Martin John Solloway
Born in Scotland of an English mother and Welsh father, he attended Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and trained as an officer in the British Royal Navy. His first writing of note was a play, 'Utopia - a farce' for BBC Radio in 1983. He is a five times Festival Director, poet, playwright and novelist.
A former member of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan, he wrote, directed and narrated a play there, 'The Greater than Gold Treasure', in 1995. In 2004, he wrote, directed and narrated a Japanese-themed play for the British stage, 'The Tanabata Story', at the Pavilion Theatre, Brighton. At the same time, he wrote the 'Stuffed in Africa' novels with Guy Dudeney.
His screenwriting was encouraged by Christopher Nicholson. In addition to the comedy, My Doggone Destiny (2011), with Gretchen Dzedzej his other movie screenplays include two horrors, a romantic comedy, an adventure romance and a period drama, all in current development with production companies in the USA, UK and Europe.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a member of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers. An award winning creative thinker, he was Master Trainer of Dr Edward de Bono's Creative Team. He has one daughter, who recently graduated from Oxford University. He has lived and worked in various parts of the world. At the moment, he lives in the UK, dividing his time between London and the Orkney Islands in the far North of Scotland.
A former member of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan, he wrote, directed and narrated a play there, 'The Greater than Gold Treasure', in 1995. In 2004, he wrote, directed and narrated a Japanese-themed play for the British stage, 'The Tanabata Story', at the Pavilion Theatre, Brighton. At the same time, he wrote the 'Stuffed in Africa' novels with Guy Dudeney.
His screenwriting was encouraged by Christopher Nicholson. In addition to the comedy, My Doggone Destiny (2011), with Gretchen Dzedzej his other movie screenplays include two horrors, a romantic comedy, an adventure romance and a period drama, all in current development with production companies in the USA, UK and Europe.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a member of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers. An award winning creative thinker, he was Master Trainer of Dr Edward de Bono's Creative Team. He has one daughter, who recently graduated from Oxford University. He has lived and worked in various parts of the world. At the moment, he lives in the UK, dividing his time between London and the Orkney Islands in the far North of Scotland.
Scotland
Screenwriter of 'Parallel Hell', 'The Virgin's Demon' and the expanded version of 'My Doggone Destiny'.
Author (with Guy Dudeney) of 'Rituals of the Damned'
Author (with Guy Dudeney) of 'Rituals of the Damned'
Animation, Books, Comedy, Film, Online writing, Poetry, Radio, Short story, Theatre, Videogames
‘Mine’
A short story by Martin John Solloway
“I don’t want David to be my daddy.” Bethany’s upper lip quivered, threatening to let forth tears again.
“No fear! You’re mine, all mine, Honey-bun.” Peter grabbed his daughter and threw her high into the blue Croatian sky. She shrieked with happiness and pretend terror, but she knew he’d catch her. “Your mummy loves David, but I’ll always be your daddy. Nothing changes that.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
“Hope to die?” Her little face took on a serious expression.
“I promise, cross my heart and hope to die, Honey-bun,” Peter replied, solemnly.
“Don’t step on it!” Bethany’s voice was urgent.
Peter jerked to alertness, his military training coming to the fore. “What is it, Honey-bun?” he asked calmly, balancing on one leg and carefully replacing his foot where it had been. He looked down. Where he would have stepped was a pair of purple flowers, commonly known as frog-cup. He smiled.
“It’s so pretty.” Bethany said, as her father set her back on the meadow grass. “Can I pick it for mummy?”
“Better not! If you pick it, no one else will be able to enjoy it, will they?” Bethany pulled a truculent face, so he continued. “Here, in Croatia, we call it kokavica. When I was a little boy, your grandfather showed it to me. He said it was special, a kind of symbol of our nation.”
“I understand, Daddy,” she said maturely. She giggled with delight, as new flowers caught her eye. “But I can pick those, can’t I? Can’t I?”
“Armfuls, if you want, Honey-bun!” Peter laughed as his little daughter ran into the colourful mass of petals.
The click was barely audible, but it made the hairs on the back of Peter’s neck stand up. The world slowed down.
“Stop!” he yelled, running towards her.
“I’m sorry!” Bethany gasped, clutching the armful of flowers to her.
“Don’t move, Honey-bun. Please stand still.” Peter got to her and felt the ground around her feet. With sickening certainty, he found what he had feared. He pressed down, carefully.
“I want you to run back to Mummy, Honey-bun. Go exactly the way we came, through the trampled grass.” His voice was calm, but very firm.
“I don’t want …”
“Go!” he screamed at her.
Tearing up, Bethany shouted, “You’re mean,” as she ran away; just far enough to escape the explosion.
(391 words)
Copyright © 2013, Martin John Solloway. All rights reserved.