Review
Student life in the swinging sixties is the backdrop of a new novel by a first-time author.
The Loner is a 24 year labour of love for Paul Andrews who originally penned the first draft in 1985 – only to return to it in 2007.
It follows the scrapes of Mark, a nervous law student and his friends in Liverpool with caving, yacht races, romance, parties and a court scene thrown in for good measure.
“I always wanted to write about student life in Liverpool which is a city that I absolutely loved in the 1960s”, said Mr. Andrews, a solicitor who studied on Meseyside.
“The 60s was an absolutely brilliant time, a time before crime got too bad, a time before the drugs culture took hold and a good time for people.”
Mr. Andrews, who is a member of Ryedale District Council, stuck to what he knows in the Loner, using his experiences and anecdotes, some personal characteristics, and his passions in life, such as sailing and caving, to frame the book and its characters.
He said: “You set up your characters and put them in a situation, and then you have to think yourself into the minds of the characters and let them take control of the story. I would describe it as a mixture of humour, adventure and romance about student life in Liverpool and the Yorkshire Dales in the swinging 60s”
Work and his personal life led him to put the book on the backburner for a long time, but he decided to re-write it to keep himself busy.
“I eventually came back to it in 2007, because at that time the Credit Crunch had just begun and I was looking for work,” said the father of two. “I couldn’t find any. So in my spare time I started doing that. It was great fun and I totally enjoyed it. It’s basically a good story and something I can read over and over again without getting tired of it.”
---By Malton and Pickering Mercury--
'Having completed the Loner, I thoroughly enjoyed the story...............I found the potholing really exciting and lived through each adventure as I read it'.
David Lloyd Williams.
The Loner is a 24 year labour of love for Paul Andrews who originally penned the first draft in 1985 – only to return to it in 2007.
It follows the scrapes of Mark, a nervous law student and his friends in Liverpool with caving, yacht races, romance, parties and a court scene thrown in for good measure.
“I always wanted to write about student life in Liverpool which is a city that I absolutely loved in the 1960s”, said Mr. Andrews, a solicitor who studied on Meseyside.
“The 60s was an absolutely brilliant time, a time before crime got too bad, a time before the drugs culture took hold and a good time for people.”
Mr. Andrews, who is a member of Ryedale District Council, stuck to what he knows in the Loner, using his experiences and anecdotes, some personal characteristics, and his passions in life, such as sailing and caving, to frame the book and its characters.
He said: “You set up your characters and put them in a situation, and then you have to think yourself into the minds of the characters and let them take control of the story. I would describe it as a mixture of humour, adventure and romance about student life in Liverpool and the Yorkshire Dales in the swinging 60s”
Work and his personal life led him to put the book on the backburner for a long time, but he decided to re-write it to keep himself busy.
“I eventually came back to it in 2007, because at that time the Credit Crunch had just begun and I was looking for work,” said the father of two. “I couldn’t find any. So in my spare time I started doing that. It was great fun and I totally enjoyed it. It’s basically a good story and something I can read over and over again without getting tired of it.”
---By Malton and Pickering Mercury--
'Having completed the Loner, I thoroughly enjoyed the story...............I found the potholing really exciting and lived through each adventure as I read it'.
David Lloyd Williams.
Review
Student life in the swinging sixties is the backdrop of a new novel by a first-time author.
The Loner is a 24 year labour of love for Paul Andrews who originally penned the first draft in 1985 – only to return to it in 2007.
It follows the scrapes of Mark, a nervous law student and his friends in Liverpool with caving, yacht races, romance, parties and a court scene thrown in for good measure.
“I always wanted to write about student life in Liverpool which is a city that I absolutely loved in the 1960s”, said Mr. Andrews, a solicitor who studied on Meseyside.
“The 60s was an absolutely brilliant time, a time before crime got too bad, a time before the drugs culture took hold and a good time for people.”
Mr. Andrews, who is a member of Ryedale District Council, stuck to what he knows in the Loner, using his experiences and anecdotes, some personal characteristics, and his passions in life, such as sailing and caving, to frame the book and its characters.
He said: “You set up your characters and put them in a situation, and then you have to think yourself into the minds of the characters and let them take control of the story. I would describe it as a mixture of humour, adventure and romance about student life in Liverpool and the Yorkshire Dales in the swinging 60s”
Work and his personal life led him to put the book on the backburner for a long time, but he decided to re-write it to keep himself busy.
“I eventually came back to it in 2007, because at that time the Credit Crunch had just begun and I was looking for work,” said the father of two. “I couldn’t find any. So in my spare time I started doing that. It was great fun and I totally enjoyed it. It’s basically a good story and something I can read over and over again without getting tired of it.”
