ONE SPOTLIGHT. FOUR EGOS. ONE POWERCUT.
Buy this on Amazon, Kindle or listen to the audio via Serialisation/subscription.
England versus Wales. Ambition versus Apathy. Technology versus Mother Nature… until one night a blackout changes everything. In a world overwhelmed by technology, the massive power cut presents two celebrity-obsessed young people, whose very existence contains a dark secret, with the chance to become human and fall in love.
![[Grandes Murailles]](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4427/36343510090_4e9d8379e6_s.jpg "[Grandes Murailles]")
Blackout – An Alcoholic’s Fantasy.
Reviewed on 30th July 2017 by Boyd Clack, actor and author. Playboy of the Rhondda Valley; Poet Laureate of Despair.) X
30th July 2017. Review for Blackout by Boyd Clack, Cardiff.
I read Blackout in two sittings. It tells the story of a young Valleys woman who meets the son of the amoral owner of the factory in which she and all the other women in the town work. She is unaware of who the son is. He has come to stay in a mountainside cottage which his father bought to live in when setting the factory up many years before. The son is a somewhat deluded would be rock star and the cottage is filled with recording equipment on which he intends to create the album that will break him in the business. He thinks the girl’s attitude and singing voice are perfect for his vision and she, excited at the idea, goes along with it. The story itself is interesting and well told but in my reading of it the story became ephemeral to what I saw as the core subject matter. The girl’s life, her relationships with her friends, fellow drinkers in the local pub, and her mother from whom she is alienated, indeed her entire perception of reality is filtered through the brain of an alcoholic. I have some experience of such all consuming dependency and know that it creates another world, a parallel reality that slowly takes over the old reality to become the new true reality. What Blackout does so well is to illustrate this quasi reality in a mundane setting. I once frequented a pub that I thought to be a wonderful sparkling place full of glittering lights and fascinating people for several months then went there sober one evening to see it for what it was, a seedy depressing dump peopled by fellow losers. Blackout shows the facade of such a ‘glittering’ world with the dream of a new life and love and fame but I was aware that none of it was real, that it was the delusion of a stage of drug addiction. It is this that gives the novel its power. It is this that raises it above proletarian reportage. It is this that gripped me. Boyd Clack. (Playboy of the Rhondda Valley; Poet Laureate of Despair.) X
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I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I really don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Fine blog. I help keep visiting this blog pretty often.
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I agree that the liberal use of bad language did take some of the enjoyment out of the book Tracy.
As for hitting 40, you have nothing to worry about, as there are MANY sexy, charming and beautiful ladies above 40, it is just a shame that some men prefer younger ones, as a lady is like a fine wine, and only gets better with age
I thought the reading was lovely, especially when you went into Tessa speaking, you really took the part on, I was a bit disappointed that your accent was not more obvious otherwise
I think if you are doing a naked reading at Hay, then as a performer you should be paid, or as i said before, do it in a tent, and have admittion ONLY by book or DVD, that should keep away, the men who just want to see a sexy young lady naked.
Alan
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Hi Tracy,
We haven’t spoken in a long time, I’m your cousin (Margaret’s daughter). I read the first chapter of Blackout and wanted to say that I think this book shows a lot of promise. Although written about life in the Welsh valleys, the subjects it addresses can be applied to any area of modern Britain including the English/Welsh rivalry (when you consider the number of British companies that are now foreign owned). Regarding the naked reading, rather you than me! I think your work stands up to scrutiny on it’s own, but it’s tough out there and I guess you have to make yourself stand out and get noticed. Goodluck! x
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I finished reading “Blackout” last week. At first I was puzzled by the idea of promoting a novel through nudity, but after the first naked reading, my curiosity about the rest of the story was enough to push me over the top and buy a copy.
Not being British, I do not know the exact sentiments that come with being Welsh. I could relate in some way though, being from a small country surrounded by dominant neighbours.
Let me start off by what I liked. The naked reading got me interested in the story, and that did not disappoint. Storylines are clear, with sufficient detail in character development to sympathise with them. While the story’s setting is rather grey, the events bring enough colour to the book. The ending surprised me a bit – which is a good thing. Maybe I would have liked to see just a little bit more closure, but I guess that’s personal taste.
