A rejection!

One of the challenges when writing biography or life story, is that not all family members are enthusiastic about the project.

Even if they are, there are often conflicts as people have differing recollections of the same event.

As a writer of biography I come across this often. Perhaps an ex-husband or ex-wife may not wish to have his/her story in the book - or perhaps there are "skeletons in the cupboard" that are best left alone. Perhaps someone is slightly miffed by something that might be written. It's often quite a treacherous course for a writer.

I'd not heard that any family member was indifferent to the project, but as I knew the story, there was a likelihood that this might be the case. As it was the rejection came from an unexpected family member.

I'd driven quite some distance - and this family member did not have the phone on, so it was a "cold call". To say I was not made welcome is an understatement. I recieved a barrage of words, that made it obvious that there was no likelihood of support from this person.

So unexpected was the response that I felt quite upset about it. I wasn't sure what to do. I tried to contact some other folk, and even drove around the town looking for them. The address I had was incomplete, and they too didn't answer the phone (I found later I'd been given a wrong number).

I then made contact with someone I was supposed to stay with near Killarney in the west, but circustances had changed and I couldn't go there.

I certainly felt all alone at that time - and I wasn't sure what to do.

I found a lovely B & B, booked in, and considered my options.