[Benjamin]

I was curious as to what he’s written and found his page on Amazon.

I’m tempted to download one and read it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Rich...alEnabled=true

[Ammi]

…The Cryptic Lines is apparently being adapted for stage/or has been already…I haven’t read into whether it’s still in the adaption stages…

[Ammi]

…I have to say that it’s his music that I’m particularly interested in as that’s the area that he would plan to invest in if he did win the cash dollars…

Richard told Big Brother, 'I certainly won’t be rushing out to buy a Lamborghini or an original DaVinci or anything like that. My mind doesn't think like that. The thing that gets my mind going is projects - things to put the money into and then see something happen, rather than just go and buy something. And there's one thing in particular - there's an upcoming young classical guitarist who wants his second album to consist of music written entirely by me, that I've written especially for him. It's difficult to persuade a record company to take on such a project, but if I had the money to pay for the studio time that would be brilliant. That would give him a nice extra boost at the start of his career, and it'd be nice for me to get my music out there.'

[Ammi]

…Sir Richard Lloyd Webber…

[Ammi]

…this is a Richard Stotty interview when he wrote Cryptic Lines…and it has already been adapted for stage and maybe for screen as well…?…that was also a planned adaption at the time of the interview…around 2016, I think…

What makes you fall in love with a story?

A story needs to grab me during its first page or, at least, its first chapter. The kind of subjects which appeal to me are things which are mysterious, with explicit or implied suspense.

What has been your worst or most difficult job? How does it compare to writing?

For a number of years I was working five evenings a week as a cocktail pianist in hotels and restaurants. It helped to pay the bills, but it was a thankless task. Writing is much more satisfying and rewarding.

Who or what are your non-writer influences?

It would have to be the combination of certain teachers of years gone by (both academic and musical) together with the music of certain composers, such as Bernstein, Copland, Gershwin, Richard Rogers and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

If you could own a famous or historical art work, what would it be? Would you put it on public display or keep it privately?

Any painting by John Constable. All his works are amazing and capture the essence of their images perfectly – though I would probably keep mine for private viewing only!

Is there a book to movie/TV adaptation that you found excellent? How about book to stage adaptations?

Although it’s an old one, “Gone with the Wind” made the transition from book to movie brilliantly. Regarding book to stage…forgive me if I appear a little self-obsessed, but I was delighted with the adaptation for the stage of my novel “The Cryptic Lines” which was done by Pete Gallagher. He made a very fine job of it!

If you could sit down and have dinner with 5 dead authors, who would you invite to the table? What would they order?

Charles Dickens (Christmas turkey), Agatha Christie (Anything fine dining), Victor Hugo (Escargots), Robert Burns (Haggis), Shakespeare (Roast pheasant).

Side characters can make or break a story. What side characters have you enjoyed in other works? What side characters in your own work have caught more attention than you expected?

I’ve always loved the assistants – Dr. Watson, Captain Hastings etc. In my latest book, “A Looming of Vultures” (being published soon) a side character called Lukas was introduced just to provide some companionship to one of the main characters – but he ended up having a pivotal role to play as the story neared its conclusion.

What is the first book you remember reading on your own?

‘A’ is for apple, ‘B’ is for ball(!)


https://dabofdarkness.com/2016/10/23...cryptic-lines/

[Ammi]

…do you recall when he was ‘spotted doing the trial tasks…’…and it was said that he was a BB mole/could be…?…/a member of the team…what if he’s the writer of this season’s BB storyline……what if he played a part in choosing the cast/characters as well…what if this is all a Richard Storry plot and production …what if…..

…duh, duh, dunnnnn…..

[MTVN]

They need to bring in a piano and just have Richard play it for a whole episode

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by MTVN

They need to bring in a piano and just have Richard play it for a whole episode

Now THAT would be interesting.

[Ammi]

…I mean, for a music teacher who reads the bible because he’s got no life…he certainly has many achievements and success …and has many areas of interest in his no life, life….

[vesavius]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…I mean, for a music teacher who reads the bible because he’s got no life…he certainly has many achievements and success …and has many areas of interest in his no life, life….

Everything he says and does in there is contrived.

[Vanessa]

He never said he had no life, Caroline said that. She's an idiot.

[Katmieow]

Originally Posted by vesavius

Everything he says and does in there is contrived.

Nonsense

[Katmieow]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

He never said he had no life, Caroline said that. She's an idiot.

A vindictive one too. I think it's delicious that Richard has got under her skin so much

[vesavius]

Originally Posted by Katmieow

Nonsense

It is easier to fool someone than the convince them that they have been fooled

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

I was curious as to what he’s written and found his page on Amazon.

I’m tempted to download one and read it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Rich...alEnabled=true

…oh you also said that you were tempted to download……I was just looking as well because I’m quite intrigued actually and the genre is definitely my thing…I think I’m going to give Cryptic Lines a little whirl as it’s been adapted for stage and screen…(…I believe…)…so could be a great read…the synopsis, which you’ll have already read, but here it is…

Set in a sprawling gothic mansion in a remote coastal location, somewhere in the British Isles, the elderly recluse Lord Alfred Willoughby is deciding what is to become of his vast fortune after his death. Whilst his head is telling him to leave nothing at all to his wastrel son, Matthew, his heart is speaking differently.

After much deliberation, in a last-ditch attempt to try and show to his son the importance of applying himself to a task and staying with it to the end, he devises a series of enigmatic puzzles cunningly concealed within the lines of a poem - the cryptic lines.

If he completes the task successfully and solves the puzzles he will inherit the entire estate; but if he fails he will receive nothing.

However, from Lord Alfred's Will it emerges that Matthew is not the only interested party. The mysterious old house holds many secrets, and nothing is as it first appears...

If you have yet to set foot inside this crumbling mansion, the release of this special edition provides the perfect opportunity to do so!