Police Recover 26 Pages of ‘Invisible Words’ Written by Blind Woman Who Ran Out of Ink
- Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:00pm by
Liz Klimas
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Trish Vickers nearly lost 26 pages of her novel when she didn't realize her pen had run out of ink. (Photo via Gizmodo)
It‘s devastating for writers when their computer crashes before they’ve remembered to save their work. Using a more traditional medium such as pen and ink can often be a safer bet. But Trish Vickers, a blind 59-year-old British novelist, lost 26 pages of work after her pen ran out of ink and she didn’t notice.
Luckily, law enforcement was able to pitch in their expertise and recover the lost text.
The Daily Telegraph reports Vickers began writing after she lost her eyesight seven years ago to keep her mind active. She uses rubber bands to keep the lines of writing separate. It was her son who informed her she appeared to have run out of ink on about two dozen pages. Taking the pages to their local police department, forensic analysts in their free time helped decipher the words from the blank but still indented pages.
It wasn’t easy work though. According to the Telegraph, getting all the invisible words using lights took specialists five months. Luckily, the story was compelling and the analysts said they looked forward to seeing the finished product.
The Telegraph has more from Vickers on the recovery of her story and her process of writing it:
“We battled with various ideas until we thought of the police. We rang them and asked to speak to their fingerprint section.
“They said if there was anything they could do they’d be happy to help. I was gobsmacked.
“I am so happy, pleased and grateful. It was really, really nice of them and I want to thank them for helping me out.
“Being blind is very restrictive in so far as going anywhere.
“I have always been interested in writing, I have got one of those strange imaginations that runs riot.
“Everybody who has read it so far seems to like it and the police also said they enjoyed the bit they read and can’t wait for the rest.
The story is about a woman who loses everything most important to her — her job and loved ones — and the process of her rebuilding her life.
[H/T Gizmodo]
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canthaveitall
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 3:53pmall one has to do is read the nasty and snarky comments about someone helping someone else and we can realize why the world is the way it is these days. i hope you all with your snarky comments have something nice to say if and when you are ever offered help in your time of need.
Report Post »cranberry
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 2:58pmI think she needs to switch it up – to this century! they have computers that talk when you type, then she wouldn’t miss a thing! sheesh.
Report Post »RRFlyer
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 10:04amThis story leaves me completely gobsmacked!!!!!
Report Post »Ialmostforgot
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 8:16amI’m going to invent a pen that sounds an alarm when it runs out of ink!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 9:08amGood luck, but I’m not sure how large the blind novelist market is.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 1:47pmThere are quit a few blind novelists actually. But most of them just use a computer like everyone else.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 2:50pmThere must be blind readers, so maybe one of those machines that records would work, at least it would not run out of ink. There would be more of a market if people who could not see, would have a chance to hear. The police should have sprung for something besides reading impressions and got her one of those recording divices where she could just talk away. Then someone could have typed it all up for her if she wanted it on paper. (I am getting ridiculous, I must stop again.)
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 8:08amThe good people who used their time to help a blind person fall into the catagory of doing right, for right’s sake. The snotty remarks here are beneath people who are supposed to have standards. The snarky stuff lessens you guys, not the ones who were compassionate.. Kudos to the policemen or techs whoever they are. Good in the world is infrequent these days.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 2:42pmThank God for those who know how to reform us rotten folk.
Report Post »canthaveitall
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 3:48pmi thoroughly agreee with you on this. amazing people’s snobbish reactions to those who offer help to the less fortunate. thanks to all those who helped this woman. i hope her book gets published and becomes a best seller !
Report Post »piper60
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 7:26amIf the woman’s novel turns out to be pretty good, then perhaps Mercury Ink could publish it over here. Be quite the PR coup.
Report Post »CRiley65
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 6:16amI think it was refreshing to hear such a nice story, instead of people dying or politicians going bad. I, for one, liked that the police used their off-hours to help this woman. I’m glad it was reported. I liked what the police did.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 2:44pmMe too, but she is white and they should not help the white ones, Al Sharpton will go over there and raise h—, well you know. I am trying to quit talking ugly, so help me here, please.
Report Post »BlueSteel
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 2:17amJust throw the whole thing into Obama’s health care bill; no one’ll notice. It’s uncanny.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 2:40pmNow there is a thought. Would probably work. No one reads the bills. I do believe they are all dim wits up there and Obbie is just the sorta president of ‘em.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 12:46amWell that is strange news. I am sorry she ran out of ink, but this is about the dumbest thing I ever heard of anyone reporting–well maybe. I bet (just to legitimize this crazy mess) she is cussing if she cusses. Well I have to say, it would be tempting to cuss. Furthermore, what she is writing sounds so everyday that I am trying to figure why this was reported in the first place. The reported story should now be:. Some Desperate News Reporter Reports Dumb Azz Story. Then go on to say: For lack of anything better, dumb azz reporter reports that (get ready for the big news)– ” Blind Woman Runs Out of Ink.”
Report Post »Probably happens everyday to blind people. It may happend to drunk people or people who just want to write without ink. Parents may give very small kids a pen with nothing inside so they could “write” to spare the floor, rugs and walls. Very young children sometimes want to write like one or the other of their parents.) This is no story. This is not even interesting. It is a bit on the ditzy side. May God help me I am just trying to cheer myself up from reading this no news story. Ok, I quit.
younonothing
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 11:20pmlook at those dumb dogs>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Report Post »younonothing
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 11:19pmteabunny your a moron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:59pmThis was a very nice thing for the police to do. I am close to loosing all of my eyesight & it amazes me how kind some people can be. It also amazes me how some people can be complete jack_s_es.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 11:27pmWhy did they just use light and why did it take 5 months? I’ve seen them do the same kind of thing with just some finely ground graphite on a vibrating plate. the graphite fills the indentation on the paper and viola! the words appear. Sounds like they were just trying to make a good PR campaign to me.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 12:56amI am very sorry, truly, about your sight and you may have benefitted from this story. You will know to watch your ink, but you may can use a computer to do your work. Remember to save.
