From rock n' roll tales to Scarborough Fair - author celebrates double whammy
Author Chris Scott Wilson is delighted to learn two of his books have been published at the same time – and are both receiving great response from readers everywhere, at home and abroad.
The first Scarborough Fair, partly set in Scarborough and Whitby, tells of John Paul Jones’ victory at Flamborough Head in 1779.
When the first paperback edition was published in the USA, celebrated best-selling author Clive Cussler, who visited Whitby every couple of years to search for the wreck of John Paul Jones’ ship off Flamborough Head, read Scarborough Fair.
He took the time to write to Chris, saying: “It was a great adventure story and you did it proud”.
The new edition has been produced by Flagship Editions, already in the Kindle store at Amazon.
“I often sit looking out of my window above Whitby harbour, imagining the whalers or coastal cat-barks, crewed by the likes of the Scoresbys or Captain Cook, who sailed out to explore the oceans,” says Chris.
“There’s a rich maritime history in every footstep you take in Whitby, a vital part of how England, Britannia came to rule the waves.”
Chris’ second book to hit the bookstores is a total contrast.
The response to Between The White Lines has stunned the author.
Orders are coming in from around the globe as well as local musicians.
The area produced four extraordinary singers in Robert Palmer from Scarborough, Paul Rodgers and Chris Rea from Middlesbrough and David Coverdale from Saltburn.
They not only sang, but also wrote their own songs that have become the soundtracks to the lives of many people, creating memories and life-long bonds.
These include songs like Addicted To Love, All Right Now, Driving Home For Christmas and Here I Go Again.
They are featured in Between The White Lines, and Chris added: “I’m totally knocked out with the take up and response.
"Messages of real positivity have been coming in from everywhere about the latest book and so much of it linked back to this region.”
Between The White Lines follows on from Chris’ last three non-fiction books covering the area’s local music – first Backstage Pass: Redcar Jazz Club, which led to another book, Boys In The Bands, a history of local beat groups on Teesside, including Whitby’s Renegades, during that glorious decade of the 60s, and telling the story of Redcar Coatham Bowl.
Between The White Lines recounts stories told by musicians and crews, many who frequented those venues, but also worked all over the world.
From Live Aid to Woodstock, pubs on the north-east coast to festivals in Sweden and Zaire, hotels on fire, attempting to train a snake – the book is crammed with stories.
“Whenever I see one guitarist I know,” Chris said, “he always says, c’mon, tell me a story.
"So I began gathering them and realised from reactions that what seems commonplace to people inside the music business sometimes seems quite extraordinary to someone outside the business.”
Between The White Lines by Chris Scott Wilson is available now in large format softcover (198 pp) price £34.99 from Whitby Bookshop, Holmans in Whitby, The Book Corner & Holly Blue in Saltburn, Guisborough Bookshop, Black Slab in Redcar, Retro #9 Finkle St
Stockton, and Northern Vinyl at Kiwi Trading in West Hartlepool.
Or visit https://www.chrisscottwilson.co.uk/between-white-lines-rock-roll-tales.