It is funny how
one book can sell very well but others do little. Why is it that medical
stories attract more interest than gardening? I mean most people have a garden
and can relate the odd humorous anecdote about events that happened to them
while in their rolling landscaped garden or back yard. I had considered this a
topic worth covering but now I’m not so sure. While A Fly on the Ward sold
well, so far, A Fly on the Garden Wall is no where near being as successful.
Why I wonder, is it because deep down we like to laugh at the misfortunes of others
and hospital stories meet this criterion? Could it be that many people have not endured
the care of the medical profession and so wish to discover more about a world
they have no knowledge of?
Perhaps the
subject of gardening is too boring for today’s hyper electronic inhabitants,
possibly the hobby or chore of tending one’s garden is not as widely appreciated
as the television gardening experts would have us believe?
I admit I no longer find much joy in spending hours rooting around in the
earth and removing weeds, or cutting that damn lawn yet again, or being
attacked by a rampant rose bush. However I really cannot say I like being
incarcerated in a medical meat factory either and would hope I never have to
experience the dubious joys of the National Health Service ever again. Given
the choice I would avoid both subjects and choose something more pleasurable,
and so I have.
My next book which is at present under construction, strain and a pile of
waste paper, will be entitled, A Fly on Deck. This time the subject matter will
concern the art of sailing, and boating, possibly sinking but certainly all
things nautical. Most people envisage a beautiful sunny day, calm seas and a
splendid white yacht shining against the golden sands of a small Pacific
Island. So surely this will be a happier and more favourable subject than
hospital or gardening? One would think so, wouldn’t one?
We’ll see . . . . watch this
space.
