Friday, May 4th 2012
Hello there …
I saw sexy Linda last week. For readers not familiar with this column, she is a Barnsley NHS specialist on how to lose weight for life and stay healthy. She weighed me, and I was greatly disappointed by only losing 1 lb in 8 weeks. One miserable pound! Linda took on a more optimistic attitude and said that the rate of my loss could not go on forever, and that as I came within reach of my target weight, it was bound to be more difficult. We looked at my physical activity regime and diet in detail, and concluded that I was eating all the right foods in the appropriate proportions, but I was eating too much of them. I need to reduce the size of the portions. Now that made me think. Up to now the course had not been too demanding, but I thought cutting down the portions definitely would be. Accordingly sexy Linda said I should carry on, try to reduce the portions, but be consoled with the fact that I was still on a very healthy downward trend. I am due to be weighed in two months time. I’ll let you know how that goes.
I have some good news. Following the success of the sales of THE SNUFFBOX MURDERS published last November on Kindle, and other electronic readers, five more titles - all Angel books - are to be published electronically, in October next.
They are
THE MAN WHO COULDN’T LOSE
THE CURIOUS MIND OF INSPECTOR ANGEL
FIND THE LADY THE WIG MAKER
and MURDER IN BARE FEET
That is good news for all those readers who have contacted me wanting to read my stuff in eBook form.
Of course, although some titles in printed hardback are sold out and are in the process of being reprinted, most of my books are still available. If you have any difficulty in getting a particular title in hardback, send me an email and I’ll try to help. Of course, my latest Angel book, THE DIAMOND ROSARY MURDERS is on track to be published in hardback in December 2012 or January 2013.
Come back soon if you can put up with the meanderings of an old writer.
Enjoy your reading.
Monday, April 16th 2012
Welcome back…
The good news is that my new book has been accepted for publication by Hales. I’ve changed the title to THE DIAMOND ROSARY MURDERS. It seemed to be more appropriate. It will be published later this year.
Since I last wrote you, THE CHESHIRE CAT MURDERS has been published and is now being delivered to shops and libraries everywhere. It’s another Angel book, of course, and probably the best I’ve ever written. It really tests Angel’s skills as a detective.
As there are now 18 different books in the Inspector Angel series, some readers wonder if the books should be read in a particular order. I am pleased to say that the books are a series rather than a serial. Each book is a separate story. It has a beginning, a middle and an end, and the titles can be read in any order.
Well, it’s more than a year since Liz Taylor died. Doesn’t time fly? And Easter whizzed by. It was here and gone before I had chance to put the clocks back an hour. Incidentally, I think it’s time we stopped this clock changing business. I’m not sure who it is supposed to benefit. It’s probably the clock and watchmaking industry who have to repair all the clocks and watches we mess up making the changes twice a year.
I’m itching to get started on another book, but the queen says I have to catch up with all the jobs I pushed to one side while I was writing the last one. She does have a point. Because when I do start I don’t want to leave it. I have a few ideas bubbling around in my head.
I have to sort out the difficult business of offering titles in eBook form, so that they can be read by Kindles and other electronic means. The only title I have out in that form is THE SNUFFBOX MURDERS. Of course, my new titles will firstly be offered printed in hardback, but there are many readers wanting to read my stuff in eBook form. So I have to work that out.
Hope to see you somewhere soon.
Enjoy your reading.
Welcome back…
The good news is that my new book has been accepted for publication by Hales. I’ve changed the title to THE DIAMOND ROSARY MURDERS. It seemed to be more appropriate. It will be published later this year.
Since I last wrote you, THE CHESHIRE CAT MURDERS has been published and is now being delivered to shops and libraries everywhere. It’s another Angel book, of course, and probably the best I’ve ever written. It really tests Angel’s skills as a detective.
As there are now 18 different books in the Inspector Angel series, some readers wonder if the books should be read in a particular order. I am pleased to say that the books are a series rather than a serial. Each book is a separate story. It has a beginning, a middle and an end, and the titles can be read in any order.
