Retired farmer Bill Elgie writes first thriller novel called The Rookhill Project

Nov 7 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal

RETIRED farmer Bill Elgie has swapped tending to sheep and cattle to become a thriller writer.

And his first offering has been snapped up by an American publisher.

The Rookhill Project, a novel set in Weardale, County Durham, involves skullduggery and double crossing among local politicians and planners – though Bill stresses the characters are all fictional. Bill, 63, from Beamish, Stanley, County Durham, said he had always been able to tell a good story, and used to regale his children Heather and Stephen with bedtime stories almost a quarter of a century ago.

Heather, now a 30-year-old English teacher and a mother herself, helped her father with style, grammar and punctuation.

Bill, married to Nancy, explained: “I had always wanted to try my hand at writing a book, but didn’t think I would be any good.

“I wrote the words on a laptop and Heather proof read them. She gave me confidence, telling me it was a good read and she improved my grammar when necessary.

“We sent the manuscript off to an American publisher and they agreed to publish immediately, which I was absolutely delighted about.”

Much of the action is set in the tiny village of Rookhope, which is called Rookhill in the book, and Bill explained “I have done a lot of walking around Weardale and decided to set the story there.

“It is a beautiful part of the country and I could picture it when I was sitting at my desk writing. As well as being a crime thriller I would describe The Rookhill Project as a morality tale.”

The sleevenotes say: “William Elgie has written a masterful novel that plays brilliantly on the psyche of how far one goes before crossing a line between right and wrong.”

Heather said: “I do believe it is a good read, an exciting plot.

“Dad always had a vivid imagination, he would make up stories for my brother and me when we were small. I am very proud of him.”

Bill added: “A lot of the book is about life experiences, but the characters are all completely fictional. There are no villains in there based on anybody I know personally.”

The Rookhill Project, at £6.50 is available in all good book shops, published by Eloquent Books of New York.

Bill is now working on a sequel.

We sent the manuscript off to an American publisher and they agreed to publish immediately