Crime fighters find right words for novel success
TWO former Calderdale police officers have swapped crime fighting for crime writing.
Bob Bridgestock, 57, a retired detective superintendent, and his wife Carol, 47, a support worker, spent a total of 45 years with West Yorkshire Police and have drawn upon their knowledge and experience to become fully-fledged authors.
The couple, who now live on the Isle of Wight, launched their first novel, "Deadly Focus", last month and will be arriving in Hebden Bridge for a book-signing event at the Overgate Hospice shop on September 10.
"It's been absolutely fantastic," said Carol.
"We have sold more than 600 books now.
"Police personnel have said it's how it actually is and it's not over-dramatised. That's the biggest complement we could have got."
The novel explores the world of a senior investigating officer, Jack Dylan, who is on the hunt for a serial killer.
After he is attacked on the job, he has a new and personal battle on his hands as he tries to find a balance between his deteriorating health, his love for his partner, Jen, and his passion and determination for solving the case.
"You've probably heard the saying 'There's a book in everyone' and for years Bob has had people both laughing and crying with all the tales he has told," Carol said.
"But whenever anybody said to Bob that he should write a novel, he always said no, so you can imagine my surprise and delight when he enrolled us on to a writing course at the Isle of Wight College.
"Now we work together as co-authors under RC Bridgestock.
"We thought it added to the conspiracy by making it look like it was one author, until you read about us inside.
"Bob writes the structure of the story and I write the emotional side of it and 'craft' his work for him.
"It works really well for us and we have both really enjoyed writing 'Deadly Focus'."
Some of the proceeds from sales of the book will be given to Overgate Hospice, Wakefield Hospice and the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.
"Our family and friends have all been involved with our work over the past year or so and they are all intrigued by the book.
"But very few people have read the finished piece and we wanted to keep it that way until it hit the shops. It all adds to the mystery,” said Carol.
Bob and Carol, who have been married for 14 years, retired in 2004.
Bob served 30 years with the police based at Sowerby Bridge police station and spent all but two as a detective, taking on many high profile cases.
He was the instigator of the Autumn Fall initiative that ran for a number of years in the Calderdale Division, including Todmorden.
He also served in Huddersfield and Bradford and was awarded numerous commendations during his career.
Carol, who also had a hairdressers shop in Hebden Bridge, spent 15 years as a support worker and was awarded a commendation during her time in the Calderdale Division.
The couple have just finished writing their second novel called “Consequences” and are hoping it will be in the shops in time for Christmas.
As well as their writing, they have also production managed, presented and helped promote “Carisbrooke Castle”, a 58-minute factual docu-drama chronicling 1,000 years at the landmark.
It was shown on TV earlier this year and is being used as a tourism guide for the Isle of Wight.
The couple are now in talks with the local Department for Education for it to be used as a visual aid tool in schools and with English Heritage for inclusion in their outlets.
“We consider ourselves to be very fortunate,” Carol said. “Someone up there seems to like us and we hope that continues.”
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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