The Black Thread - Published in hardcover 

Hale Books releases canal story - August 2007

Well, it's been a year in the making but at last my latest novel is out in print.
It's always nice for an author to at last hold a copy of the finished work.
And Hale Books produce quality hardback books.
Initially I was quite disappointed with the cover but it does depict the dark days of the canals in the late 1890s.

Copies of "The Black Thread" can be ordered at a discount price and with free UK postage from http://www.Halebooks.com
or from Amazon UK or any good book shop.

Cover Rough 

The artist's idea for the book's jacket

It's a long time between submitting a manuscript and seeing the published book.
In this case the time lapse is almost a year - submision Sept 2006 - publication due Aug 30, 2007.

Behind the scenes work goes on during that time and one major item is creating a suitable cover for the book.
Here is the artist's impression for the jacket of, 'The Black Thread'.

The Black Thread - the storyline 

Amy longs to meet her father who left home before she was born. But when Amos Dodd turns up one wet afternoon, her dreams are shattered.
Her father is not the rich adventurer she had expected him to be, but a sadistic killer who has just been released from Armley Jail.
Within a day of his return Amy is sent to work at Fanshaw's Woollen Mill to fund his drinking habit, but when her mother dies, she runs away and hides beneath one of the Leeds bridges.
The following day, with no-one to turn to, Amy begins her trek along the towing path. She plans to walk to Lancashire.
Desperate and destitute and beset by bad weather, she is befriended by an injured boatman and his wife, and accompanies them to Saltaire where their barge, a short-boat, is put into dry-dock.
A chance encounter in the town brings a startling discovery but in order to unravel the mystery surrounding her past and the truth about the man she hates, Amy must go back to Leeds.
By doing so she is walking straight back into the Lion's den.

Photo: Mid section of Caen Hill flight (M Muir 2006)

From writing to publishing - The Black Thread 

Follow the road road to publication

If you are interested in following the publishing process from writing a manuscript to seeing a book in print, then this diary of events may interst you.

I started writing The Black Thread early in 2006, but due to personal circumstances my heart was not in my work and only about 15,000 words were on paper after 3 months.
A trip to England and Europe in June and July, however, blew the cobwebs from my brain. Duriong the holiday, I visited various British canals, also the town of Saltaire and by those means, the story was able to come alive in my mind.
When I returned home in mid-July I got back into my manuscript (MS) with a vengeance.
Two months later, by mid September, the MS was complete and ready to submit to my agent.
2 Oct. Now I must wait for feedback. Will the publisher like it? Will he accept it? Will it need many changes?

10 Oct - the news I wanted to hear - the publisher likes the story and has offered a contract. Wooppeee!!!!

7 Dec - request for a short publicity blurb - things are starting to move!
Jan 2007 - Just discovered The Black Thread will be published in hardback in England on August 31 2007. It seems a long way away.

26 August - THE BLACK THREAD has been printed and I have my author copies in my hand.
Officially publication date is 31 August but the book is already available via Amazon.co.uk or www.halebooks.com at a discount price.

Now begins the PR work and I'm pleased to say I have had positive feedback about getting reviews in some of the canal magazines.

Lets hope the reviews are as positive.
Photo: M Muir - Narrowboat Locking through at the Crofton Pumping Station in Wiltshire (June 2006)

Where you can find me... 

My Blog

This is an active site about the things I love: Tall ships, Goats and Writing - plus a few surprises.

My Website

This site is fairly static, but it has a 'CONTACT ME' page, if you want to write.

My Tall Ships lens

Tall ships I have sailed on and seen in my travels - my most popular site.

My Goat lens

Snippet from my 17 years farming goats

The Twisting Vine

This is my second novel. The story is set in Leeds and Horsforth between 1895-1920

Sea Dust

My first novel and still my favourite - A voyage of escape from Whitby - an adventure on a sailing ship in 1856.