In terms of style, my feelings are more mixed. Given the setting, the raunchy language in conversation between characters did not disturb me at all. I was bothered more by some style figures (alliterations, overly fancy words) appearing at several places, which come across as very artificial and not fitting in the overall concept of the book.
As one remark to the story, I would have liked to see a more elaborate suspense buildup and a longer climax – setting, detail, and conflict.
All in all, I enjoyed reading “Blackout”. I could identify sufficiently with the characters to go with the story, and the end got me thinking.
While it may not be my best read ever, it is certainly not the worst either, and I will probably buy Tracy’s next book as well.
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I read the first chapter of Blackout online and went away wishing I could read the rest of the book. I found myself wondering, hours later, what would become of Tessa. When the book was made available to buy I purchased a copy. I wasn’t sure what to expect as Tracy is a currently an author without a publisher – would I tire of the writing style, would the end be disappointing? As I read, I became engrossed in the story. The amount of depth gone into with the major characters is just right – enough to make you feel as if you understand them but not too much so that you lose interest. With some books the characters are just people in the story but with Blackout I felt I knew and understood them – with Bronwen, I felt a sort of pity of what her life was; Sam, a spoilt rich kid who did what he wanted but wasn’t very good at it; Tessa, someone who had ambitions but was dragged down by her alcoholism, drugs and upbringing. A nice point in the book was that I was given hope when the ‘youths’ helped the old collier home rather than taunt and bully him, something which unfortunately seems to becoming commonplace these days. What surprised me most about the book was the end – I had to read it twice to make sure I understood it – I certainly didn’t expect it! The book was a very enjoyable read, Tracy is an incredibly talented author and I would recommend the book with one caveat – you need to read it with an open mind (for example, the way Bronwen watches TV on a Sunday!). I look forward to reading further work of Tracy’s and wish her success in finding an agent or publisher.
As an aside, I’ve lived in Wales (Swansea Valley) for a few years now and thanks to Blackout, now understand what the neighbour means when she calls us bach, what a colleague means when he calls me butt and I also learnt a new Welshism – hireath, one that I can understand and appreciate even after my short time here.
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Nice Post. I searched the whole net for informations like u shared it on this post “Blackout The Naked Blonde Writer …”. Thank you very much, it aided me out.
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Hullo, how are you doing? I really like your blog! I was wondering if u might assist me (I am certain some other subscribers might also be curious). I want to get into writing a blog also and I currently use a blog with WordPress, but it is quite difficult for me to make and I would like to attempt to find some decent training materials or courses (preferably ones that are free) that can hopefully assist me in making use of Word Press correctly. As a wordpress webmaster yourself, do u maybe know were i could learn tutorials to be able to do this myself?? Thanks Alot!
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Hi Scottie, I suggest in the first instance you use the help and forums on the WordPress.com site. You might also try Google for e.g WordPress tutorials, and YouTube. Sorry, not very helpful, but this is a DIY world.
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The Net is a great tool for life when utilized in this manor. As opposed to when it is used as a source of entertainment. Merci
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Ms William is very beautiful writer and narrator.
As I write her before I think she remained me in her novel black out by the South African/ American actress Charles thereon in her movie monster. Even still not finish the story to its end I can see that the hero or the main character in the novel is one side of a prism in tracy willim personality, she is like her hero wild. Ms Tracy know will who to dramatize the beauty, blonde, wilderness in a naked text that need a wolf camera to catch the seen. I am favorably impressed by the talent not of writing only but of making the visual effect that produced in the text.
Mush respect,
EMAD
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such an exciting way to tale an unexciting tale to be perfectly honest, never been so enthralled in someone else’s career. A dark and delightful read, one which I look forward to reading in its entirety and that I shall be recommending to peers pre-publication. Little did I realise a casual check on my facebook would lead me to this. I took the bait, read the comments, believed the hype and I’m (and I struggle for better words) fucking glad I did (I’m a teenager, all the best things in life should be cursed about).
Powerful language, engaging and captivating the mind and forcing people to start thinking (which I’ve been meaning to do for quite a while). A sinister look into nitty-gritty Wales that I honestly didn’t know existed.
Just one final comment on the length, I couldn’t care less, and neither should any one else, what I read in chapter one is enough to convince me to read it even if it was a god-damn yellow pages.