Well, it’s more than a year since Liz Taylor died. Doesn’t time fly? And Easter whizzed by. It was here and gone before I had chance to put the clocks back an hour. Incidentally, I think it’s time we stopped this clock changing business. I’m not sure who it is supposed to benefit. It’s probably the clock and watchmaking industry who have to repair all the clocks and watches we mess up making the changes twice a year.
I’m itching to get started on another book, but the queen says I have to catch up with all the jobs I pushed to one side while I was writing the last one. She does have a point. Because when I do start I don’t want to leave it. I have a few ideas bubbling around in my head.
I have to sort out the difficult business of offering titles in eBook form, so that they can be read by Kindles and other electronic means. The only title I have out in that form is THE SNUFFBOX MURDERS. Of course, my new titles will firstly be offered printed in hardback, but there are many readers wanting to read my stuff in eBook form. So I have to work that out.
Hope to see you somewhere soon.
Enjoy your reading.
Wednesday, March 22nd 2012
There you are…
I went to the luncheon of the Crime Writers’ Association the other day and had a great time.
Saw a few old friends including Peter N Walker, publicly known as Nicholas Rhea, who wrote the ‘Heartbeat’ books. I’ve known him more than thirty years. He never changes. Lovely man. Also I met a new member, a young woman who lives only eight miles from me in Thurnscoe. She is writing her heart out. Her name is Ricki Thomas. Watch out for her. I think she’s going places.
The meal was good and the conversation rich and congenial, but nobody seemed to have an opinion about the introduction of eBooks into the business. Everybody it seems is simply prepared ‘to wait and see’ how it affects them.
Sadly, there were a lot of tributes to our good friend Reginald Hill who created the brilliant Pascoe and Dalziel series of novels. He died last month at 75 after a battle with cancer.
I hear from the eBook publishers of THE SNUFFBOX MURDERS that it is going well. I must think about putting some of my other titles out there in Kindle land.
Hales, my publishers have published an article I wrote for WRITING NEWS, titled ‘How to plot a thriller.’ If you’d like to have a go at writing one and/or you want to read it, email me at angeldetective@uwclub.net and I'll send you a copy.
I must say I am getting all excited in anticipation of the publication of THE CHESHIRE CAT MURDERS, which is being published in hardback a week on Friday, March 30th. It’s another Angel book, and probably the best I have ever written. It really tests Angel’s skills as a detective.
I’m itching to get started on another book, but my wife says I have to catch up with all the jobs I pushed to one side while I was writing the last one. She does have a point. Because when I do start I can hardly leave it alone. Come to think of it, I haven’t heard what the publisher’s think to 'The Mannequin Murder.' I’ll let you know the verdict here, whatever it is.
Hope to see you somewhere soon.
Enjoy your reading.
There you are…
I went to the luncheon of the Crime Writers’ Association the other day and had a great time.
Saw a few old friends including Peter N Walker, publicly known as Nicholas Rhea, who wrote the ‘Heartbeat’ books. I’ve known him more than thirty years. He never changes. Lovely man. Also I met a new member, a young woman who lives only eight miles from me in Thurnscoe. She is writing her heart out. Her name is Ricki Thomas. Watch out for her. I think she’s going places.
The meal was good and the conversation rich and congenial, but nobody seemed to have an opinion about the introduction of eBooks into the business. Everybody it seems is simply prepared ‘to wait and see’ how it affects them.
Sadly, there were a lot of tributes to our good friend Reginald Hill who created the brilliant Pascoe and Dalziel series of novels. He died last month at 75 after a battle with cancer.
I hear from the eBook publishers of THE SNUFFBOX MURDERS that it is going well. I must think about putting some of my other titles out there in Kindle land.
Hales, my publishers have published an article I wrote for WRITING NEWS, titled ‘How to plot a thriller.’ If you’d like to have a go at writing one and/or you want to read it, email me at angeldetective@uwclub.net and I'll send you a copy.