Sail the Atlantic with me

Join me on a 23 day voyage across the Atlantic

Places to visit when cruising the Med

Join me on a cruise around the Mediterranean

Cruising Antactic waters

Join me on a cruise from Valparaiso to Buenos Aires via the Antactic Peninsula

The towing path 

Tow-paths were established when the canals were built and were originally wide enough to accomodate two heavy horses.
Today the paths are used by cyclists and hikers and very few boat-horses are seen on the canal.
In the book, I've called this path, the 'towing path' as that was what it was refered to in the late 1800s.

Photo: Tow-path on the Leeds and Liverpool canal at Saltaire looking towards Hirst Lock (M Muir -July 2006)

The boat-horse 

Since the time rivers became navigable, horses have been used to haul barges and boats on inland waterways.
For example, the first mile of the River Kennett from the Thames to Reading was navigable from the 14th century.
But it was during the early and mid 19th century that boat-horses were in greatest demand.
Most popular where the Shire or part Shire horses which offered strength and longevity, combined with a good temperament.
Pulling a water-borne load is far easier for a horse than dragging a load over land. Because of this a cart horse could pull a load of around two tons but the equivalent boat horse would haul 30 to 50 tons along a waterway.
But despite the capabilities of both barge and horse, the latter part of 1800s marked the beginning of the slow decline of canal transport.
Firstly, steam power replaced horses for pulling power. Then, the building of railways across Britain offered a faster conveyance than either horse or steam power could compete with. As a result, by the early 1900s many of the navigations were unprofitable and fell into such disrepair that they became un-navigable.
Fortunately, in the last 20-30 years restoration projects have returned many of the canals to their former glory (if not better) and the canals are open and popular with recreational boat owners.
Some commercial barges still operate - but they are few and far between, and a few boat horses still walk the tow-path (as in Kintbury) pulling tourist boats.

The barge in my latest novel, The Black Thread, is a short-boat (not a narrowboat). I have called it, 'Milkwort' and the boat horse is named, 'Mallow' (named after the wild flower which is seen on may of the tow paths around Britain).

Photo: M. Muir - taken from poster at Flatford Mill (Constable exhibition)

Barges known by different names 

They come in all shapes and sizes

River barges are not the same and a boatman who owns a narrowboat will not appreciate it being called a barge or himself being refered to as a bargee.
The narrowboats of the southern and eastern navigations are, as the name implies, narrow. Only 7 feet in width.
The short-boats of the broader Leeds and Liverpool are double the width (14.5ft) and around 60ft long which is slightly shorter than most narrowboats.
Barges of the River Severn were called trows and on the River Stour, lighters.
Today mainly narrowboats predominate on most of the inland waterways.

Photo: (2006) Old commercial barge moored in the Thames at central London.

Traditional canal crafts 

Painting, lacemaking, ropework and brasses

The origins of the various crafts associated with barges and narrow-boats is not clear cut.
These craft include painted decorations, handmade lacework, knotted fenders and buttons, and polished brasses.
Whether these craft were handed from the gypsies who roamed across Britain, is not certain, though it is quite probable.
Horse brasses and polished metalwork are something a boatman was proud of, as were the designs and pictures painted on his walls and water tank and various ornaments.
Today, painted roses and castles are the traditional choice fo decoration on the southern waterways. On the Leeds and Liverpool canal, scrolls and geometric patters are more common.
Lacework, though not usually seen outside the cabin, was the craft of the boatwomen. They decorated their shelf fronts and cupboards with lace. Some even put a lace collar around the stove's chimney and made lace blinkers for their horse. Keeping the lace clean was not easy but it was boiled regularly to keep it sparking white.
Finally, the fenders. The men were adept at weaving and knotting old tow-rope into buttons and rope fenders. These also needed scrubbing to keep them clean.
The boat-folk took great pride in their boats and many were spotless inside. Unfortunatly in the north, at least, they were dubbed - dirty bargees. Perhaps it was because many of the barges on the Leeds and Liverpool carryied coal.

