Catalyst
Page 25
But there he was, barely daring to attempt eye contact, yet desperately wanting to be noticed. Not brave enough to be the one to make the next move, yet risking so much by being there at all. Wanting to stay, but ready to go. Waiting for a sign.
‘Jody?’ Martin said quietly.
‘Pardon?’ asked Evelyn as she broke from their embrace.
‘Er, sorry, but I’ve just seen someone… We’ve not seen each other for…’
The three others watched his face with curiosity, wondering what had brought on this sudden change in his behaviour, but Martin barely knew they were there anymore.
‘Can you excuse me for a minute, I just have to…’
And he left them there, striding with increasing purpose across the hall towards his past and a new future.
Acknowledgements
If I have learned anything from writing and self-publishing three novels it is that the description of an author as independent is fundamentally flawed. There is no way you could do it all without relying on others.
It’s one thing to come up with what you think is a good idea. It’s quite another to write about it and sound as if you know what you are talking about.
I had to lean on several people to fill in the gaps in my knowledge with Catalyst.
My Derby Telegraph colleague Eddie Bisknell was a huge help in keeping my fanciful plot lines within the bounds of reality and sparked good ideas for how the story could be developed. For further understanding about the workings of councils, I was also able to call on not one, but two Ken Currans (junior and senior) and both proved valuable.
The Derby Climate Coalition has been fighting the good fight since 2005 and their chair, Peter Robinson, was patient in explaining their operation and their relationship with other groups. I would heartily recommend you check them out.
I am lucky not only to have a wonderful and supportive family but also to have people within it who hold really useful information. So, thanks to my private medical specialists, partner Sue and son Jack, and my police procedural consultant, little sister Jane.
For finishing touches, Heather Fitt was just the type of attention to detail editor every writer needs and Andrew Rainnie again produced an eye-catching cover design.
Despite supporting the wrong football team, my fellow Sheffield author Anita Waller has proved she has sound judgement as a generous source of advice. She has provided much inspiration and encouragement.
I’m grateful, too, to good friends Anne Meadows, Ruth Broadbent and Victoria Wilcox for reading through and amending the first draft and to the members of the ARC group for volunteering to check out the final draft before the button was pressed to go for publication. It is so reassuring to have you all there.
As I write, my next novel is already on the way. No doubt, I will be calling on the help of many of you again.
Also by Mark Eklid
Sunbeam
Published November 2019
John Baldwin has been on a downward spiral to self-destruction since the day he witnessed the murder of his best friend, Stef. It has cost him his marriage, his business and his dignity.
One year on from the day that turned his world upside down, he sees Stef again. John fears he has finally lost his mind but Stef is there to pull his friend back from the brink, not tip him over it. He offers John a fresh start; a new destiny.
John rebuilds his life. He has everything again but there is a price to pay. The killer is still on the loose and Stef wants revenge.
Reviews for Sunbeam
A plot that is so full of unexpected twists and turns that the reader is left guessing until the final page.
Derbyshire Life magazine
A massive five stars from me, loved it.
Anita Waller, author
More twists and turns than a Scalextric race track.
Clare Naylor, Amazon review
Family Business
Published June 2020
Family historian Graham Hasselhoff thought there were no skeletons in his cupboard. That is, until the day he met the son he never knew he had.
Getting to know Andreas, who is now the boss of a road haulage firm, soon leads him to a trail of arson, beatings, mysterious warnings – and murder.
Can his son really be behind this deadly business?
Graham has to quickly work out if Andreas is an impetuous eccentric – or a dangerously ruthless criminal.
Reviews for Family Business
Fabulously well written and totally original.
Veronika Jordan, book blogger
The twists in the plot left me guessing at several outcomes but I was not prepared for the ending. Wow!
Maggie, Amazon review
This is the first book I have read by Mark Eklid and it certainly won’t be the last.
Teresa Ryder, Amazon review
For news of where to buy all of the author’s works, visit his website, markeklid.com