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Hidden in Plain Sight
A coming of age, search for identity, contemporary quest novel. Hidden in Plain Sight opens as the Tranter family, Suzan, her mum Cleo, and her Grandad, Tobias, are enjoying a successful summer. Her mum's business is thriving and she is engaged to marry Marshall Flyte, an American pilot. Her grandfather is home on leave and Suzan, herself has passed her college exams, achieved a record time in the county half marathon and landed a lead role in the town’s summer musical. Suzan thinks her only problem is managing her boyfriend Kev. who is jealous of her leading man. Then, Cleo announces the outcome of a doctor’s appointment. Cleo does not respond to treatment and dies suddenly at mid-summer. The extended family of cousins and uncles, gather and discover Cleo has left Suzan a challenge. In a letter, unfinished and missing significant details, Cleo writes of Suzan’s father, Mac, a man she met when she was just fifteen. In the letter, Cleo asks Suzan to return certain mementos and so to meet him for the first time. Suzan has no idea of the location of either the mementos or Mac until Cousin Jess speaks up and Suzan discovers her mother is still organising her future - as if from beyond the grave... FBSRO 98,000 words Intellectual property of JM Prior 2024
Observations
A modern family sage told by the omniscient spirit of Juke Rattary. Following the sudden death of Angus Rattary, the family discover the estate is almost bankrupt. Elizabeth reluctantly proposes to sell up but her sons, Max, John and Derek, and daughter, Elaine, rally together to salvage the estate. Juke, Derek’s son, provides an omniscient commentary on the family’s efforts. FBSRO 98,000 words
Magician of Broughty Ferry
A Contemporary 'Portmanteau' Novel - a collection of interconnecting stories revealing each character's points of contact with Gil Buchanan - the Magician of Brought Ferry. Developed during research into electronic literature it explores the theme popularised by John Guare's 1990 play Six Degrees of Separation. Life Stories for... • Gwillum (aka Gil) Buchanan's mother, Janvier Caird Lowe, known as Jani. • Jani’s aunt, Octavia, who take her to a meeting of the Dundee Magic Circle where she meets Stan. • Stan Buchanan, husband, party magician, • Jani’s sons, Jonathan and Gwilluam (aka Gil) • Granparent's Housekeeper, May Ogilvie and her niece, Grace ( falls for Jonathan) • Cyril Montague, theatre agent for the Buchanan’s, • Martin Crouch, policeman… (knows Jani and Gil from when Stan died. Knows Nez’s father from when Sky died) • PC Moaggarty investigating Chitra’s disappearance, working with Martin Crouch. • Kim Monro, journalist (her sister hires Gil as a children’s entertainer, her boss selects Gil for interview, Montague lives with her aunt, & Kim lives opposite cafe where Gil works). • Nez Week, apprentice to Gil personal story is Sleight of Hand. • Keogh Week, Nez father • Sky Week, Nez’s mother • Chitra Raj, Nez’s friend • Dr Mackerechar (meets Nez and Gil on a train. Gil knew her husband and father in law. • Her son… (takes Nez to Nightclub where the missing Chitra is performing) • FBSR offered Approx 100,000 words Intellectual property of JM Prior 2024
Sleight of Hand
Y A Coming of Age novel – developing the apprentice magician’s story in MoBF. Nez wants to be a magician, an ambition in the post-Harry-Potter years that causes much amusement for her foster parents, Frank and Marie Gillespie. Luckily, her guidance teacher is not fazed this and arranges for her to attend Dundee's Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) on the spring term S3 taster course. Nez persuades her best friend Chitra Raj to take the course too. At DPAC both girls make an impression. Chitra has a beautiful singing voice and is cast as the lead in the end of course production of Grease. Nez’s talent for sleight of hand is spotted by Gil Buchanan, all round performer, magician, conjurer and teacher at DPAC. He agrees to mentor her. Under his guidance, she begins to believe her dream could come true - then, after a birthday party, Chitra goes missing and Gil Buchanan, the party's entertainer, is believed to be the last person to see her. Under suspicion, Gil Buchanan withdraws from teaching Nez and sends her away. Nez refuses to abandon her ambition and sets about finding her friend and clearing Gil Buchanan's name so she can secure her apprenticeship. FBSR offered Approx 70,000 words Intellectual property of JM Prior 2024
I write using the JM Prior form of my name. These works are in the last phase of editing ... before publication - proof readers are welcome to contact me.