VentnorBlog are proud to have been chosen to host the serialisation of The Last Bullfighter, an unpublished book by accomplished Isle of Wight author, David Yates.
David ‘Rowdy’ Yates is originally from Waltham St Lawrence, near Reading in Berkshire, but now lives in Sunny Ventnor and is a regular reader of VentnorBlog.
The author and former Portsmouth Royal Navy sailor onboard HMS Antrim, released his first title, Bomb Alley (published by Pen and Sword Books Ltd) in September 2006. The book came close to becoming a best seller during commemorative events held to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Falklands War in 2007, and strong global sales still continue.
David has another book due out on the shelves next February (details below), but it is the unpublished work, The Last Bullfighter, written four years ago, that David has chosen to share with VentnorBlog readers.
Each weekend in the run up until Christmas, we’ll be publishing another chapter of The Last Bullfighter, a synopsis of which you’ll see below.
Calling all comic book illustrators
David has great ambitions for the story to be produced as a feature length computer animated film (think Over the Hedge or Madagascar) and is keen for illustrators to get creative and submit their ideas for comic book style storyboards.
David hopes to be able to use these storyboards to accompany approaches to prospective publishers and film producers in the New Year. This is a fantastic opportunity for any established, or even budding young artists to get involved.
The Last Bullfighter
Each year thousands of migrating birds are needlessly shot from the skies as they cross the Mediterranean Sea from Africa to the southern coast of Europe. In the same hostile regions of Spain the sport of bullfighting also puts paid to the lives of hundreds of purposely-bred young bulls.
Paying homage to such classic tales of revenge-seeking underdogs as Seven Samurai and The Magnificent Seven.
This story tells the tale of how a large flock of birds and a herd of bulls unite to fight back against these cruel sporting pursuits.
Animation
A 15 minute animation of the story has already been created by student, Ross Hall, from Aberdeen University, who gained his Honours Degree in Computer Animation for his efforts. We hope to be able to bring you segments of this animation over the coming weeks.
Other projects
David’s next book, Beaches Bars and Blisters of the Isle of Wight, is due out in February 2009, and a succession of other projects will follow in due course, most notably, Giving up Christmas for Christmas, David’s personal account of why and how he gave up Christmas three years ago – together with the most comprehensive history of Christmas ever written!
The first chapter of the serialisation will be published over this coming Saturday and Sunday. Do check in and we’re sure that David would welcome any constructive or positive feedback.
Image: Maese Jose
