Hurricane Tom

Tom's novel could bear the slogan: 'It reads like a survival guide,' both for dealing with highjackers and hurricanes

- DICK DURHAM

Some years ago, I arrived at a chilly sports centre in the Midlands to give a talk to some yachtsfolk keen enough to turn up on a winter's night.

One old shellback had got there early and watched me roll out my power cable and start linking wires to computer, projector and microphone.

'We 'ad that Tom Cunliffe up here last time,' he said.

'Oh?' I replied.

'Yes, and 'ee 'ad none of that kit you've got. 'Ee just stood up and said: “What would you like me to talk about?”'

'Bet you weren't disappointed, though?' I laughed.

'We wasn't,' he said, and shuffled off for a pint.

It occurred to me then that experience, I mean profound experience, deep experience is all you need to be authoritative, authentic and appealing. Preparation is for those without it.

Recently, I recalled that night while reading Tom's first novel, Hurricane Force – a thriller that will have you on the edge of your locker because you can feel it.

Fact is stranger than fiction, they say, but when fiction is no stranger to the truth the result is a powerful read.