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Funny, Sad, And Heart-Breaking
Certified follows one man through three milestones in life through three charming and relatable stories. What was the inspiration for the idea behind your story?
I had always wanted to write about the passing of my father and the sad, but farcical, events that surrounded his funeral. I was trying to think how this idea could form part of a book and began to think of other life changing events that had affected me. One of those was recalling the realisation that becoming a father had probably passed me by and the unexpected joy of having a daughter later in life. Once I had those two stories I had the idea of the three life certificates of birth, marriage, and death, linking them all with one man’s journey through each one.
I knew had many funny, sad, and heart-breaking real-life experiences, and events, to engage the reader, making them laugh and cry in equal measure, so once I had this structure, I was off and running.
The protagonist is an interesting and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
The main character is basically me. His development was my development through life. I like to think I wrote him as I was, and am, with all my good and bad points through the years.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Once I began to write the book, and draw from life experience, I thought it was important that I covered the painful aspects of my life, alongside the humorous ones. I also wanted the reader to resonate with some aspect of the birth, marriage, and death trilogy as many of us have stories that we could tell about one, or all three, that we have been involved with.
It was important to cover my absent father, how that affected me, but also a toxic relationship that I was involved in when I was in my late twenties that I believe shaped the person I became, in work and relationships, later in life. I felt it might help others knowing that they are not alone.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am currently working on the follow up to Certified, with a working title of A Life Retrieved. The book is the story of three Retriever dogs that accompany an owner’s life over a period of 25 years. One of them saves his life, one changes it forever, and one has a penchant for fish food. Three Dogs, Two Decades, and One Heart. To be published in Summer 2022.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
It is, ultimately, a love story.
One Unexpected Birth: The long road to fatherhood. Missed opportunities, poor choices, a car ride with Bet Lynch, and finally the shock of becoming a dad. A story of heartache, elation, and Peter Beardsley.
One Hapless Wedding: The pressures of matrimony. Inept friends, false promises, an encounter with armed police, and finally the relief of “I do.” A story of love, commitment, and a stranger, Wally, and his camper van.
One Bizarre Death: The sadness of loss. Confused emotions, life re-evaluation, £25k in ceased bank notes, and finally saying goodbye. A story of regret, family reflection, and Morrisons, the supermarket.
A book to stir the memories in us all.
The realisation we have all been certified.
Certified: One Unexpected Birth… One Hapless Wedding… One Bizarre Death
![Certified: One Unexpected Birth... One Hapless Wedding... One Bizarre Death by [Roger Wilson-Crane]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51TaUJmxebL.jpg)
Certified: One Unexpected Birth… One Hapless Wedding… One Bizarre Death by Roger Wilson-Crane is the riveting account of one man going through three milestones in life. One peculiar thing about this book is that we never get to know the character’s name, although we know almost everything concerning his life, episode by episode we get to know him better and better. His life is filled with ups and downs and the reader is there by the character’s side all-the-while, empathizing with him when he needs help and cheering with him after joyous events.
Crane writes in an elegant and charismatic way. The pace of the stories are fast, and the author frequently addresses the reader, almost as if the book were a conversation between author and reader. This detail makes the book feel realistic, engaging and absolutely entertaining because of it.
As a reader keen on details, I noticed that there was a lack of them, but this is not a story about details, this is an emotionally resonant story that focuses on the moments and emotions in life that we can all relate to. The author keeps the story moving along with flashbacks and flash-forwards, never confusing anyone as they remind the reader of any detail they might have forgotten after some chapters.
The story is clearly inspired by a real-life story, and even though these characters might have never existed, we get to know them and see them as familiar faces. The authenticity in this book is what makes it more relatable to readers and helps them find themselves in the story, making them grow attached to it.
Certified: One Unexpected Birth… One Hapless Wedding… One Bizarre Death is an enchanting and eloquent story, with its quick-rhythm and comedy-filled adventures it will catch any reader’s heart. I recommend this book to any reader who enjoys family stories, or quick and humorous reads.
Pages: 213 | ASIN: B09CQ2T49D
LITERARY TITAN 