This is really exciting news for me. i've just signed a contract for Crank Tech One: Destruction...to be made into an AUDIO BOOK! All my books are in paperback and digital format, but this is a new dimention. Crank Tech One will be recorded as a 'Talking Book.'

In Ear Entertainment is an audio company who produce Sci-Fi novels, but my robot book is the biggest project they've tackled so far. I had a meeting in March 2014 with Mark Chatterly and his assistant Thierry Heles of In Ear, and they loved the idea of my mad robot. Now the contract is signed, then the work will begin. They've already got someone lined up to narrate the adventure, and of course there's the recording studio and editing - very exciting. The audio book when it's completed, will be available on ACX/Amazon - Audible/Amazon/iTunes.

I'll keep you informed on the progress.

A writing exclusive.

I'm starting a new novel called: Wizards Exile - The Search for Obsidian book 1. it's a fantasy/steampunk adventure. This is the most excited I've felt in a long time. Starting a novel is always special, but for some reason i'm really excited to write this new wizards adventure. I've got the plot, characters and places, but not the end. 

I never know the end until I get there.

I received the first book cover proof of House of Darke, from my new publisher Pegasus Elliot Mackensie.

They've done a great job on it too. When I get the finished article, i'll put it on this blog, so that you can see it. It's totally different to my other covers, and is a bit of a milestone.

Derek Jones has done all my book cover artwork since the beginning. This will be the first time that his work won't be on my new novel. Whiteley Publishing will also use their own artwork for Killian Spooks and the Ghosted Children.

Death Trap, the book i'm just finishing off, will have Andrew Thompsons artwork inside and on the cover too. Things have to change sometimes, but you never know, I may still use Derek's work on further projects.

I received some really great news, Sparkling Books want to represent my work abroad. They are a publisher/agent and create many deals overseas. They are very interested in my Wizards' Kingdom trilogy.

Sparkling Books asked me if they could try to sell the Foreign Translation Rights for my books. They deal with China, Korea, Germany, France, Holland, Italy, Turkey and many other European and Asian countries. They often frequent the London Book Fair. Also the Frankfurt Book Fair is where most of the foreign rights are bought.

For years I've been trying to get an agent and this is actually happening. They emailed me and said that if I agreed that they would send me a contract.

***Exciting News***

I signed a contract today (May 28th 2014) with Sparkling Books. So, as my agent for the Wizards' Kingdom trilogy, they will hopefully sell the Foreign Translation Rights, so my work may eventually be available in different langauges.

Never saw that coming at the beginning of the year.

Tumbling along...

At the point of writing this, I'm waiting for things to happen! In Ear Entertainment (an audio book publisher) are looking into my sci_fi novel, Crank Tech One: Destruction as a possible 'Talking Book.' This will be an amazing progression for me if it pans out, because I've never had any of my books turned into this format before.

I've also sent off all the relevant information to Pegasus Publishing, for my seventh novel. They needed my slant on what the blurb would be, and what type of book cover pic was I looking for, so their design team can work on it. So, hopefully the first stages of House of Darke are in motion.

I've heard nothing for a while from Whiteley Publishing in regards to; Killian Spooks and the Ghosted Children. They did get back to me around a month or so ago, but that's about it from them. So I sit and wait. 

I'm waiting on another project too. I can't say much, at the moment, but as soon as I know anything, I'll let you all know. It is exciting though.

Death Trap is the book I'm writing at the moment, with Andy Thompson doing the artwork for the book cover design and illustrations. I've finished the story, now is the hard bit - going back over the story again and again.

Well that's about it for now. Keep dropping in and I'll keep you up to date.

Well it's here!

One year as a full-time author. This is how the fairytale started.

 I had a phone conversation with Trevor Wilson of the company Authors Abroad, and asked if I could join his team of authors? I'd asked a couple of years earlier and he couldn't oblige then. Trevor handed me over to Shelley Lee and we spoke for an hour on Friday March 1st 2013. The rest is history. I gave up my job on Friday April 12th 2013, which believe me was totally scary. I then got myself registered with an accountant.

It was really strange at first. I've been working in various places over the years, and all involved some kind of clocking-in method and shift work. I've always worked a regular routine. Clock in at the start of the day and clock out at the end of the day. I've had jobs in warehouses, factories, deliveries, installation, labouring - you name it - I've done it. But to work with schools on a regular basis was amazing. I've done lots of schools in the past, but I had to take my own holidays to do them. Now, I get paid to do them...wow! I run an Able Writers workshop, which involves a presentation and building a story with the pupils. At the end of the day when requested I set up a book-signing. I finish off with a quiz I have devised and the kids love it.

I travel all over the country and stay in numerous hotels. The driving is tedious, but I'm lucky to have my wife at my side. It was hard at first, doing this new job, but I've always wanted to be a full-time author. Now I write and, run school workshops; around fifty or so a year.

A big thank you to Authors Abroad and Shelley in particular, she's been great. I'm glad I did what I did. No one knows what's ahead in life, and that's a good thing. But, if I hadn't taken this opportunity, then I'm sure I would have regretted it for the rest of my life.