A Splinter of Ice [Twice Signed]
Marriner, Brian [William Price Turner (1927-1998) was a poet, critic and editor who spent much of his life in Glasgow or Yorkshire].
(Book #ID 8697)
Published by Robert Hale & Company, 63 Old Brompton Road, London First edition 1975. 1975.
First edition hard back black covers, silver titles. 192 pp. Author's first novel. SIGNED presentation copy from the author to William Price Turner, author of 'Solden's Women'. ' For Bill Turner-the man who said 'Why don't you think of writing a thriller? And then promptly defected from the ranks. Come back-we miss you! Warm Regards, Brian Marriner. September 1975'. Accompanied by a SIGNED and dated August 28th 1972, two page letter to Bill Turner: 'Dear Bill Turner, The last letter I had from you is dated 7th June 1966. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then-to resurrect a cliche. At that time I wasn't long out of prison, and had made contact with Alfred Bradley. He sent a short story of mine to you for comment, and you were kind enough to write me a letter suggesting that since I had inside knowledge of prison conditions, I might do better writing a full length novel. There are plenty of reformed policemen doing nicely out of the thriller r[e]acket nowadays. The thing is, i[s] takes a certain amount of stamina to knock together a cool 60,000 words. Can you do it? Only you know. Well a brief resume of my career since then must include the information that in that time I have written two and a half novels. The first one was highly praised by all who rejected it, and I got nice letters from Bryan Forbes and others, speaking of it in glowing terms. The second book was 110,000 words long, and came back yesterday. The editor of Calders said It has plenty of good powerful stuff. You write extremely well. And then rejec[e]ted it on the grounds that its too long, and anyway, fiction dosent sell these days, unless you already have a 'name'. I am beginning to wonder exactly what one has to do to get published. Let me br truthful. In 1966 your suggestion that I might write a thriller made my lip curl. I was going to be a writer. I already had the scene blocked out in my mind where I went to Stockholm for the Nobel, and all the rest of it. Thriller writers were hacks, and so on. Since then, I have discovered Simenon, Ed McBain, J. D. MacDonald and also a book you recommended I read, the brilliant 'Skinner' by Hugh C. Rae. And what prompted this letter was the fact that I have just read 'Solden's Women' by one Bill Turner. Mr. Turner, I want to write thrillers. I know it isn't easy, that's why I want to meet you to discuss one or two ideas I have. Do you think we could possibly meet? I work nights, and am free any weekend, or all day Monday. Please excuse the mess on page one, one of my kids has just put sticky fingers on it'. Fine in Very Good dust wrapper with 1 mm surface rubs to spine tips and ends of upper panel, not price clipped. Dust wrapper protected. Scarce. Member of the P.B.F.A.
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