I must say I am getting all excited in anticipation of the publication of THE CHESHIRE CAT MURDERS, which is being published in hardback a week on Friday, March 30th. It’s another Angel book, and probably the best I have ever written. It really tests Angel’s skills as a detective.
I’m itching to get started on another book, but my wife says I have to catch up with all the jobs I pushed to one side while I was writing the last one. She does have a point. Because when I do start I can hardly leave it alone. Come to think of it, I haven’t heard what the publisher’s think to 'The Mannequin Murder.' I’ll let you know the verdict here, whatever it is.
Hope to see you somewhere soon.
Enjoy your reading.
Friday, March 9th 2012
Hello there...
I have just finished my latest Angel book. I hope you will like it. Of course it might be a few months before it appears in print. I haven’t submitted it yet, I have to print it off, number the pages and so on. I should be able to despatch it in a day or two.
This book has taken me longer to write than any other, I hope you will think it was worth it. The provisional title is THE MANNEQUIN MURDER, but I’m not quite sure about it, that so I might change it.
I am going to the annual dinner on Sunday next of the Crime Writers’ Association. I might pick up an idea or two there. It’s a great pleasure to meet old friends, some great writers, interesting policemen, detectives and occasionally a forthcoming pathologist who always has something useful to tell me.
Just received fresh off the press my copy of THE CHESHIRE CAT MURDERS, which is to be published on March 30th. I must say there’s nothing quite like holding a new hardback book in your hands, opening it and smelling that unique blend of printer’s ink and paper. You know it’s a proper book. Not something ephemeral on a screen that might suddenly vanish. I am not against eBooks. I have a title on line now, at Amazon’s, Waterstones, W H Smith, Tescos, appropriate for Kindle and other eBook readers, called THE SNUFFBOX MURDERS, which I am told is doing well. And I am grateful for that. But I will always treasure the lovely books in my library. They’ve all a history, how I came by them, who bought them for me or where I bought them myself and so on.
It would be interesting to hear what you think about new books, hardbacks or eBooks. If you have a strong opinion one way or the other, let me know. I might include it in my next blog here. You can always contact me at angeldetective@uwclub.net.
Hope to see you somewhere soon.
Enjoy your reading,
Thanks for looking in.
Hello there...
I have just finished my latest Angel book. I hope you will like it. Of course it might be a few months before it appears in print. I haven’t submitted it yet, I have to print it off, number the pages and so on. I should be able to despatch it in a day or two.
This book has taken me longer to write than any other, I hope you will think it was worth it. The provisional title is THE MANNEQUIN MURDER, but I’m not quite sure about it, that so I might change it.
I am going to the annual dinner on Sunday next of the Crime Writers’ Association. I might pick up an idea or two there. It’s a great pleasure to meet old friends, some great writers, interesting policemen, detectives and occasionally a forthcoming pathologist who always has something useful to tell me.
Just received fresh off the press my copy of THE CHESHIRE CAT MURDERS, which is to be published on March 30th. I must say there’s nothing quite like holding a new hardback book in your hands, opening it and smelling that unique blend of printer’s ink and paper. You know it’s a proper book. Not something ephemeral on a screen that might suddenly vanish. I am not against eBooks. I have a title on line now, at Amazon’s, Waterstones, W H Smith, Tescos, appropriate for Kindle and other eBook readers, called THE SNUFFBOX MURDERS, which I am told is doing well. And I am grateful for that. But I will always treasure the lovely books in my library. They’ve all a history, how I came by them, who bought them for me or where I bought them myself and so on.
It would be interesting to hear what you think about new books, hardbacks or eBooks. If you have a strong opinion one way or the other, let me know. I might include it in my next blog here. You can always contact me at angeldetective@uwclub.net.
Hope to see you somewhere soon.
Enjoy your reading,
Thanks for looking in.
Thursday, January 19th 2012
There you are.
