Former local journalist writes new novel 'That Summer Feeling'

A former Middleton Guardian and Oldham Evening Chronicle journalist has written a new novel set locally in 2004.

‘That Summer Feeling’ by Mark Hodkinson follows the journey of a young writer-to-be having doubts.

To clear his head, he embarks on a road trip with pals, starting at rainy Grasmere. Hopes don’t rise there. In the best tradition of classic novels of the 1960s, he is torn between two girls.

Meanwhile, his university lecturer is breaking down in a rundown pub on the edge of town and his young nephew’s illness has set a fault-line through the entire family.

Mark, who has also written for The Times and Guardian, said: “On the surface it’s a very straight-forward first-person narrative, but it quietly covers universal themes such as family and relationships, class and expectations.

“I purposely set out without an agenda, or even a mapped-out story, and let it become funny or profound and everything in between, as it developed.’’

The former Balderstone High School and Rochdale College pupil was also lauded by Alan Sillitoe, another northern writer branded an ‘angry young man’.

Mark said: "I’m a huge fan of the realism depicted in their books and the sheer energy.

‘‘I’m northern and share a similar pragmatic view of the world and bring this to my characters, I suppose.’’

Some reviewers have compared Mark’s writing style to JD Salinger – Mark edited the acclaimed biography ‘JD Salinger: A Life’ published by Random House in the United States and produced and presented the BBC Radio 4 documentary, ‘JD Salinger, Made in England’.

He added: ‘‘That chatty, fiercely personal style patented by Salinger in The Catcher in the Rye is easy to copy but very difficult to sustain and re-locate to a setting outside the United States.

“I was brought up in a home pretty much empty of books but made up for it between the ages of 18 and 25 when I read about one a week.”

Mark’s novel about the music business, The Last Mad Surge of Youth, was Q’s ‘novel of the year’, and his biography of Marianne Faithfull was critically acclaimed.

Mark played guitar in bands during his 20s, supporting the likes of The Stone Roses, Pulp and The Wedding Present. He still releases records under the moniker of Black sedan.

‘That Summer Feeling’ will be published on Monday 15 October by Pomona.