---Malton and Pickering Mercury--
I think this is an interesting character study --critic from WLP&S
'Having completed the Loner, I thoroughly enjoyed the story...............I found the potholing really exciting and lived through each adventure as I read it'. David Lloyd Williams.
The Loner is a 24 year labour of love for Paul Andrews who originally penned the first draft in 1985 – only to return to it in 2007.
It follows the scrapes of Mark, a nervous law student and his friends in Liverpool with caving, yacht races, romance, parties and a court scene thrown in for good measure.
“I always wanted to write about student life in Liverpool which is a city that I absolutely loved in the 1960s”, said Mr. Andrews, a solicitor who studied on Meseyside.
“The 60s was an absolutely brilliant time, a time before crime got too bad, a time before the drugs culture took hold and a good time for people.”
Mr. Andrews, who is a member of Ryedale District Council, stuck to what he knows in the Loner, using his experiences and anecdotes, some personal characteristics, and his passions in life, such as sailing and caving, to frame the book and its characters.
He said: “You set up your characters and put them in a situation, and then you have to think yourself into the minds of the characters and let them take control of the story. I would describe it as a mixture of humour, adventure and romance about student life in Liverpool and the Yorkshire Dales in the swinging 60s”
Work and his personal life led him to put the book on the backburner for a long time, but he decided to re-write it to keep himself busy.
“I eventually came back to it in 2007, because at that time the Credit Crunch had just begun and I was looking for work,” said the father of two. “I couldn’t find any. So in my spare time I started doing that. It was great fun and I totally enjoyed it. It’s basically a good story and something I can read over and over again without getting tired of it.”
---Malton and Pickering Mercury--
I think this is an interesting character study --critic from WLP&S
'Having completed the Loner, I thoroughly enjoyed the story...............I found the potholing really exciting and lived through each adventure as I read it'. David Lloyd Williams.
Product Description
An amusing tale of student life in Liverpool in the Swinging Sixties.
Mark is a nervous student. He is ruled by an overwhelming, irrational fear of people – particularly girls – which shows itself in a bad stammer, and a terror of heights.
Fiona is the girl of his dreams, but she is in a steady relationship with a lifelong boyfriend in Scotland. Mark realises he is never going to get anywhere in life or in love unless he undergoes a complete personality change.
He is befriended by Bob, who has a passion for potholing (and free love), and a plan is hatched. If Mark can beat his fear of heights – an escapade down a cave or two should sort that one – maybe he can also overcome his fear of girls and win Fiona…
So begins a whole series of madcap adventures, featuring a yacht race, horse riding, underground adventures in Yorkshire and Mendip caves, dances, parties and some wild and riotous student incidents, often involving too much alcohol and close shaves with the law.
Mark is a nervous student. He is ruled by an overwhelming, irrational fear of people – particularly girls – which shows itself in a bad stammer, and a terror of heights.
Fiona is the girl of his dreams, but she is in a steady relationship with a lifelong boyfriend in Scotland. Mark realises he is never going to get anywhere in life or in love unless he undergoes a complete personality change.
He is befriended by Bob, who has a passion for potholing (and free love), and a plan is hatched. If Mark can beat his fear of heights – an escapade down a cave or two should sort that one – maybe he can also overcome his fear of girls and win Fiona…
So begins a whole series of madcap adventures, featuring a yacht race, horse riding, underground adventures in Yorkshire and Mendip caves, dances, parties and some wild and riotous student incidents, often involving too much alcohol and close shaves with the law.
From the Author
An amusing and exciting tale of student life in the Swinging Sixties.
Mark is a nervous student. He is ruled by an overwhelming,irrational fear of people - particularly girls - which shows itself in a bad stammer,and a terror of heights.
Fiona is the girl of his dreams, but she is in a steady relationship with a lifelong boyfriend in Scotland. Mark realises he is never going to get anywhere in life or in love unless he undergoes a complete personality change.
He is befreinded by Bob, who has a passion for potholing (and free love), and a plan is hatched. If Mark can beat his fear of heights - an escapade down a cave or two should sort that one - maybe he can also overcome his fear of girls and win Fiona.
So begins a whole series of madcap adventures, featuring a yacht race, horse riding, underground adventures in Yorkshire and Mendip caves, dances, parties and some wild and riotous student incidents, often involving too much alcohol and close shaves with the law.
About the Author
Paul Andrews is a retired solicitor. He was a student at Liverpool during the 60s, and has always been interested in adventure sports, particularly riding, potholing and sailing. A columnist for his local newspaper, he is also interested in local politics. For more information, visit www.the-loner.co.uk
