Wildfire - The writing/editing process
Mavis Thorpe Clark wrote the first version of each of her books in long-hand. She'd then type out her manuscript on her manual typewriter (replaced by an electric typewriter during the 1970s). During her later years, she was sorry that she had never learned to use a computer - though members of her family were happy to assist.
Below is a page from her novel, Wildfire, as the typed and edited manuscript (left) and as the published book (right) - page 50 of the first edition, 1973.
Wildfire had a working title of On a Red Wind. Prior to publication, a copy of the manuscript was sent to the Country Fire Authority (CFA) for verification of facts. Following feedback from the CFA and from Barbara Ker Wilson of publisher Hodder and Stoughton, revision of the manuscript took place between 28 November 1972 and 20 January 1973.
