It was partly for the sake of the joists of her house that Jan donated her archive to Seven Stories, the Newcastle-based National Centre for Children’s Books. This was in 2005, so less than a year before she died. The following describes the collection, and gives wonderful insight into Jan’s three-draft writing process as well as the planning stages of her work.

Thunder and Lightnings

• File of MS notes
• Annotated draft TS – early
• Later annotated draft TS
• Copy-edited TS, annotated with instructions for printer. Also includes inserts of illustrations (b/w photocopies), and annotated proofs of title pages, which suggest that an original title for the novel was ‘Summer Lightnings’
• Extract from a Common Entrance Exam to public schools (English paper), dated 21^st Feb 1977. It features a passage from Thunder and Lightnings, with questions regarding the passage following.

• Under the Autumn Garden
  • 1^st draft TS, annotated
  • MS notes, including drawings of maps
  • 2^nd draft TS, annotated, closer to published version
  • 3^rd draft TS, annotated sporadically
  • Annotated copy-edit
  • 2 drafts of radio adaptation

• The Ennead
  • 3 spiral bound notebooks containing MS notes and draft passages, as well as doodles. The majority of passages have been crossed out – perhaps JM crossed these out as she used them
  • Draft annotated TS, ending different to that of published novel. Folder states this is 2^nd draft.
  • A4 lined notepad with MS draft passages and illustrations
  • Collection of loose MS notes from different notepads
  • Draft TS (3^rd according to folder) with occasional annotations and a compliments slip from ‘Jackie’ at Kestrel Books which reads “Returned for your archives!”, and is dated 23/6/78.
  • Page of typed ‘stream of consciousness’ style writing
  • TS list of editorial suggestions, annotated with Mark’s responses
  • Copy of above, very slight annotations
  • MS notes relating to the background of The Ennead
  • Page of photocopied MS editorial notes, annotated with doodles and sums by Mark

Angel Katy (based on TV series ‘Angels’, published under pseudonym Leah Harrow) (NB this is probably an adult book)

• Draft annotated typescript
• Earlier draft annotated TS and MS combined
• Notes from BBC about the characters in the ‘Angels’ series. Details on Katy and Hughie have been separated out and annotated by Mark.
• 4 headshots of characters from the ‘Angels’ series
• MS notes on the story
• Annotated TS notes on story – research
• Example of a multiple choice exam for nurses
• Ward allocation schedule of characters in the TV show
• MS notes and draft passages

Nothing to be Afraid Of

• Copy-edited TS with annotations for the printer
• 4 drafts of title story (1 MS, 3 TS, final one not annotated)
• 4 drafts of ‘Send’ (1 MS, 3 TS, all annotated)
• 3 drafts of ‘The Choice is Yours’ (1 MS, 2 TS). First draft is titled ‘Go Hockeysong’. All annotated.
• 3 TS drafts of ‘The Coronation Mob’, all annotated
• 3 drafts of ‘How Anthony Made a Friend’ (1 MS, 2 TS), all annotated
• 3 drafts of ‘Divine Melodious Truth’ (1 MS, 2 TS), MS titled ‘Arthur’s Miracle’, all annotated
• 3 drafts of ‘Nule’ (1 MS, 2 TS), all annotated
• 4 drafts of ‘Marrow Hill’ (1 MS, 3 TS), all annotated (last one only one annotation)
• 3 drafts of ‘Charming!’ (1 MS, 2 TS), all annotated

Hairs in the Palm of the Hand

• 4 drafts of ‘Time and the Hour’ (1 MS, 3 TS), all annotated
• MS draft passages from ‘Chutzpah’, with some notes
• 3 TS drafts of ‘Chutzpah’, all annotated
• 4 pages of MS notes for ‘Time and the Hour’
• Copy-edit of Hairs in the Palm of the Hand annotated with instructions for the printer
• 2 annotated drafts of a radio dramatisation of ‘Time and the Hour’

The Short Voyage of The Albert Ross

• 3 draft TS of original short story, annotated
• 1 MS draft of most of the short novel
• 2 draft TS of short novel, annotated (2^nd one only v. slightly)

The Dead Letter Box

• 3 drafts of story (1 MS, 2 TS), annotated
• Letter to ‘Julia’ (MacRae?) about editorial changes, 10/12/81
• 3 A3 sheets photocopied from a school textbook(?) about stages of writing, using examples from the 1^st and 2^nd draft, and the published version of The Dead Letter Box.

Aquarius

• 1^st and 2^nd draft TS, annotated, one separated by chapter and containing additional MS passages
• 3 small spiral-bound notebooks, containing notes on the story
• Draft TS with MS insertions and annotations, with notes on water divination and MS draft of opening pages
• Copy-edited TS with instructions for printer

Handles

• Spiral-bound A5 notebook containing notes on the story, a description of the life of a ‘Bladdersaurus’, and short reviews of stories written by Mark’s own pupils(?)
• Draft TS with MS insertions, annotated
• TS with sporadic annotations
• MS notes and draft passage of pp. 112-121 (of Puffin Books 1985 edition), annotated TS of the same section, and an unannotated TS (later)

At The Sign of the Dog and Rocket

• Draft MS from glued A4 notebook (NB order slightly out – first few pages are at back of second notebook)
• Draft TS (2^nd?), separated by chapter, annotated
• Draft MS of radio dramatisation
• TS of radio dramatisation
• Correspondence between JM and Peter Fozzard at BBC radio

Feet (Collection of short stories)

