Disability, Writing and The London Book Fair

Diversity and inclusion are important topics for publishing at the moment and at the LBF there are four different talks this year: Rethinking Inclusivity: Ideas for Change; Inclusivity in Academic Publishing; The Inclusivity Toolbox: Practical Tips for Understanding Inclusion; Diversity & Inclusivity: Poetry & The Small Press.

Ben, my husband, has quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Most days, when he ventures outside the house, he gets mocked or stared at or feels patronised by `well-meaning' members of the public. He's been particularly targeted by the religious and neo Nazis.

He often tells me- rightly- that I have no idea what it feels like to be disabled, to fall over and suffer the humiliation of complete strangers helping him up, to hit his head repeatedly and suffer amnesia for hours at a time.

We decided to write a twisty thriller together: THE GHOST OF POKER ALICE. The protagonist is a young woman with cerebral palsy.

I submitted the synopsis, below, to The Write Stuff competition at the LBF. If you were lucky enough to be longlisted, it meant that the first three chapters of your book would be read. The 6 finalists would then get to take part in a Dragon's Den style pitching event at the LBF with a panel of agents.

If you apply for a job in the Civil Service and you are disabled, you are guaranteed an interview, once you tick the requisite box. Obviously, you're not guaranteed the actual job, but the interview goes some way to redressing the multifarious disadvantages suffered by the disabled.

Many years ago a policewoman friend of mine had an operation on her feet, which meant she was in a wheelchair for several weeks. She said she would never forget the experience, as most people seemed to equate being in a wheelchair with being learning disabled.

When we submitted our synopsis to the Write Stuff competition, we had to give a reason why our synopsis should be considered. I felt that my husband's disability and subsequent experience of being marginalised all his life was the best possible reason to be considered. Sadly, it wasn't.

Here is the synopsis of what I feel is shaping up to be a brilliant thriller:

A grieving surgeon chases another car along a snowy road.

*****

In a Highlands cottage Ally wakes with amnesia, covered in stitches.  

Poker Alice- an historical figure and the ghost of her ancestor- appears. She proposes raising much-needed cash by playing poker. When Ally finally gets accepted into a game, one of the players, a GP, reveals that his friend’s grandson inherited the cottage.

Ally tracks down her mobile- found by a loch- which has a photo of her with a man.

Ally visits the local surgery, where the GP confirms that the same man owns the cottage. After examining her, he explains that she has cerebral palsy- and has recently had a C-section.

*****

Smita, a surgeon who was severely burnt as a child, then adopted, recently had a fight with her husband, who was leaving her. She fell down the stairs and lost her (IVF) baby.

Enraged, Smita pursued her husband to the Highlands cottage and saw Ally have a bad fall. Enroute to the hospital, her husband's car spun into a loch, but Ally was thrown clear. Smita stitched her wounds. And then stole her unborn baby.  

*****

When Ally tracks down Smita and takes a DNA sample from the baby, Smita attacks her. Poker Alice sends Smita’s mobile flying. As Smita bends over, Alice urges Ally to smash her skull. 


The end of the book is still changing. I have a great belief in the redemptive power of children- and babies, in particular. I think Smita will be deeply affected by her experience, so maybe this book will become our small contribution to `up-lit'.