Time for a Cuppa!

The Magazine

For all the Family

Short Biography

J.W.B. LAING

J. W. B. Laing started writing during the "Middle Ages" when he was twelve. He won third prize while in elementary school for his essay regarding Dr. Livingston of Africa fame in the nineteenth century, the subject having been assigned to him by his headmaster. In order to maintain anonymity he wrote under the pseudonym of Mr G. Whiz. This was the first indication that he had any ability to write on short notice. He only had two days to research the subject and knew absolutely nothing about Dr. Livingston, other than the fact that he hung out somewhere in Darkest Africa and had a newspaper reporter looking for him. Fortunately, his imagination combined with some hastily uncovered facts provided sufficient humorous interest to Lord GlenTanar for him to award young Mr Laing the prize that, much to his disgust, turned out to be a book of poetry, whose, he'd no idea since he never opened it.

All his life he has been avid reader and known to consume four hard covers per week, the pages taking a little longer due to weak digestive system.

Years of further education, the Royal Air Force and emigration to Canada delayed the production of any further literary efforts until later in life when he hastily hand-wrote a one-hour script for a television movie. An acquaintance, who happened to be a well-known play-actor and TV game-show host on Canadian Television, was shown the script and took it with him to CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) for review. He shortly informed Mr Laing that CBC was quite interested in the script with its suspense filled plot, surprise ending and would he be interested in co-writing the dialogue. Naturally Mr Laing was ecstatic and happily acquiesced. Fortunately, he wasn't holding his breath or betting the family estate on success, as nothing came of Mr Laing's attempt to break into big time TV scriptwriting. To this date, he scrutinizes the programmes on CBC to see if his script is being used, not that he mistrusted his long lost acquaintance.

Having gained considerable experience over the years in writing dialogue, he has resurrected that same script he wrote for CBC and is currently rewriting it as a novella for possible conversion to a one-hour movie for television. He has now been working on this story for the past thirty-four years, which he claims he started when he was five years of age...ahem.

Since his early retirement he has been attacking, first his typewriter, word-processor keyboard and now his computer keyboard with a vengeance, producing four short-to-long stories, four novellas, and is labouring over the above referenced novella which is half way completed...or should that be half way begun? In any case, he anticipates having it finished before the end of this century.

He has in mind, a sequel to "George," that keeps bugging him to be put to paper. It concerns George's teen years while attending grammar school and college in the city during the week, and the village on the weekends and holidays, so he has taped the gist of the story for future use when he finishes that which he's currently working on...no more distractions.

All of his stories, with the exception of two, are taken from real life experience with a slight dash of fiction for colouring. Naturally the names and places are purely fictional to protect the innocent and himself.

To date he has written;

"Argolyn's Bell," a novella about three inseparable young men who set out to accomplish a dangerous feat in an abandoned castle, a feat they'd been promising to do since they were young children in the village of Argolyn located in Scotland.

"The Iron Ring," a true story about the adventures of two young lads on a lazy summer day and the discovery of an iron ring attached to a stone slab and buried in the garden.

"Andy's Vow," the tale of a young man plagued with the futile infatuation with a girl during his early high school days, his torments and inability to break from her.

"The Jackpot," a purely fictional story about a henpecked husband whose life is so screwed up that he feels he'll go out of his mind if he doesn't do something to change it. This story is taken, and altered, from the first chapter of one of the suspense novellas he is currently writing.

"The Indian Tracker," is the story of a young Indian relentlessly tracking a grizzly bear that has taken his young sister. It's taking all of his skill to find the bear and hopefully save his sister...providing she's not dead.

"George," is the story of the every-day life of a young lad and his family from the late 1930s, through the war years to 1945 with all its tragedy and comedy. Somehow, I'm sure you may see yourself in this story. Again, names have been changed to protect the writer.

"The Christmas Card," a tale of a young airman who finds himself stranded on Christmas Eve as a stranger in a city in post-war Germany. Looking for seasonal cheer in a bar, he befriends a very poor and seedy looking, but friendly, person who takes him on the strangest and most unforgettable Christmas Eve of his life.

"A Shooting Star in the North," or "Goyathlay's Gift," (he's not sure which is the best title). This is an adventure story of suspense, danger and mystery; about a man who is plagued with insecurities and lack of self-confidence and who, due to work stress, is compelled by the company doctor to take a two-week camping trip to Northern Ontario in Canada. He has a certain strange 'gift' that always gets him out of trouble and has been taken for granted as normal since he's had it all his life. On the second day of his trip, this 'gift' becomes a major player in his life that has suddenly become threatened by circumstances unforeseen. A beautiful young woman and the visitation of an ancient Indian, not of the local tribes, changes his life completely...is it the supernatural or his imagination?

Mr Laing was born at a very early age in Scotland, spent many years in Canada and now lives in California.

If you'd like to read more of Jim Laing's wonderful work,

then you can contact him at:

JimLaing@aol.com

Here's some great new writers

The Indian Tracker By J.W.B. Laing

The Iron Ring by J.W.B. Laing

George, by J.W.B. Laing

Argolyn's Bell, by J.W.B. Laing

The Nick Hardy Story (Don't miss it!)

Bobby R Woodall Author of "Mercer's Manor"

Read more of Bobby R Woodall's work