Blackbird story takes flight for first time octogenarian author
A nature and art lover is hoping to fly up the book selling charts at the age of 83. He talks to Tony Henderson
Bird watcher Brian Blanckley didn’t have to look far for inspiration when he launched his writing career.
As he observed a blackbird in the garden of his Sunderland home carrying a beak full of nesting material, he hit on the idea of a children’s book which followed the story of how the parent birds raised their family.
Now at the age of 83, Brian is celebrating the publication of his book Fly, Fly Blackbird.
“Later the young blackbirds would appear on my fence waiting to be fed,” says Brian. “This started me thinking about the life of a blackbird and, after some research, the story came together.”
Having been a member of a Sunderland art club for 15 years, Brian illustrated the book himself, with the cover featuring the bird against the backdrop of one of his favourite locations, Penshaw Monument.
He said: “I suppose it’s a bit late to have a bestseller but I am delighted and over the moon to see the book published.
“I have always had an interest in books, literature and drawing from an early age, and I love the song of the blackbird.
“Around 40 years ago I entered a short story competition in a writers’ magazine. I never won but all the entrants got a Scottish £5 note! I never thought that in my eighties, my dream of having a book published would come true.
“When I started writing Fly, Fly Blackbird the aim was for children to learn more about a part of nature that they see every day, that of our common garden birds,” added Brian, who worked for 22 years at the Rowntree and later Nestlé factory in Fawdon in Newcastle.
Brian is now working on ideas for more books featuring different garden bird species and Sunderland landmarks such as Wearmouth Bridge and Fulwell Mill.
Fly, Fly Blackbird is available at £4.99 from Waterstones, Amazon, Beamish Museum, To The Moon and Back, Tynemouth, and from www.summerhillbooks.co.uk