Photo: M Muir - delightful artwork seen on the Kennet and Avon at Kinbury, June 2006

Canal crafts - the boatwoman's skill 

What is this beautiful hand made item?
At a quick glance it could be an iced birthday cake.
No, you say!
Or a lace garter - elegant enough for a bride to wear!
Believe it or not, this is a pair or horses' earcaps made in fine lace and decorated with brightly coloured tassels, the type crocheted by the boatwomen on the canals to keep the flies from the boat-horses' ears a century ago.
On her website, Liz Bryant displays the crafts of the boatwomen who decorated their barges by trimming the shelves, portholes, chimneys and even their horses with lacework in various designs.
I find it sad that this sort of tradition, like the barges themselves, is dying and unlikely to return. Today, women's hands are now occupied on production lines or keyboards, while few fingers learn to master a spinning wheel, a crochet hook or even a pair of knitting needles.
Having read about the skills of the boatwomen while researching my latest novel, I made sure the traditonal lacework was mentioned.
In my own defence, I can say that in my latter years, I learned how to spin sheep wool, alpaca fibre, cashmere and mohair and have made jumpers from my own wool.
I can tan a calf and goat hide and have made many a teddy bare and soft toy. I've even tanned a fish and snake skin.
And when my boys were growing up, I taught them both how to knit.
I wonder if today's society has really progressed.
I don't think most people could survive today without technology.

Elizabeth Bryant, an accredited Master of Crochet and Cabin Lace in the Waterways Craft Guild, continues this tradition, making crochet nets in a wide variety of traditional and original designs.
I thank Elizabeth for the image of the horse's earcaps.
You can visit her site at: http://www.englishcrafts.co.uk/

'Reflections' on the canal 

Elizabeth Bryant reflects on canal crafts

'I've no idea how the working boatwomen managed to crochet with hands chapped and roughened by the cold and wet.'

Elizabeth Bryant, lace-maker extraordinaire describes herself as a Jack-of-all-trades, Master-of-non, despite her 'Master' accreditation in Cabin Lace.
Over the years Liz has turned her hand to many crafts, glass etching, stained glass and painting, to mention a few. 'At one time I sold Victorian Peg People in 'Liberty' in London,' Liz said. 'Children with kites or hoops; ladies with parasols. I also made models of several well-known smugglers, also thatched cottages, oast houses and churches. I enjoyed researching the smuggling history of the south east of England.'

But when Liz and husband, Paul bought a share in a narrowboat, she read up about the lives and skills of the working boatwomen. 'I felt it was really important not to let them die out unappreciated. The Waterway Craft Guild does a lot to keep the old canal skills alive,' she said. And it was through the Guild that she applied to become a 'journeyman' in the craft of Crochet and Cabin Lace.

Liz says she was most surprised when she was accredited a 'Master' and now, despite her vision impairment, tries to be worthy of the title by spreading the tradition as much as possible.

Today Liz and Paul have their own 'project' boat, Reflections. She says that when her husband has time from making double basses, 'cellos and violas, they enjoy the beauty of the Inland Waterways.

The photo of Reflections was the one Liz used last year as a Christmas card. It's an ideal seasonal picture with the narrowboat crusted in a layer of frost. But Liz says, 'Breaking sheets of thin ice on the canals is very musical, but frozen ropes hurt my hands. I've no idea how the working boatwomen managed to crochet with hands chapped and roughened by the cold and wet.'

See the other entry about Liz's work below and find out more about her lacecraft at http://www.englishcrafts.co.uk/
Also read about Paul Bryant, who 30 years ago taught himself to make violins. Today Paul specializes in basses and his instruments are found in many British orchestras. http://www.bryantbasses.co.uk

A Mouse on the canal at Kintbury 

Though I love tall ships, I find canals and their boats intriguing.
I have to admit I've never travelled on one but I made a point of seeing quite a lot during my recent visit to UK as research for the novel.
Kintbury is a small village near Hungerford on the Avon and Kennet Canal.
This is where I photographed, 'Tittlemouse' , a narrowboat, no doubt named after the Beatrix Potter character.
As with this boat, most owners take immense pride in their vessels keeping them clean and freshly painted and decorated with the traditional roses and castles designs. Many also have a colourful display of pot plants decorating the cabin roof.

