Saturday, March 21, 2009

BTAP #15: In an English Country Garden by Ray Foster

One of the highlights of the internet is interacting with extraordinary individuals you wouldn’t otherwise meet. I can’t recall if I came to know Ray Foster through James, Gary, or Patti’s site, but one day, Ray and I began corresponding via comments and emails and now I feel like I have known him for years.

Yesterday, Ray blogged about a recent health set-back, a “system breakdown” as he called it, noting the doctor recommended prioritizing his schedule. He wrote: “I have to start putting things into some kind of order - just not try to do everything at once.”

With Ray's story next in line for the Weekly Punch at BEAT to a PULP, I sent an email asking if he’d prefer to postpone, or, if he was feeling up to it, I would publish his story as planned. He replied that he would be glad to go ahead with it.

We are very pleased to be featuring “In an English Country Garden.” Ray has written many superb westerns as Jack Giles but this tale is the first written under his own name and it is a delightful divergence that I am certain will entertain.

So, click over and take a deep breath of the fresh country air. And please leave a comment for Ray, because, as we all know, writers love feedback and in this case it can be the best medicine.

Next week: "No Hands" by Albert Tucher

Coming soon: Jake Hinkson's "Maker’s and Coke"

10 comments:

Paul D Brazill said...

I'll pop over there now. I was luck enough to a Para from ray for the Flash Fiction Challenge and it was so good I had to drag myself up a level or two just to get close.Top writer and sound bloke.

D.A. Riser said...

I admire Ray for keeping going. It'd be easy to quit when health issues come up.

David Cranmer said...

Paul, That Flash Fiction piece by Ray was the first time I had read his work and was equally impressed.

D.A., I agree and reading his blog entries about growing up, the stroke he suffered and his comeback are very inspirational.

Gary Dobbs/Jack Martin said...

Ray - to use a suitable phrase to his Jack Giles persona - has true grit. He has been a great cyber friend ever since I have got to know him since joining the same publishing house.

And Beat to a Pulp is awesome too.

Dude, it's essential reading.

David Cranmer said...

Thanks Gary! And thanks to writers like Ray that make BTAP happen.

Paul D Brazill said...

Oh, that's a very fine story.

David Cranmer said...

Paul, I'm glad you liked it... Our stats for this day was our highest since we started.

Ray said...

A bit gobsmacked by that piece of news.
Many thanks to all those who commented on the story as well as to those who read it.

David Cranmer said...

Ray, Once again thanks for a great story and the news about your grandson was an even more incredible real life story.

Barbara Martin said...

I'm a bit late in reading, but this was a wonderful story with a great surprise ending.