Comedian, author and producer Justine Sless has returned to her hometown of Sunderland from Australia to launch her third book, Before I Sing You This Song. Published with North East independent publishers Crear Publishing, the novel is a decade in the making and marks a homecoming, both literary and literal, for the writer.
A Decade-Long Project Inspired by a Legend
Set in Sunderland in 1978, the novel draws inspiration from local comedy legend Bobby 'The Little Waster' Thompson. Justine said: "some would say he's like royalty." Extracts from Thompson's original material are woven throughout the story, used with the blessing of his family.
His son, Keith Thompson, who passed away last year, said of the book: "As the son of Bobby Thompson, the Little Waster, I was fortunate enough to read the book prior to its release. Being just a daft Geordie myself, I found it a most engaging read. Justine has captured the moment and is quite clearly a gifted author."
The Heart of the Story
The heart of the book is Elsie Bishop, a Hendon-born woman whose diaries and newspaper cuttings are the backbone of the narrative. Elsie is an ordinary woman with extraordinary ambition: to perform stand-up comedy at a time when women were permitted to sing in working men's clubs but not to tell jokes.
Jen Bowden, host of the Northern Voices Podcast, said of the book: "Before I Sing You This Song is a gorgeously funny novel that doesn't shy away from the difficult truths of life. Elsie is a sparkling heroine whose wit and humour pull us deep into the vibrant heart of working-class northern life. You'll laugh, you'll cry but you'll never regret a second spent reading this delightful book."
This praise for representation of northern life is echoed by Jessica Andrews, author of Saltwater and Milk Teeth, as she said: "Justine's work explores social class, gender and northern identity in the 1970s through one woman's determination to forge a path for herself. In a time of increasing polarisation, it is more necessary than ever to hear the stories of places like Sunderland."
From Idea to Publication
What started from meeting with old school friends in Melbourne and watching The Little Waster a decade ago has sparked into a long and dedicated process of writing that changed from its initial idea that woke Justine in the middle of the night. She said: "The more I wrote the story about Bobby, the more I knew it had to be about a woman."
She added: "What's been gorgeous is the people who have stayed in contact over the decade." This group includes Keith, Bobby's son, who kept in touch and believed in the project until his passing last year, Jen from Northern Voices Podcast's support, and Justine's writers group for the last five years.
Alongside her writing and performing career, which has spanned the last 20 years, Justine teaches stand-up comedy and creative writing in schools, workplaces and libraries, with particular focus on people at risk of homelessness and those living with complex mental health conditions. Despite leaving school having struggled academically and later being diagnosed as dyslexic, Justine went on to complete a master's by research in creative writing, publish two previous books and perform numerous one-woman shows.
She said: "It's about surrounding yourself with a great team. Writing and performing is never a solo pursuit."
Community and Next Steps
Justine launched the book as part of the North East Indie Book Festival before attending numerous events across Sunderland. She also plans to visit her old school, Southmoor Academy, to show the students what can be achieved. She said she wants to tell students: "If I can do it, then so can you."
Justine will also be donating copies of her book to her former school to encourage pupils to tell their own stories. While the other two books seemed to come easy to Justine, Before I Sing You This Song has been waiting for the perfect time to step into the spotlight and the right audience to do it for. Now Justine's story is ready to be shared with the world, as well as its message. She said the book is a: "deep dive into self belief and when the time is right."
Justine has said although she has made her home on the other side of the world, Before I Sing You This Song is proof that you can take the girl out of Sunderland, but you can't take Sunderland out of the girl.
