What us writers do in the name of research
Yes, I did a silly thing this morning. I decided to walk over Culver Cliff on the Isle of Wight at 8 a.m directly into the eye of the storm, with gale force winds gusting at 60 m.p.h. and rain sweeping across the open countryside, like a giant hosepipe out of control. I was only glad the direction of the wind meant I wasn't going to be blown off the edge of the cliff, my body to be dashed on the rocks below or to land with a thud on the sand and be swept out to sea in Sandown Bay. But it was possible, I thought. It could happen to one of the characters in one of my marine mystery crime novels. Not that I really needed to experience the gales personally to write it, part of being a writer is using one's imagination. And although it was uncomfortable in the storm - especially when the sand from the cliff blew into my eyes and has left my right eye feeling very gritty, so much so that I've had to pop to the chemist and get some eye drops for it -...