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Power Shift
"Power Shift came about as a result of people's kindness. It started when I was going through a tough patch in my life and the kind owners of my local deli decided to cheer me up.
Not many folk would find the prospect of getting up at three in the morning for what they insisted would be a treat with any great enthusiasm. But I did as I was told, and joined them in a trip round Birmingham's Indoor Wholesale market.
Wonderful flowers, the smell of crushed vegetables, the best drinking chocolate and the most welcome bacon buttie I've ever had in my life – and the crusher.
Markets generate a lot of waste. This big beastie compresses it all into a manageable mass, which is then sent to a huge incinerator which helps supply electricity to the national grid. Once seen – more appropriately, once smelt – never forgotten. That was when the very first germ of the novel started to grow.
Jim and Laurie, thank you wherever you are! And thank you, John, for telling me about Birmingham's waste disposal."
"It was obvious that someone was going to end up in that incinerator. The question was, who. At this point I had more help, from a kind and generous policeman who, despite being driven by more Home Office directives than you can shake a stick at, took a morning out to discuss my scenario with me. It turned out that he was doing exactly the same job as I'd promoted Kate to, so he told me chapter and verse what he would do in her situation. He introduced me to useful colleagues; he even showed me the desk Kate would occupy. Many, many thanks, Mark – and good luck in your new posting. I hope you find it easier than Kate found hers."
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