Photo: M Muir

Saltaire - a model town 

Saltaire was built on on the banks of the River Aire and Leeds and Liverpool canal in the 1830s, It's founder Sir Titus Salt was an extraordinary man of vision and philanthropist.
It is said that in his lifetime he gave half a million pounds to charity (in the 1800s - wow!).
Not only did he build a mill and town for his mill workers, but he provided everything for them including modern (in those days) housing, a hospital, churches, schools and recreation areas.
Built in stone the whole town is designed in the Florentine style.
The Congregational Church (now the United Reformed Church), is an excellent example of Italian architecture.
Photo: M Muir - Saltaire's unique church building

Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Saltaire - setting for story 

I chose Saltaire as the setting for my latest historical fiction novel.
This model town was built on the banks of the Leeds and Liverpool canal in 1853 to take advantage of the water transport which was so essential in the 1800s.
My book's title, 'The Black Thread' refers to the body of still water which runs across the north of England - the Leeds and Liverpool canal.

Searching for an apt quote or verse to go inside the cover, I came across The Lady of Shalott by Alfred Lord Tennyson.
I like this verse and hope to include it inside the cover of the book.

By the margin, willow veiled
Slide the heavy barges trailed
By slow horses; and unhailed
The shallop flitteth silken-sailed
Skimming down to Camelot:
But who hath seen her wave her hand?
Or at the casement seen her stand?
Or is she known in all the land,
The Lady of Shalott?

Photo: M Muir - Salt's New Mill and the L & L Canal taken from the grounds of the United Reformed Church (pic below)

Sir Titus Salt - a man of vision 

Sir Titus Salt was the philanthropist/entrepreneur who set up a mill and model town at Saltaire in the 1850s.
The original main mill building and the New Mill built some years later flank the Leeds and Liverpool canal. The waterway was essential for transporting raw materials and coal to the mill.
From the very early days Salt was importing alpaca fibre from South America, and also mohair (which comes from angora goats) to add the luxury sheen and feel to his yarn.
Salt's mill still uses these exotic fibres to produce its quality speciality cloths.
The bust of Sir Titus Salt today stands in the entrance to the United Reformed Church (formerly the Congregational Church) on the canal bank in Saltaire.
At his feet are an alpaca and a mohair goat and beneath them, though not visible in the picture is a detailed carving of the mill itself.
Photo: M Muir 2006

Shipley Glen and its tramway 

You might ask, what has the Shipley Glen and its famous tramway to do with a lens about canals?
Well, it is in my story - as is the Cerro Artilleria ascensor, the longest funicular railway in Chile (but that might take another entry).
Shipley Glen is only a few hundred yards from the canal in Saltaire and from the late 1800s it was attracting thousands of visitors each weekend.
Sam Wells, an engineeer and entrepreneur par excellence, buuilt the most amazing rides of the day on the green at the top of the Glen.
There was a Aerial Glide and an Aerial slide which transported the riders above the treetops. There was a switchback railway and a togbboggan ride and of course the cable tramway - and all this over a hundred years ago.
Today only the tramway remains.
I took this photo when I vistited the Glen this summer and rode it to the top.(M Muir 2006)

Caen Hill's famous 29 flight staircase 

Sixteen of the locks for a straight line

If you were driving through to Devises near Rowde, you could easily pass the Caen Hill locks if you didn't know they were there.
I thought Bingley's five rise on the Leeds/Liverpool canal was remarkable but the 29 locks which make up this flight are amazing.
The series were built between 1794 and 1810 to lift the Kennet and Avon canal a height of 237 feet.
Though it's original use was superceded by the railways in the early 1900s and eventually fell into total disrepair, restoration work thrity years ago has not only restored, but improved the system of locks. Today the Caen Hill locks are a popular and busy canal for recreational boaters.
Gazing up the 16 locks which form a straight line, one has to consider what an amazing feat of engineering it was 200 years ago.