Report Post »You probably already knew all of this. So that was still a strange story to report. I am glad if they helped her and all, very glad. But it still is no story. I am quitting again.
dontbotherme
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 10:46pmBlackyb- Thank you… I have a special computer & other equipment thanks to the Lighthouse For the Blind & a wonderful family. Life is good!
Report Post »spirited
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:39pmThink union police would give the thought, time and money to do that here?
>Any non-union Mayberrys left?
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:46pmya find one let me know! I’ve heard of town with volunteer fire fighters, but not cops! and they would send everything to a government funded crime lab. sorry! best bet would be a school that teaches crime tech.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:28pmNice story. Cool cops. Interesting.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:27pmWhat an incredible waste of resources.
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:37pmthe same could be said of you Tim…but Christians bear up with the weaker among us…oh crap…more of that Christian stuff! (pulling your chain! )
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:44pmwhat? only one comment?
what happened to all your other personalities that usually take the time to respond at least 3 or 4 times
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:47pmTeabunny,
Report Post »And I suppose you call yourself a good Christian even though you call evil good, and good evil? More often “Inaction” is actually more “Action” than action itself. I‘m glad I don’t have to suffer your kind much longer.
Teabunny
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:51pmDitto Kiddo!
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:51pmoh and psycho…(shortened for space and content!) at least all my colors fly under one flag!
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:53pmAgain I ask: if giving things is such a great thing, then show me where it is that Jesus gave things to people, because surely the Lord would have lead by example for giving, as he also lead by an example of self sacrifice? Surely he would lead by example in the lesser degree if also by the greater? You just don’t really know that much Teabunny, but it doesn‘t surprise me because you’re just another American who has been made to think they are greater than they really are.
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:55pmoh and timmy…thats Easter bunny to you!
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:56pmoh, you mean like the feeding of the 5 thousand, and the healings, and life from death, and forgiveness of sins, and his very body aren’t enough for you! man, i thought I was tough to please!!!
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 11:00pmoh, and timmy…greater is he that is in me than he who is in the world!
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 11:07pmTeabunny,
Report Post »Yep, that must be what a Father does is that he shows his face….oh yeah yep. You’re such a Pagan.
Yep he fed 5000 with actual bread, but no no it wasn’t spiritual meat, no it was dough, yep that must be it.
Teabunny
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 11:07pmwell psycho should be pleased! there is his 3 or 4 responses..(though most of them start with oh. Which basically translates to OH OH OH OH OH…sorry clay pigeons still on the brain! LOL)
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 11:07pm@Itsjusttim
Report Post »How are you doing 85?
Teabunny
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 11:09pmmed time timmy!
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 11:10pmG’night…sleep tight….don’t let the BED BUGS bite!
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:26pmHow do blind people know when they are done wiping?
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:43pmDARM…..that’s just gross. :-)
Hey……thanks for the Ed McCaffrey recommendations. I’ll have to check them out. Ed spoke at an work event we had one year when he was still a Bronco. He’s a good man…….and from my home state so I have a fondness for him.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:45pmthey sniff a finger
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 11:00pmAnd, um, I can’t believe I actually commented Ed McCaff on this particular response from you. Tee hee! :-) Thinking about mustard or BBQ sauce after your comment was not a good idea………
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 11:12pmYou know how blind peole read braille and touch peoples face to “See” them, could they read someones face who has pimples. I bet it starts with, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….pop”.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 1:01amThey call you to verify if it be right.
Report Post »WeekendAtBernankes
Posted on April 14, 2012 at 12:14amForensic analysis
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:20pmGood story.
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:19pm(okay…so you will not post unless its on topic huh?)
Report Post »well, Glenn was mentioning digital money in the netherlands today, chipknip…makes you wonder how blind people would use it! : P
spirited
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:33pmtouch screen with raised dots;
8> braille.
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:38pmLololololol!!!!!!
Report Post »disenlightened
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:16pmummmm . . . so . . . ummmmmmmm . . . will she use pencils now?
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:19pmLOLOLOL (entrepreneur alert! a pen that beeps when it runs out of ink!)
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:29pmPressure loaded (like an air pistol) with very tiny co2 tanks and a ink cartridge load. upon release of the last bit of ink, a hiss of pressure will alert the user. also, it would stop skipping caused by disposables that are carried inverted. hmmmm…
Report Post »spirited
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:36pmA little bump protrudes on the body of the writing instrument when the ink runs dry ?
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:41pmthat would work! gee, has anyone every used the crappy line on you “we could make beautiful music together”????
Report Post »Teabunny
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:14pmokay so since this is a waste of space story…listening to the radio show re broadcast…Glenn was looking for the digital money in the Netherlands…Chipknip (not that he ever revisits any loose ends he leaves hanging…but hey…he’s a man. what do you expect!) (well, i’m a woman…and its Chipknip!)
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 2:54pmTeababy, is you discriminatin’? That thin’ about the males? Lol
Report Post »Mr.Fitnah
Posted on April 12, 2012 at 10:12pmThey will never recover Obama unknown Ideas.
Report Post »blackyb
Posted on April 13, 2012 at 12:51amWell, maybe not. Someone may write a story about what they were not, though. Find the reporter who wrote about the woman runnin out of ink. He surely would have a go at it.
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