Just a quickie to let you know that I have really done well with my weight loss. I have lost 3 stones since July 2010. Although now, I am only losing ½ lb a week, sexy Linda points out that that is 2 stones a year, if I can keep it up. That’s right. But of course, my writing is suffering. Even if I write in the night and early hours, which I do sometimes, it is hard to get in everything I want to do. It's imopossible to get everything you want, isn't it? I'm really very lucky.
Last week, there was a piece in the local paper, The Barnsley Chronicle, about my weight loss, and a photograph of me in the gym on a press up machine. I look like a demented dwarf. But the narrative was complimentary, essentially saying how well my weight loss campaign was progressing.
Rony Robinson at BBC Radio Sheffield is interviewing me for a series ‘Turning Point’ which will be broadcast live on Tuesday next, January 24th at 10.35 am. It’s about the important events in my life. It will be mostly about writing and subsequently getting published. If you are at a loose end, have a listen.
I am still wrestling with my book, and pleased so far. I hope that you think it is Angel at his best. I am now about ¾ of the way through. I should finish it by April. That’s only seven months late. Shh! Don’t tell the publishers.
Well, I’d better get back to writing it.
Thank you for looking in.
There you are.
Just a quickie to let you know that I have really done well with my weight loss. I have lost 3 stones since July 2010. Although now, I am only losing ½ lb a week, sexy Linda points out that that is 2 stones a year, if I can keep it up. That’s right. But of course, my writing is suffering. Even if I write in the night and early hours, which I do sometimes, it is hard to get in everything I want to do. It's imopossible to get everything you want, isn't it? I'm really very lucky.
Last week, there was a piece in the local paper, The Barnsley Chronicle, about my weight loss, and a photograph of me in the gym on a press up machine. I look like a demented dwarf. But the narrative was complimentary, essentially saying how well my weight loss campaign was progressing.
Rony Robinson at BBC Radio Sheffield is interviewing me for a series ‘Turning Point’ which will be broadcast live on Tuesday next, January 24th at 10.35 am. It’s about the important events in my life. It will be mostly about writing and subsequently getting published. If you are at a loose end, have a listen.
I am still wrestling with my book, and pleased so far. I hope that you think it is Angel at his best. I am now about ¾ of the way through. I should finish it by April. That’s only seven months late. Shh! Don’t tell the publishers.
Well, I’d better get back to writing it.
Thank you for looking in.
Boxing Day, December 26th 2011
Had a great Christmas Day. Went to church at 9 o’clock to the service from the King James prayer book of 1662, which we prefer. The church looked beautiful and it was nice to be with so many friends.
BBC 1 broadcast a great service later in the morning live from Lichfield Cathedral, which we also enjoyed.
We had our Christmas dinner at five o’clock, just the two of us, and I am pleased to say that the turkey and everything was delicious. I would like to compromise the cook! Woo hoo! But she wasn’t in the mood. I’ll secretly slop some more Sherry in that trifle. See if that will do the trick.
Well, now the big day is over, who do you think is doing the washing up?
I’ve piled the pots and pans up very neatly at the far end of the worktop and found some odd plates and clobber at the back of the cupboard to get us by until Elaine comes later today. She’s marvellous. She’ll do the honours. And she’ll put it all away as well.
Among my lovely pressies, I got a heating pad from one of my nephews, Dylan and his lovely lady, Sarah, which is for wrapping around any part of the body that needs heat. As I write, I have my feet on it and I see that they are changing from purple to pink, which is absolutely great. ‘Purple to pink.’ Mmmm. Sounds like a great title for a book, doesn’t it. Pity I can’t make it fit the present Angel book I’m supposed to be writing. Do you know, I haven’t written a word of it for more than a fortnight. What with launching THE SNUFFBOX MURDERS as an eBook on Kindle, opening a Twitter account (as they say), coping with Christmas and going to the gym, I have simply not had the time. I must get down to it, or I shall be getting shrieks of complaint. I used to write three Angels a year and the odd play for the States, now it takes all my time writing the one book in twelve months.
