Introducing Suzanne Stephenson
Where did the idea for the story come from?
I suppose one day I thought back to how different the world was when I started out as a student in the mid 1970s. That then prompted me to think of some of the important events of that era and that we were coming up to the fiftieth anniversary of the resignation of then PM Harold Wilson.
Give a quote from the books, one that says little but speaks volumes.
“It is better that some things are left in the past”
Give a short summary of what the book is about.
The story is that of Mike and tells of his unusual experiences as a law student in 1975 to 1976 primarily. He is recruited by the security services to keep an eye on other people at his lodgings. At the house concerned he meets the seductive Katalin . This is also a time of IRA activity in London which does indeed affect Mike. This is the era of the Cold War, pre internet, pre mobile phone and pre modern tech. In March 1976 PM Harold Wilson resigns suddenly. Mike’s time at these lodgings also comes to an end with him finishing his first year studying law. Mike goes onto to have a successful career but in 2016 people associated with his past turn up and it appears the past is coming back to haunt him.
What genre is it?
Cold War Thriller
How many pages is it?
173
Why do you think the readers will want to read it?
People who experienced the 1970s will want to look back on those times (for memories of good or bad times) and younger readers will be fascinated by how we coped pre mobile phone and email and what was happening in London then. It will appeal also to readers of the Cold War genre and those who usually find lengthy political thrillers too daunting but want to give the genre a try.
Where are you located?
Mid Lincolnshire
Book Blurb
Forty years ago, Mike Johnson was a law student but was also recruited by the security services to report on people where he lodged in a house in North London.
There he met the seductive Katalin and the mysterious grey fellow.
Now on the approach to the anniversary of PM Harold Wilson’s resignation, will the past come back to haunt him?
Excerpt
In front of the tall grey-haired man on Mrs Kaminska ‘s table was what I can only describe as ham radio equipment. It was a large black piece of equipment with dials, switches and a microphone. There was also an electric lead, a microphone and a pair of headphones.
The man shouted at me something I did not understand. Mrs Kaminska appeared from her bedroom and said something to the man, possibly Polish or Hungarian. She smiled sweetly at me and said, “I explained that you live here, Mike.” She continued, “This is Marion, the grey fellow. He comes here to do his hobby.”
“How do you do, I won’t disturb your hobby,” I said to Marion who looked at me suspiciously as a shiver ran down my spine.
I went upstairs, thinking this event would make an interesting report. What was this man doing with a ham radio in Mrs Kaminska’s sitting room? Why did he need to come to her house for this ‘hobby’?
I turned and went upstairs. I lay on my bed contemplating matters and switched on my transistor radio hoping to get some restful music, but all I got initially was a news report about some armed robbers taking people hostage in a restaurant called the Spaghetti House.
Next day the morning papers were full of the Spaghetti House siege. Apparently, robbers had forced their way into this Knightsbridge restaurant and were keeping people hostage in the basement.
The papers were also full of the boxing fight between Muhammed Ali and Joe Frasier nicknamed ‘The Thriller in Manila’. It had gone to fourteen rounds and ended with a technical knockout. It was supposed to have been absolutely brutal, but I didn’t have much time for the papers since I was quickly scribbling my report for Professor Loach as I rode on the Tube.
I concentrated my attentions on my academic studies before having a quick drink with Kevin and Sarah before returning to Willesden on the Tube. I enjoyed Kevin’s Liverpudlian humour and Sarah’s cheerful banter. It was about eight o’clock when I got back to the house. There was no sign of the mysterious ‘grey fellow’.”
World of Stories 