• 3 TS and 1 MS of ‘Feet’
• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘Posts and Telecommunications’
• 1 TS of ‘Poor Darling’
• 2 TS of ‘I Was Adored Once Too’
• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘Mrs Tulkinghorne’s First Symphony’
• 3 TS of ‘Still Life: Remote Control’
• 1 TS and 1 MS, plus MS notes, of ‘A Little Misunderstanding’
• 1 TS and 1 MS of radio dramatisation of ‘Feet’
• NB ‘Enough is Too Much Already’ is not included (though see below…)

Enough is Too Much Already (Collection of short stories, about the same characters)

• 1 MS and 2 TS, annotated, of ‘Like Immortality Almost’
• 1 MS and 2 TS, annotated, of ‘Enough Is Too Much Already’
• 2 TS, annotated, of ‘Drug-Crazed Thieves Wrecked My Lounge – Exclusive’
• 2 TS and 1 MS of ‘Light-Sensitive’
• 2 TS and 1 MS of ‘And Now, These Hot Days, Is The Mad Blood Stirring’
• 1 TS of ‘A Different Ball Game’
• NB a story is missing?

Man in Motion

• 1 MS, 1^st draft
• 1 TS draft with 2 colour proofs of front cover (showing different images)
• TS draft with b/w proof illustrations, photocopied page on cycle computers, and MS notes on cycle computers and American football

Dream House

• Combined MS and TS (1^st and 2^nd drafts?), annotated
• Annotated TS, later/3^rd draft

Finders Losers

• 1 MS, separated by chapter, annotated, 1^st draft
• 1 TS with MS insert, separated by chapter, annotated, 2^nd draft, some duplication
• 1 TS, occasional annotations, separated by chapter, 3^rd draft

The Hillingdon Fox

• 1 draft MS, more note-like towards end
• 1 draft TS, annotated
• 1 TS, occasional annotations

A Can of Worms (collection of short stories)

• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘The Travelling Settee’, annotated
• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘Too Old to Rock and Roll’, annotated
• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘A Can of Worms’, annotated
• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘Front’, annotated
• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘Resurgam’, annotated
• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘Crocodile Time’, annotated
• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘Party Wall’, annotated

They Do Things Differently There

• Annotated TS, 1^st draft
• Annotated TS, 2^nd draft. Separated by chapter
• Slightly annotated TS, 3^rd draft
• Suggested re-writes, TS
• MS of draft passages
• Collection of short passages about different characters/stories. Includes a letter from ‘Heather’ to ‘Tilly’ (Caroline Thomas) about copy-editing the book

Harriet’s Turn

• 1^st draft, MS
• 2^nd draft, TS annotated
• 3^rd draft, TS

In Black and White (collection of ghost stories)

• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘In Black and White’
• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘Who’s a Pretty Boy Then?’
• 2 TS of ‘Efflorescence’
• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘They Wait’
• 1 MS, 2 TS, and 1 TS re-write of ‘Welcome, Yule’
• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘Grow Your Own’
• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘Birthday Girl’
• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘Old Money’
• NB ‘Nule’ is included in ‘Nothing to Be Afraid Of’

God’s Story

• 1^st draft, MS
• 2^nd draft, annotated TS
• 3^rd draft, sparsely annotated
• Some correspondence and research material

The Tale of Tobias (picture book)

• 1^st draft, MS
• 2^nd draft, TS, annotated
• 3^rd draft, TS
• Samples of artwork (scanned?) and a page proof

A Fine Summer Knight

• 1^st draft, annotated TS
• 2^nd draft, annotated TS
• 3^rd draft, sparsely annotated

The Sighting

• 1^st draft MS and research notes
• 2^nd draft TS, annotated
• 3^rd draft TS

The Eclipse of the Century

A4 MS notes and 4 A5 spiral bound notebooks

1^st draft, MS

2^nd draft, Combined TS and MS

3^rd draft, TS

Mr Dickens Hits Town

• 1^st draft, MS
• 4 draft TSS
• Correspondence with Kathy Lowinger of Lester Publishing, Toronto

Heathrow Nights

• 1^st draft, MS
• 2^nd draft, TS annotated
• 3^rd draft TS

The Lady With Iron Bones

• 1^st draft, MS
• 2^nd draft, annotated TS

Long Lost

• 1st draft MS
• Letter from Sarah Davies at Macmillan with editorial suggestions
• 2^nd draft TS, annotated
• 3^rd draft TS, annotated
• 4^th draft TS with MS rewrites
• 5^th “final” draft TS

Something In the Air

• 3^rd draft TS
• 1^st draft MS
• 2^nd draft TS

Eyes Wide Open (short stories)

• 1 TS of ‘Teeth’, annotated
• 2 TS of ‘Dan, Dan, the Scenery Man’, annotated
• 1 MS, 2 TS and MS notes of ‘Mystery Tour’
• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘Eye Opener’
• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘Left Foot Forward’
• 1 MS and 2 TS of ‘Uncle Matthew’

Aeroplanes (non-fiction early readers)

• MS notes
• MS draft
• TS draft
• 2^nd TS draft
• 3^rd TS draft
• Edited TS (including briefs for artwork) with correspondence
• Printouts from internet of pictures of Icarus
• Photocopied material about planes
• Layout in A3
• Layout with artwork roughs
• Layout with sketched artwork
• Colour proofs with research from internet, some correspondence and a b/w proof

Stratford Boys

• A5 spiral-bound notebook
• MS draft
• TS draft
• MS draft and notes
• TS draft
• TS rewrite

Useful Idiots

• 1^st draft MS
• 2^nd draft TS with MS inserts
• 3^rd draft with letter from editor

The Electric Telepath

• Draft MS
• Draft TS with MS inserts
• A5 spiral-bound notebook
• TS with editorial insertions

Material on this page is copyright Estate of Jan Mark; images courtesy of Seven Stories The National Centre for Children’s Books.