I have worked up my attendances at the gym to five times a week, and I don’t mess around. I exercise hard for an hour at each session. I should soon be as lean as Prince Philip, who, although he is still in hospital as I write, I hear exercises on a regular basis, which must be some achievement for a 90 year old.
By the way, as you know, the NHS is being reorganised. And absolutely everything at Barnsley General Hospital is being turned upside down and back to front. I hope it will not result in negative improvements, because, up to now, the queen and I have always been looked after by the staff there in the most wonderful and careful way. Obviously the upheaval affects WEIGHTWISE. That’s the NHS department sexy Linda works for. I am waiting to consult her for diet analysis, follow up advice and to be weighed, but when I phone, poor lass, she is always in a meeting or dashing around somewhere. I don’t think she knows whether she is coming or going, or on her way back. But she’s very good. She always rings back, from a temporary phone number in a temporary office with no firm information. I must try her again soon. I might be knocking myself out at the gym and putting weight on!!!???
Well, Christmas day is over. The beginning of Chritianity has been duly celebrated. Whatever we did or didn’t do is now history. Hope you had a great day. 2012 is knocking at the door.
Have a great time, whether you are on your own, two of you or in a big family party.
And come back soon.
Had a great Christmas Day. Went to church at 9 o’clock to the service from the King James prayer book of 1662, which we prefer. The church looked beautiful and it was nice to be with so many friends.
BBC 1 broadcast a great service later in the morning live from Lichfield Cathedral, which we also enjoyed.
We had our Christmas dinner at five o’clock, just the two of us, and I am pleased to say that the turkey and everything was delicious. I would like to compromise the cook! Woo hoo! But she wasn’t in the mood. I’ll secretly slop some more Sherry in that trifle. See if that will do the trick.
Well, now the big day is over, who do you think is doing the washing up?
I’ve piled the pots and pans up very neatly at the far end of the worktop and found some odd plates and clobber at the back of the cupboard to get us by until Elaine comes later today. She’s marvellous. She’ll do the honours. And she’ll put it all away as well.
Among my lovely pressies, I got a heating pad from one of my nephews, Dylan and his lovely lady, Sarah, which is for wrapping around any part of the body that needs heat. As I write, I have my feet on it and I see that they are changing from purple to pink, which is absolutely great. ‘Purple to pink.’ Mmmm. Sounds like a great title for a book, doesn’t it. Pity I can’t make it fit the present Angel book I’m supposed to be writing. Do you know, I haven’t written a word of it for more than a fortnight. What with launching THE SNUFFBOX MURDERS as an eBook on Kindle, opening a Twitter account (as they say), coping with Christmas and going to the gym, I have simply not had the time. I must get down to it, or I shall be getting shrieks of complaint. I used to write three Angels a year and the odd play for the States, now it takes all my time writing the one book in twelve months.
I have worked up my attendances at the gym to five times a week, and I don’t mess around. I exercise hard for an hour at each session. I should soon be as lean as Prince Philip, who, although he is still in hospital as I write, I hear exercises on a regular basis, which must be some achievement for a 90 year old.
By the way, as you know, the NHS is being reorganised. And absolutely everything at Barnsley General Hospital is being turned upside down and back to front. I hope it will not result in negative improvements, because, up to now, the queen and I have always been looked after by the staff there in the most wonderful and careful way. Obviously the upheaval affects WEIGHTWISE. That’s the NHS department sexy Linda works for. I am waiting to consult her for diet analysis, follow up advice and to be weighed, but when I phone, poor lass, she is always in a meeting or dashing around somewhere. I don’t think she knows whether she is coming or going, or on her way back. But she’s very good. She always rings back, from a temporary phone number in a temporary office with no firm information. I must try her again soon. I might be knocking myself out at the gym and putting weight on!!!???
Well, Christmas day is over. The beginning of Chritianity has been duly celebrated. Whatever we did or didn’t do is now history. Hope you had a great day. 2012 is knocking at the door.
Have a great time, whether you are on your own, two of you or in a big family party.
And come back soon.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)