The Life and Times of a Paste-Up Wank: Memoirs 1953-2018

by Gerald Neal

Ever wondered what it might be like to work in advertising? Then this book might interest you. A person known as a Paste-Up Wank was a derogatory term used by some for people who produced camera ready artwork for print and press advertising in the UK... but they made a lot of money doing it. This is the Memoirs of myself Gerald Neal from birth to retirement after a life time working in advertising and then the aftermath that ensued.

335 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2018

About the author

My history:
I was born in Streatham, south London UK on the17th June 1953. Our family then moved from London to Southend-on-Sea, Essex in 1956 where I subsequently went to Fairfax High School and was educated to a 'general standard' before leaving at the age of fifteen with passes in Art, General Science and English. That same year I was then recruited by a small printing company in London as a messenger and trainee graphic artist. Within a year I had moved to a rival company and was working full-time on the 'drawing board' as a full-time graphic artist. At the age of nineteen I left Southend and moved back to London where I continued to work as a freelance graphic artist with many advertising studios and agencies including Saatchi and Saatchi Advertising London until I finally retired from advertising at the age of forty-five to write full-time. I now live on the east coast of England in the historical port town of Harwich.

Q & A
(Q) When did you start writing?
(A) I first thought of writing a book back in 1974 but working full time as a graphic artist in advertising and my time was extremely limited. It wasn't until 1996 when I retired from advertising did I start writing full time. My first attempt at a novel was as I suppose as most budding authors try, semi-autobiographical. This I soon put on hold as a plot idea evolved and I began work on MUD my first real novel.
(Q) Who inspired you?
(A) My first inspiration was of course my parents. My father fought in the Second World War with the British Eighth Army throughout North Africa and Europe before settling down to raise our family and work as a commercial artist in London to support us. He taught me a lot of what I know today about art and painting among many other important essentials. My mother, always an extremely strong impressive person, drove an ambulance throughout the war years in the London blitz. In later years she became well known for her interest in breeding and showing pedigree dogs, becoming a Best Of Breed Champion winner at Crufts. Other important people who enthused me throughout my life were the great thinkers such as; Jung, Darwin, Einstein, Newton, Carl Sagan and artists such as Salvidor Dali and René Magritte. Music was also important to me during my formative years - my enduring favourites being Pink Floyd and Led Zepplin.
(Q) Who do you like reading?
My tastes have changed many times over the years but one strand stays throughout that time - a good story that keeps my interest. I began reading a lot when I first left school and began work. I had an hours train journey to my job in London from my hometown so I got into the habit of taking a book to work with me every day. My first big interest was science fiction and my probable favourite there was Arthur C. Clark. Then my interest turned to Tom Sharpe with his satirical collection of work based on apartheid South Africa and the English aristocracy before I was completely hooked on horror with The Omen by David Seltzer - then with many other authors such as; James Herbert, Stephen King, Iain Banks and Dean Koontz. Another favourite author of mine is J. G. Ballard who wrote Crash, Cocaine Nights and many others.
(Q) What are you writing now?
(A) Another supernatural thriller based in an old abandoned 1960's holiday camp in Essex UK. During the fifties and sixties there were a lot of these camps scattered around the UK after the war because few people could afford foreign travel at that time, so this was an inexpensive and easy holiday option for the whole family. But when cheap flights became available in the seventies a lot of these camps closed awaiting redevelopment.
My history:
I was born in Streatham, south London UK 17th June 1953. The family then moved to Southend-on-Sea Essex in 1956 where I subsequently went to Fairfax High School and was educated to a 'general standard' before leaving at the age of fifteen without a leaving certificate. I then joined a small print company as