---

By Elliot Hyland

Elliot Hyland, an architect for fifty years, directed major building projects and formed businesses in London. He has exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts. He now lives in Bournemouth.

Elliot writes historical, contemporary and saga fiction. His debut novels, The Great Sound:Books 1 & 2, fuse family drama, financial intrigue, political thriller and romance. Two more novels, set in locations across the globe, are in progress.

His life experience provides for his novels insight into high level legal, financial, regulatory, courtroom and political intrigues.

He has also written technical articles, short stories and poetry. His book, Home Manager published by Quiller Press (1999), and created the Home Information Pack.

Is it classed as fiction or non fiction? Both, it is a historical novel set in Bermuda in 1948. Some might describe it as creative non fiction.

That old chestnut again – is it to inform or entertain? It is both. A story at a crucial turning point in modern history against a backdrop of rising Cold War tensions, and unfolding two love stories, generations apart.

Too many genres? A fusion of family drama, financial intrigue, political thriller and romance. But, they are all interwoven in the plot and subplot.

Is it a script or a novel? Someone reading the manuscript asked this question. Another said firmly: ‘It’s a novel.’

Which tense? Present for immediacy.

Language? Balancing out the characters use of the mannered speech characteristic of the time and the need for brevity of dialogue. The English language is rich in words which help with tone, colour and style. Also, getting the foreign language translation and inflections correct.

Dialogue versus description? Setting the scene is important and I try to create a visually evocative voice in my writing. This is helped by my artistic side and a strong visual and audible memory. The greater amount of the text is dialogue. The technically involved passages are informed from my professional and varied life experiences.

Are the characters also real? Accuracy of research, relaying facts and events and great changes give context in real time. Perhaps the reader might think the characters are also real. An added philosophy helps because once I have given the characters a framework, they can lead you and can take over their parts.

Is there ‘freewill’? Yes, a planned structure but freewill = evolution = overlong. So it then becomes a game of consequences. A major decision had to be made – to severely cut or to edit the timeline and the plots to create a sequel – Books One and Two – without losing the essence of what could become a saga.

Getting an editorial assessment? Yes, definitely. To open oneself up to critique – excellent, invaluable, insight and new ideas.

What was I thinking whilst writing? The contemplative conscious mind and an exorcism of the subconscious life experiences – good and bad.