After a day of faffing and kerfuffle (and a little bad language, but not too much) yesterday, I have posted my new book up on Amazon.
The Kindle e-book will be released on 30th November and is available to pre-order now. It will take a few days yet for the paperback edition to be ready, as I need to check through a printed proof first. I’ll post when that is done.
The book is in two parts. A collection of seven short – and not so short – stories, which make up the bulk of the book, followed by a selection of recent poems.
I have always enjoyed travel and, one way or another, nearly every piece in here is to do with travel. The only exceptions are a couple of the poems that seemed to fit in among the others for aesthetic reasons.
Some of the stories are quite dark, but the majority of the poems have a lighter touch. In these, especially, I hope that my love of the natural world comes through.
Two of the longer stories are set in India; in one, a young man goes in search of a mysterious destiny, while in the other a travelling Englishman becomes embroiled in a chilling disappearance. One story speaks of the support and comradeship of a close-knit island community while another tells of jealous intelligences far older than mankind.
Of the poems, there is one long piece, which gives the title to this collection and tells of a long journey across India and into the mountains and, among others, one short series of poems about the ancient paths and tracks of Britain.
An early piece of writing advice I was given, and for which I am eternally grateful, was ‘Write the stories and poems you want to read’. This I have done, and I hope you will want to read them too.
Just pre-ordered it, Mick! Best of luck with the proofing and ultimate release. Looking forward to reading your stories.
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Gosh, thanks, Pam. You seem to be the first! I hope you enjoy it!
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I’m sure I will, Mick.🤗
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Congratulations Mick. I hope it’s a hit for you.
Hugs
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Thanks, David. Hugs back!
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Congrats!
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Thank you!
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Mick, I wish you and your book all success. The title ‘ The Night Bus’ is quite
evocative. Have you posted this poem before?
Will check amazon later.
Miriam
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Thanks, Miriam. No, the Night Bus hasn’t been posted, although several of the other poems have been. The stories are all new, too.
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Congratulation, Mick. Best wishes and good luck. Will spread the word around on social media!.
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Thanks, Arv. That’s most kind of you.
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Good for you! I hope it’s successful in every regard — both reviews and sales.
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Thanks you!
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Congratulations, Mick! 😀 A great title and I enjoyed learning about the background to the book. I’ve just pre-ordered and look forward to reading this soon!
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Ooh, thanks, Annika! I really hope you enjoy it!
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I’m sure I will … the blurb was terrific and intriguing – I just had to read more!
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Congratulations! It is a pain to publish but a good feeling once it’s done.
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Thanks, Jan. You’re absolutely right on both points!
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Congrats, best of luck with this. My folks have a Kindle did the pre-order, so I can read it when I visit them at the end of the month.
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Thanks, Robert. Really hope you enjoy it. And your folks, of course!
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Indeed I do want to read them too … enough so that I pre-ordered the book just now. One thing I do like about a book of short stories is that I can read one “in between” all my daily things, like writing 2-3 posts a day, comments, emails, house chores, laundry, cooking, etc. Thanks, Mick … and I hope you sell a million copies!
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Thank you so much, Jill. I really hope you enjoy them.
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Wonderful news Mick, best of luck with sales.
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Thanks, Jonno.
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That’s wonderful, Mick! I know you are a good writer, because I have your first book and really enjoyed it!
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Thanks, Ann. Working as an instructor I was told ‘you’re only as good as your last session’, so I don’t know if that applies to books, too!
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I’m sure this new book will be just as good!
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I hope so!
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Looking forward to reading this. “Quite dark”, you say. I love dark, and you do it so well.
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Thanks, Denise. Some of the tales are definitely a bit dark.
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“faffing.” That’s a new word for me, and apt. I’ll have to remember it.
Congratulations on the book. Sounds interesting. Hopefully, lots of people agree.
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Thanks, Dave. A little something for you to drop into conversations, perhaps?
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Congratulations, even if it is a bit early. 😀
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Thank you! I’m just keeping my fingers crossed the proof copy is okay when I get it.
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Fingers and toes crossed for you too. 🙂
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Thanks!
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Congratulations, Mick. I have pre-ordered and will include in my poetry readathon later in December or in January next year.
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Brilliant! Thanks, Robbie.
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