Final Approach: My Father and Other Turbulence
Final Approach charts the turbulent flightpath between a jetsetting father and a planespotting son.
The 1970s were the final gasp of the Golden Age of Flying. Mark Blackburn grew up amidst this fuel-guzzling splendour, with airports his playground of choice. He came to adulthood well-heeled and well-travelled. However, he had to contend with his multimillionaire father.
Luxury cars. Private planes. Racing stables. Foreign Mistresses.
Paranoia, bullying and power plays.
At the centre was the inescapable pull of the father.
Half memoir and half travelogue, wrapped in an ode to planespotting, this is one man’s journey to break free.
It’s the trip of a lifetime. Take your seat and buckle up for take-off.
–
‘A wonderful book that constantly surprises and delights.’ Alan McCormick, Best British Short Stories
‘Final Approach is a beautiful and tender work.’ Shaun Levin, A3 Press
‘Excellent – moving and engaging and really original – there is nothing like this.’ Lara Feigel, writer, reviewer and professor at Kings College London
‘A delightful blast from the past.’ Isabel Costello, The Literary Sofa
Mark Blackburn
Mark grew up at the rural end of Berkshire the oldest of four children, but arriving in London during the heyday of punk to study at the LSE, he felt that was where he belonged. Sundry abortive attempts at stardom followed, as a stand-up comedian, actor and musician.
A successful career there as a shoe-seller followed, but Mark now lives in Somerset, England, doing what he loves best – writing. Extracts of his upcoming book Final Approach: My Father and Other Turbulence, part-memoir, part-travelogue have already won him a trip to Sydney and appeared in Moxy literary magazine and elsewhere. He has written a number of short stories, poems and other pieces of creative non-fiction which have been published online and in print. Dame Margaret Drabble selected Mark as Runner-Up in the Interact Ruth Rendell Short Story Prize, saying how much she loved and related to his story, The Wall. He was also shortlisted for the 2022 TLC Pen Factor Pitch Prize.
He regularly reads and performs his work at events and literary festivals in the South-West, and has appeared in the media talking about his writing and the writing process. When he isn’t writing, he may well be found under the bonnet of an old car trying to coax it back to life on a classic car rally.