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Dan Connor,
I just read your comment and wanted to laud you, applaud you and offer you a complimentary copy of the novel if you haven’t yet bought one. I don’t do this very often – but your comment was so brilliant I think you deserve to have a copy of Blackout. Have you read Catcher in the Rye? If not – go and get a copy, NOW!!!
Send your mailing address to tracy@thenakedblondewriter.com or post it on the contact page and I’ll make a note of it.
Tracy Williams
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I’d get this book in a second, I only read page three (will be continuing after this message) but page three sold it to me. I kind of realised it was going to be a good read, normally when something just falls onto my lap like your website did I get really into it. I’ll continue reading and leave my full critique soon afterwards.
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Blackout is well written and holds all the traits of a first novel. I am no way a qualified book critic but i very much enjoyed the journey in which i was taken, i disagree with comments about the length of this book. it is well structured and flows from chapter to chapter. I also disagree with the welsh female characters overpowering the english men. it is how the writer intended and the england vs wales thing is as real as it is depicted in the book.
there probably are a few sections that could be revisited but it is debut novel and in my opinion should be left in its raw honest state. looking forward to a follow up.
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Read the first chapter, which is challenging and hard edged. It gives the work the feel of a novel that will disturb the reader all the way through to the end.
I look forward to reading the whole novel at some stage. From an impressive first chapter, if it develops as it promises to, it will be a fine read.
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Blackout is an amazing first novel and one that should be published. The writer’s depiction of the harsh realities of life in the modern Welsh Valleys is both brutal and honest – drugged-up wage slaves shackled to factories owned by outsiders, producing products they have little use for themselves. That many of these owners were paid to locate here shows just how little faith Wales’ elected represents had in their own people. Perhaps if they look outside today they will see a Wales confident and capable, with young writers who command attention on any stage. Tracy Williams is just such a writer.
I agree with Karl, the women define the novel. They are brazen, intense and Welsh – this is their story; while the English male characters are left to play the supporting role – a situation some might find hard to take. I disagree with Karl on the length, which at just over 300 pages is neither too long nor is it overwritten. Karl’s review implies we have come to expect pulp fiction as the norm and now struggle when presented with someone who is both well read and in command of the language. Tracy is someone who will challenge you. If you’re not up to the task, don’t expect this blonde to dumb-down. Read the book, watch the video, and form your own opinion, you will enjoy it.
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Life in the valleys has turned toxic: the people, once proud and independent, exist on a diet of booze, drugs, casual sex and rugger. They drown their sorrows at the Angel, the local pub-cum-pharmacy-cum bordello. If they work at all, they work in the ghastly Tick Tock clock factory, an English-owned monstrosity whose very name mocks the loss of their youth and their freedom. Tess refuses to be a victim any longer. She chucks her job at the factory and walks out of home after a showdown with her stroppy single mum Bronwen. Anarchy threatens on the shop floor. Rupert, the factory’s joint owner with his chronically lecherous brother Harry, sends his son Sam down to the valleys to sort things out. But Sam would rather be a musician and remains incognito. He sets up a recording studio in a remote farmhouse and gets to work on a CD of his own songs. When he hears the newly liberated Tess singing on a moutainside, he thinks he has found the answer to his musical prayers. Tess moves in. Sure, she says, she’ll sing for him for as long as the booze lasts. Sam’s orderly, high-tech regime starts to fall apart. The factory is going to the dogs but he is obsessed. Rupert arrives to find out what’s gone wrong and bumps into Bronwen after an absence of many years. Things spiral out of control when a blackout plunges the valley into darkness. Without the lifeblood of electricity, lives unravel and painful secrets are exposed. Tracy Williams has written a powerful first novel, using language skilfully to seduce or bludgeon as required.
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Blackout is a strong first novel wonderfully written in places about a mother and her daughter. Much too long and too over written it becomes boring when it tries to be a television series instead of relying on the lyricism of the writer. Ms Williams must decide why she needs all those long chapters. Why she needs to describe bands and rugby and closed factories – things we see daily on the box – when she should rely on her natural gifts as a writer.
The women, mother and daughter, were refreshingly new; the men I had seen before. If Ms Williams believes in her novel she would be well advised to return to it with energy and cut not paste and whether her novel is bought or not it would be something she is proud of. Turning what I suspect was a good short novel in her rewrites into a long buy me for television book made her main characters bleed half to death ina stampede of miserable male egos demanding my attention – which I could have done without. The novel is the novel.
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