The End of August

Christmas in the post-War United States (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

August has nearly finished and soon everyone’s thoughts will turn to Christmas. I don’t know about you, but I hate to see the shops full of Christmas cards etc. as soon as the calendar turns over to September.
When I was a child, Christmas planning didn’t start until mid – December. I always remember that Dad would take my brother and me shopping when he came home from work on Christmas Eve so that we could buy something for Mum. The week before Christmas, Mum, my brother and I would spend an evening writing Christmas cards – well, she would write them and I would add my name to the bottom and then pass it on to my brother to do the same – I was the eldest, my name always came first. And then there would be the present wrapping day when the whole table would be covered in wrapping paper and sellotape. The tree would go up the week before Christmas. Christmas then was a special time, it was something to look forward to and I feel that by being bombarded with it for four months, it loses something. The excitement and anticipation are lost. After all, who can stay excited for four months? I know I can’t.

However, Christmas aside, the sixth Mike Malone is almost finished. I’m on the last chapter, then it will be the re-reading, the tweaking and the editing. Hopefully, it will be available by the end of September , if not earlier. The new title – IOU.

Catching up

English: Mo Farah at the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have just realised how long it is since I last posted. Time certainly flies, doesn’t it.
The Olympics were great and I especially got caught up in the athletics. Being British, I was so proud of our athletes – Mo Farah, Jess Ennis and the rest. Real role models for our young people. Now in England the football season has started again and I’m not sure what it is like in America and other countries, but our footballers – some of them in particular – are bad role models for the thousands of kids that follow them religiously week after week. Some of our footballers are arrogant, only concerned with signing the next contract that will give them even more money and having a good time – getting their faces in the scandal sheets. Our athletes, showed determination, committment and a pride in their country. Some our footballers don’t even have a pride in their team. Sorry – I’ll get off my soapbox.
I have had a lovely break in Yorkshire while I have been away from the lap-top. Fran and I have found the perfect spot where we get peace and quiet. We can walk, or we can just sit and read or write. It’s secluded and beautiful. Needless to say, I am now over half way in the sixth Mike Malone. I’ll keep you posted.
So, now – back to the beautiful weather that we are, finally, getting in England.
Bye for now.

Opening Ceremony of Olympics

The team of the United States at the opening ceremony of the 1912 Summer Olympics (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A very late night last night watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics. I have to admit that I wasn’t that confident that we could pull it off, but I was impressed. I loved the petals of the torch all lifting to unify as a single flame. Brilliant.

Which country will come out top of the medal table? I’d like to think GB, but really, it’s all about thing part and competing. USA will top it, probably!

Now, I need to think about whether I could include an olympic theme in the Mike Malone series, but I can’t really see how gold medals and farmyards work together. I could always have an animal olympics, couldn’t I? The 6th book is started but I am busy editing the 2nd Jack Sallt at the moment. I’ll keep you posted.

Number 74!!

Wow! I have just spotted that the second book in the Mike Malone series, ‘Happy Deathday to You’ is number 74 in the top 100 British Detective list on Amazon. Two of Ruth Rendell’s books are behind mine. I am so excited.

Next Mike Malone (Woolly Murders) Book for Summer!

My next book in the Mike Malone series should be out around August. Increasingly I am finding the characters are taking on a life of their own, and in a very real sense, they do know naturally what to do!
I also intend to write another book later this year about Jack Sallt, the hard nosed Norfolk detective who has his own inner demons to fight, as well as criminals, and sometimes even his colleagues.
I think I’m going to be busy!

*Remember you can buy my books on amazon, why not take a look?