The day I made some new friends on the train

Writing is a journey.

Therefore it was appropriate that the one I am about to tell you about started as the train pulled out of Seán Heuston Station to take me to Cork.

It was 2006.

The writing process can be broken down into three parts:

Gathering

Shaping

Finishing.

By the time I was in the Rebel County I had gathered faster than the train had taken me to Cork.

I was there to research a book and I was being assisted by Pat Buckley, an undauntable man who is now a Sinn Féin TD.

By the time I shook Pat’s hand at Cork station all of the main characters existed and I had a fair idea of what I wanted to put them through.

The initial idea in my head was that it had to be a screenplay and that is how the initial “shaping” progressed.

I took it to a film director and he loved it.

The idea then progressed onto the “Step Outline” phase of a full screenplay.

It is, pardon the pun, a key step along the way to the document that is at the heart of every movie.

The step outline briefly details every scene of the screenplay’s story and often has indications for dialogue and character interactions.

When the director came back to he said: “what you’ve brought me here is the Irish Bourne Identity, but I can’t raise the finance”.

With that, I put the project on the shelf.

Shortly afterwards this blog started and, well, you should know the rest.

However, the unfinished project of The Squad annoyed me intensely.

The project remained on the shelf until the summer of 2016.

I was driving out of Westport after commemorating the 31 men who had been interned in Frongoch Camp when I told the Big Fella that I had to finish the book.

I had one of those tiocfaidh ár leabhar moments!

In some respects, the most difficult part was re-working what I had into straight prose.

My last summer the draft manuscript was completed.

It then was put into the editing process and, for the most part, it emerged unscathed.

I am told that this is rare and that I should take it as an accolade for a first-time novelist.

Then it was cover design and the publisher doing their bit.

Interacting with the bookstores etc.

From manuscript to bookshelf a novel usually takes twelve months.

I was surprised to learn this from my publisher, but he has over 25 years in the game.

Unsurprisingly, he was spot on.

The Squad is now ready for active service.

It is available for pre-order direct from Frontline Noir.

Free postage and signed copy from this fella.

By buying direct you support an independent publisher.

The book will be available from all mainstream outlets from 22nd June and out on Kindle shortly afterwards.

I hope you enjoy the journey.

It was a blast to write it.

50 thoughts on “The day I made some new friends on the train”

  1. Thanks Phil very humbled and looking forward to the launch remember to bring your pen! See you then Bucks the so-called Cork undauntable man!!!

    Reply
  2. ordered…, I’ve been following for a few years now, yet to be disappointed. Your best work for me so far..Downfall… I hope I am reading your work for years to come. HH.

    Reply
  3. Now there are 6000 more STs available at Ibrox, will the debenture holders get their seats back?

    The continuation myth must be quite an insult to the paid-up debenture holders who saw their seats discontinued in 2012.

    Reply
    • You appear strangely obsessed about The Rangers…..
      Are you a disgruntled debenture holder?
      Let’s concentrate on Phils book and give the Rangers stuff a rest for this piece.

      Reply
      • I’m obsessed by the corruption of sport

        I’m obsessed by the corruption of the media

        I’m obsessed by the corruption of regulatory bodies

        I’m obsessed by the corruption of social, political and religious institutions

        I’m obsessed by your obsession to protect Phil from my obsessions

        Reply
  4. Ordered my copy of The Squad. Looking forward to reading it. Keep up the good work on events in darkest Sevconia!

    Reply
  5. Just ordered your novel Phil, looking forward to it. 8th vote exit polls show something thar looks like another great stride out of the Dark Ages. Little by little ………….

    Reply
  6. Congrats Phil. As ever I’m sure it will fly off the shelves and digital shopping basket’s. I shall purchase mine, post haste.

    Reply
  7. Phil,

    Is there going to be an audiobook version. I spend many hours in the car and consume audiobooks at a great rate.

    Scott

    Reply
  8. Phil whats your view on the 8th? would love to hear you opinion, mostly as i hold it so highly although i think our motherland’s people will repeal.

    Reply
  9. Looking forward to reading this. Just one query ….. Could I/Do I forward my Kindle to you personally to sign 🙂

    Hail Hail

    Homer

    Reply
  10. Phil I said I would get the kindle version of your new book The Squad ,but having just looked it up via your link ,its only £9.99 and a dawdle to buy via Paypal ,there are some other good titles on offer there as well ,I would recommend everyone to at least have a look. looking forward to getting my signed copy ,cheers be lucky .

    Reply
    • The £9.99 even covers postage to Canada! I had anticipated, and would have gladly paid, an additional postage charge but there was none.

      Reply
  11. Ordered a copy… Will post what I think about it if that’s OK…ordinary guy not a professor of literature or a reviewer for the Sunday papers. Would be interested to hear others views as well

    Reply
  12. Hi Phil, Just purchased your book online from Frontline Noir. I don’t normally read fiction but wish to support you in this endeavour and wish you every success. p.s. Although it’s fiction I suspect I’ll learn a lot from reading it. Kind regards.

    Reply
  13. I’ve just ordered my copy Phil and I had to put “Londonderry” in the county address line for the payment to be accepted. Oh, the irony of it!

    Reply
  14. The Squad – ordered and, after months of trawling some of the “better” bookstores in town (unsuccessfully), an order has been placed for both Downfall, and Minority Reporter. When I’ve finished with the latter two publications, they will be forwarded to friends in Greater London, where they are welcome to pass on to others so that they have a more realistic perspective of the shenanigans that went on/are ongoing at the Govan tax haven.

    Reply
  15. oh dear – rangers.co.uk is now telling the great unwashed that “Gerrard Inherits Good Players” – so I assume that means StevieG has no earthly use for a warchest overflowing with sporting advantage – how very ungrateful StevieG.

    When DavieG promised transparency – perhaps what he really meant was – you’ll be able to see right through all our petty posturing and preposterous pony shit.

    Reply
    • How strange that someone would manage to talk about Rangers….in the comment section of an article that hadnothing to do with them

      Reply
      • Just thought the folks here would enjoy a bit of a laugh 🙂

        But it seems you think The Rangers are beyond a joke 🙁

        Reply

Leave a Reply

error: Content is protected !!

Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading