. A lot of it went into Giuseppe Meneghini. Because I wasn’t having to make things up any more.
I hope it wasn’t self-indulgent. I don’t think it is. I do think there are some pretty good jokes in there. Is it a book that I enjoyed writing? I’m not sure. But I think it’s one I had to write. And if I’ve made it sound impossibly grim, well no it isn’t. There’s a lot of the usual nonsense in there about old films and progressive rock. Negronis are drunk (although as you’ll discover, not quite as many as usual). And at the centre of it is Venice herself because, really, what writer could wish for a better stage on which to play?
As I said, The Venetian Redemption is not the book it was originally meant to be. I tried to make it the book it had to be. I hope, in some small way, I succeeded.
On a lighter, much lighter note, I’ve been offered the chance to give a quick plug to this year’s Venice Noir festival in Venice (see, it’s not just a clever name) from the 12th – 15th November. I’ve been involved with the festival from its humble beginnings five years ago, when three British writers – myself, Gregory Dowling and David Hewson – sat in the upstairs room of a bookshop not far from Piazza SanMarco, to this year’s event which I can only describe as star-studded. Just take a
look at this line-up.
As a kick-off to this I’ll be at Harrogate with David, Erin Kelly and Prof Dame Suzy Lishman in the “Swift Half” tent at 13.00 on July 25th. We’ll tell you all about what’s happening in November, why you should come, and hopefully we’ll even get the
chance to share a few drinks together. I have no idea what the Negronis will be like,
but we’ll do our best!
Nathan Sutherland will return in “The Ghosts of Venice”(*)
(*and yes, you read it here first!)
Editor note: Thank you Phil for the exclusive so pleased to hear the next Nathan Sutherland is in the planning, readers please do check out Venice Noir, The Venetian Redemption is published by Constable now. a review of the novel will appear shortly in our Summer Reads.