Photo: M Muir June 2006

Leeds and Liverpool Canal Company 

Signpost?

This tiny stone sign is almost lost in the canal bank beside the Leeds and Liverpool canal in Saltaire. It is in the grounds of the United Reformed Church.
I bears the insctiption:
L & L CCo
B
I wonder if anyone knows the meaning of the letter 'B'.
Would love to find out.
Photo: M Muir - 2006

John Constable - canals and barges 

John Constable (1776-1837), probably England's most famous landscape artist, grew up at his father's Flatford Mill not far from Dedham.
Constable lived in the heyday of the waterways when heavy cargo in the area was transported by Stour Lighters or barges. And at his father's dry dock, the young man would have watched the wrights building and restoring the barges which serviced the mill along the River Stour.
It was his early sketches of lighters passing through the locks, and of boatmen and their boat-horses which were the inspiration for many hi famous works.
'Boat-building near Flatford Mill' (Constable - oil on canvas - 1815) depicts a barge sitting in Flatford Mill's 18th century dry-dock.
Until recently this boat lock had disappeared - covered over by tons of earth.
When it was discovered in 1985 and excavated by the Stour River Trust, the dry-dock was uncovered, together with a barge which was still lying on the original timber supports.
As part of the restoration work, the Trust rebuilt the dock gates and steps (near front left in picture) using Constable's detailed sketches.
Wandering the area a few weeks ago, I noted that Flatford Mill and Bridge Cottage, Granary Barn and Willy Lott's house all attracted much attention, but few visitors took interest in the remnants of the dry-dock which was so significant in Constable's life and paintings.
Photo: M Muir - July 2006

Canal and boat links 

Granny Buttons

A varied and extrememly interesting insight into what's happening on the British Waterways.
Updated daily.

Canal Junction

Take a look at the cargo barges called, short-boats, which serviced the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in its heyday - and much more.

Pennine Waterways - L & L Canal

Take a virtual tour by canal across the north of England.
Everything you might want to know about the Pennine navigation is here.

Mike Clarke's webpage

Apart from his extensive research, and writing about waterways both in England and overseas, Mike also lived on a Leeds and Liverpool short boat.

Elizabeth Bryant's craft site

Elizabeth is a Master of crochet and cabin lace in the Waterway Craft Guild.
You'll be amazed by her traditional lacework.

Canal books I read as background to writing 'The Black Thread' 

This list is limited to the ones I could access at the time.

Narrow Boat

by L.T.C. Rolt

by L.T.C. Rolt - an excellent informative book

Amazon Price: (as of 05/11/2008)

Towpaths of England

by Brian Bearshaw

Amazon Price: (as of 05/11/2008)

Canals Are My World (Ulverscroft Large Print Series)

by Iris Bryce

Amazon Price: $25.99 (as of 05/11/2008)

The Rose Revived

by Katie Fforde

plus 'Life Skills' another novel by Katie Fforde

Amazon Price: (as of 05/11/2008)

My own titles available in bookshops and Amazon 

Also stocked in British and Australian libraries

Sea Dust

by Margaret Muir

Set in Whitby - the story tells of a stowaway on a tall ship
(Note: initial print sold out - can be ordered in Large Print format by Ulverscroft - on Amazon UK, Canada, SA)

Amazon Price: (as of 05/11/2008)

Historical novel - the Twisting Vine 

Unfortunatley my second novel will not come up on the Amazon US pages.
It is available from Amazon UK, good bookshops and copies and is available from most British libraries.

The Twisting Vine is fast moving historical story set in Yorkshire and spanning a 25 year period.

The Twisting Vine was published in LARGE PRINT in May 2007 (Ulverscroft).
This is the latest jacket cover.

Your comments please 

Any feedback would be appreciated or you can contact me directly on throughglasseyes@yahoo.com
Thanks