Neither Tim nor Lloyd can boast a past as colourful as that of Erskine Childers. They are, though, seasoned culture-walkers, having wandered together along both shores of the Thames Estuary and followed in the footsteps of Syd Barrett as he walked, unaccompanied, from London to Cambridge.
Tim Wright is an experienced digital author and interactive producer who has already produced a pilot version of his ‘bookmapping’ idea using Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped as his guide. From 30th June to 25th August 2009, he followed a route across Scotland from the south western tip of Mull to the outskirts of Edinburgh, using only a Flip camera, an iphone, a notebook PC and all the free wifi access he could find, to create a literary geo-located ‘blogumentary’, proving that the travails of David Balfour can be re-played in real time.The results of this experiment can explored at http://www.timwright.typepad.com/kidmapper
Lloyd Shepherd is the author of three acclaimed historical mysteries: The English Monster, The Poisoned Island, and Savage Magic. His books are set in the early 19th century and feature the proto-detective Charles Horton and his irascible magistrate John Harriott, both of the Thames River Police in Wapping. His fourth book is published in 2015. In 2013, Lloyd took part in the Disorient Express, a successful attempt to visit 22 European cities in 17 days, entirely by train. You can read about it at http://www.lloydshepherd.com/writing/the-disorient-express/
In their former lives, Tim was a founder and partner of Noho Digital, the groundbreaking London digital agency and XPT, an interactive entertainment company specialising in crossplatform drama and comedy. Lloyd was deputy director for digital publishing at The Guardian, and has also held senior roles at Yahoo, the BBC and Channel 4.
The Curiously Specific Book Club 
Dear Tim and Lloyd,
I have just come across the ROTS website via Arthur Beale’s. I think this project is amazing and I have signed up ,and will pledging for the book.
This is fascinating as I am an marine artist currently researching the Dulcibella with the view to producing a major painting of her sailing through the Frisian’s-as I believe no other painting other exists other than illustrations.
I recently did an illustration of her for the Yachting Monthly ‘Book at bunk time’ series, and the original was incidentally bought by Maldwin Drummond at an exhibition I had. I was amazed how this book still fires peoples imagination , hence me getting in contact with you.
What you are both doing is so exciting ,and I would love to come with my wife to your film showing at Arthur Beale’s in July and meet you both. I wondered if you might like me to bring along the preliminary painting I am working on of the Dulcibella for you to see.
I am really looking forward to following your project and the publication of the book and I wish you the best of luck!
Best wishes,
Martyn Mackrill
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Hi Martyn – a lovely comment to receive on a Sunday morning! Yes, we would very much like to see the painting – and perhaps interview you for the podcast?
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Dear Tim,
Great to hear from you I have sent you a copy of the book at bunk time illustration via rotscarruthers@gmail.com as I can’t send it on this forum. Take a look this picture as it is the inspiration for the oil I am currently working on. I’m more than happy to do a interview with you, as I am also a keen yachtsman and have a 1910 shoal draft gaff rigged yacht, which might also be of interest to you.
See you on 2nd July
Best wishes
Martyn
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Dear Tim,
Great to hear from you I have sent you a copy of the book at bunk time illustration via rotscarruthers@gmail.com as I can’t send it on this forum. Take a look this picture as it is the inspiration for the oil I am currently working on. I’m more than happy to do a interview with you, as I am also a keen yachtsman and have a 1910 shoal draft gaff rigged yacht, which might also be of interest to you.
See you on 2nd July
Best wishes
Martyn
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Dear people, IWe are very interested to read of your project! We live near Kiel in Germany, and have a boat at the British Kiel Yacht Club (I am a Brit). My BH and I arranged the 100th anniversary ‘Riddle of the Sands’ rally in Kappeln in Germany back in 2003, for the Cruising Assoc (London). As we have sailed these waters for a number of years, and as we are based in Germany, we thought that we may be able to offer you any assistance you might need for your project. We sail to Flensburg, Kappeln etc pretty frequently, as well as being occasionally out on the Elbe and the Frisian islands. (We sailed to the D Day beaches last June.) Although as a keel boat we are limited to the outside harbours of the islands.
If you think we can lend a hand with anything, please do not hesitate to contact us. For example:-I have written a guide to the German Baltic coast, which you could have as a down load?
Good luck with it all, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Fair winds
Janet
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Janet – thank you for this lovely post. We will definitely be asking for help! And it’s fantastic to hear from someone who is obviously such a Childers fan. If it’s OK with you, we’ll send an email in a few days. Hope that’s OK. And thanks again for getting in touch!
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Delighted to find your site and happy to support you. I run a site dedicated to the genre of invasion literature http://www.theriddleofthesands.com ! Derek
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Well Guys, I’ve hesitated a while but have now pledged and am desperately hoping this venture succeeds. The idea is fascinating and I have visited various locations in Holland and Germany (I think they were the locations!) so I’m looking forward to following your tour and reading your travel tips in the eventual handbook.
I’ve read ROTS countless times as well as Maldwin Drummond’s The Riddle. Are there any other books out there related to the original?
Now I’m taking it seriously, I’ve got a lot of website reading and podcasts to attend to to make sure I catch up before you set off. Good Luck with meeting the pledges target.
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Pat
Thanks so much for your support. We really appreciate. Do spread the word wherever you can. In terms of further reading, you should try and get hold of a copy of R M Bowker’s edition, which includes a great Postscript about Bowker’s attempt to sail the route and some great historical research. We’d also recommend a bit of E.F Knight, who clearly inspired Childers – http://www.allthingsransome.net/literary/falcon.htm. Enjoy.
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