Manchester

I've been wondering what, or even whether, to post on the tragic events in Manchester. For the majority of us who have no real understanding of the police any words we say can seem trite. We can, though, read the thoughts of serving police officers such as Sergeant Gary Watts from Falmouth who gives us a insight into what it is like when an event such as this happens. Thanks, Gary.

http://voiceofanofficer.devon-cornwall.police.uk/2012/09/why.html

Good Old Waterstones!

Touch has slumped in the Amazon charts thanks to the preponderance of the 20p ebook. However, in the Waterstones' chart it has managed to reach number three. How and why is a mystery but it is at the moment giving Fifty Shades, which is at number five, a good old fashioned spanking (groan - who wrote this copy?).

Charleston Harbour, Cornwall

On my recent trip to Cornwall I visited Charleston Harbour, home of Square Sail, a company specialising in providing ships and settings for marine filming. The company's credits amount to dozens of films and TV series including Alice in Wonderland, Hornblower, 1492 Conquest of Paradise, Clash/Wrath of the Titans, Longitude and Shackleton. If you have seen any of those films/series you have seen ships provided by Square Sail, some times the boats having undergone remarkable transformations to be historically accurate. Last year the harbour and boats even featured on Dr Who.

Sadly the harbour's future and the sailing boats moored there are in doubt as the company is for sale (see story).  It is a fascinating place and if I should win the lottery this weekend I will be putting in an offer.

Sitting in front of my keyboard I am struggling to see how I can use the setting in a Charlotte Savage thriller. I might have to begin an historical novel just to get it in!

Another Milestone.

I have been somewhat lazy over the summer as regards posting to this blog. Work besides writing, the school holidays and such have got in the way. However, autumn is nearly here and I will be working hard on  the CS series and also updating this blog more often.

Recent news is that Touch has now sold over 70,000 copies in the UK, a figure beyond any I could have imagined.

Many people have been asking me the question: 'What has happened to book number two?' The answer is it is almost finished. Alongside that bit of news there is another piece which is very exciting. For the moment I will have to keep stum, but I hope to be able to let you know in the near future.