A DECADE OF FRIENDSHIP (BOOKS)

The 2020 book just arrived from eBay. I did have it before. I might have had two copies. But, I probably gave them away, so, when I wanted to fill a shelf with this particular decade I had to resort to the internet.

Why these ten? Well...

Back in about 2003, encouraged by my writing group tutor, I began sending little stories to The Friendship Book in hopes of getting one published. I got rejected. Quite a few times. But, Alison Cook did what writers pray editors will do. She gave feedback, and encouraged me to keep trying.

Eventually, I got one! And then, another one! And yet another one!

I kept going. Adding just one more.

One evening at an Ayr Writers Group meeting, a woman I didn't know asked me what sort of writing I did. I mentioned that, among other things, I was sending stuff to The Friendship Book. "Ohh!" she said, turning away, "I've done thirty of those!"

I had done about three hundred.

Ever since H.L. Gee, the original Francis Gay died, in 1977, the book (which was known as The Friendship Book of Francis Gay) seems to have been done by an assortment of people. Some ministers, very obviously, wore the mantle for a while. Including, I have recently been told, one female minister. For a while it was mostly thoughts on famous quotes. And I think there was probably an assortment of people writing it when I was submitting.

My share of the book was gradually building up. I think I had written two-thirds of the previous year's book when I heard that DC Thomson was undergoing some restructuring. Putting it bluntly, a bunch of people were being laid off and more work was being handed to those who remained.

Taking a chance - I didn't even know if it was possible, or who would make the decision - I suggested to my editor at the time that it might simplify things if they could rely on one contributor for the whole book. I pitched them a price. And they accepted!

The Friendship Book of 2017 was the first one written entirely by me. 2017 to 2026 marks a decade of books (and I don't feel a day older!) 2027 will be in production, and 2028 was handed over at the end of December.

I haven't asked for a pay-rise in all that time :-) Given the circumstance under which I took over, it seemed prudent!

My biggest happiness, as a fan of H.L. Gee's writing, is that I have brought the books and the newspaper column back to one writer, just as it was when he did them both. He began the Francis Gay phenomenon and, as I found out more about him, he seemed to be everything you would hope Francis Gay would be - a man of faith who walked his world looking for kindness and beauty. It's an example I hope I can live up to.

So... 2028 is in. 2029 (which I am working on) will mark the ninetieth birthday of this book which has been produced every year - right through WWII - since 1939.

2039, if we are all still going - I'll be 78 - should be it's centennial!

I wonder if there will be a birthday party, or if that would raise too many questions about how long this man has been alive.

Anyway, if I am here and still writing it, I will reckon it a great accomplishment, and I will be proud to have been a part of it.