Too Many Books, Too Little Time

Regular readers will know the disaster around MMM...Student...Cookbook, however I have not given up on that completely. I've also got a load of new recipes, such as butternut squash soup, home made burgers, and a variation of key lime pie made with chocolate and oranges. I also know a lot of students. So I could just get them started on the cookbook rather than relying on Salford University, and the latest US review of Mmm...No1...Cookbook makes me want to write more!

I am glad to say that this cookbook stands out from others because it is actually useful. The recipes are easy to understand. That right there is a major plus for this book. And when that is combined with the fact that the recipes are interesting and the variations make me want to try things in more ways, the book comes out a winner.
Also, the chatty way the author shares about cooking and his family is really endearing. I hope he publishes more cookbooks soon.

Stags! is still my most successful book, and I have started, stopped, started again and stopped again on the sequel, "Infidelity". Reviews always stimulate more effort, and this appeared on Amazon recently

I don't remember getting this, so when I started reading it, I couldn't remember what I had reviewed about this book and boy I was hooked within a few pages and couldn't put this book down. What a brilliant insight into how men think or not think has the case may be. Lots of great characters that a reader can relate it and quite a few moments where your laughing out load because its hilarious or embarrassing. I will definitely look out for more by this author

And then there's Mike Sanchez - Big Town Playboy. Im seeing Mike again next week at the Burnley Blues Festival, and we should get enough information together to get half way through the book.

Anyone interested in other stuff should visit Whaley Bridge Cricket Club. I maintain the website - as well as the infamous "Captain's Blog".

Thats all on top of the day job. I'll keep you posted.

Moving Up - Mike Sanchez, Moving Down - Students!

Interesting, exciting and disappointing news this week, and I'll start with Mmm...Student...Cookbook. After several drafts from the students at Salford University I have officially put the project on hold. When they can't even produce an original recipe for cheesy garlic bread and egg mayo sandwiches, and when two of their other recipes consist of adding hot water to packet jelly its time for a rethink. Maybe I'll do this on my own in the future, or maybe I'll revisit Salford for a different set of students next year. Lessons learned and all that!

Anyway, the interesting and exciting news is all around Mike Sanchez - Big Town Playboy. I met Mike at his gig in Shaw on Friday night last week, and met the members of his current band too. Everyone was keen to have their say on Mike's career, in a warts and all kind of way. Mike also gave me his assistant's number, so things may move more quickly from now on. Mike recently did a lengthy interview for Blues In Britain which gives me plenty more material to work with, whilst Mike's assistant is certain that Robert Plant will do the foreword for the book. Mike was recenly contacted by an author writing a book to commemorate Eric Clapton's fifty years in the music business. Mike played with Eric and supported him on tour many times, and Mike's input to the book covers a significant period of time in Eric's career. In a sort of "you scratch my back" arrangement, the author thinks that Eric will be more than happy to contribute to "Mike Sanchez - Big Town Playboy".

Expect more frequent updates over the next few months as we try to confirm input from other notables such as Bill Wyman, Mick Fleetwood, etc.

Artist and author catch up at Playhouse 2 in Shaw

Getting to know oustanding guitarist Tom Bull

Mike Sanchez - Big Town Playboy - coming to a bookshop near you!

It started in the usual way. Dear blah blah would you be interested etc etc....No thanks our list is full! Anyway, variety is the spice of life so I thought I would try to get my biography of Mike Sanchez (see above for working title), published by one of the many blues and rockabilly magazines around. No joy, although they have all offered free publicity, Especially Juke Blues , Blues & Rhythm and Blues In Britain. Two of them, however, pointed me in the direction of Music Mentor Books, as the owner, George Groom-White specialises in music books.

So I sent off a synopsis and chapter breakdown in an email together with a bio of myself.

I got a reply saying he was giving it serious consideration, and then another asking for more details which I eagerly supplied. Finally, yesterday, he offered a publishing contract. Really! I am awaiting the draft, but for a niche book such as this its as good as it gets. Now I just need to get Mike on the BBC and that's the marketing sorted! Well maybe not but its a huge step forward. Publication planned for early next year. Watch this space for future updates.

Christmas Results and Mike Sanchez - Big Town Playboy

Mmm...No1...Cookbook proved surprisingly popular in Canada and the US, whilst Stags! was still the most popular title overall, particularly in the UK. Ole And Zac And The Port Of Tumbattle does not really lend itself to Kindle, but it did get a few hits, notably in the US.

Next up its all systems go on the authorised biography of Mike Sanchez. Work title Mike Sanchez - Big Town Playboy, and with the outline already complete I am now starting to pitch to agents and publishers.

Mike started his career in Kidderminster, and I have already had a promise of publicity and coverage from The Kidderminster Shuttle when the book is released.

My next task is to get quotes from around 50 people for inclusion, as well as others for cover endorsements, so more news on that in the next update. As these include Robert Plant, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Mick Fleetwood, etc, it may prove to be quite difficult!

Stags! Tumbattle and Mmm...No1 in Christmas Giveaway

After much deliberation I have decided to make all three of my titles free over the Christmas period, so you can get Stags! Ole And Zac And The Port Of Tumbattle and Mmm...No1...Cookbook free from 23rd to 27th December.

Stags! free on Kindle

Stags! free on Kindle (US)

Ole And Zac And The Port Of Tumbattle free on Kindle

Ole And Zac And The Port Of Tumbattle free on Kindle (US)

Mmm...No1...Cookbook free on Kindle

Mmm...No1...Cookbook free on Kindle (US)

Already getting good results, especially with Mmm...No1...Cookbook in the top 100 food & drink in the US.

In other news, there has been a copyright issue with Mmm...Student...Cookbook but that should be resolved soon.

The Mike Sanchez biography is progressing really well. Expect some news in the New Year.

KDP for Christmas and Mike Sanchez

After a bit of thought I've decided to run free promos on all of my titles from 23rd December to 27th December inclusive. This gives me a couple of days either side of Christmas for people to fill up their new Kindles! I'll let you know how I get on.

Exciting news on the bio front - I met Mike Sanchez on Sunday evening and he passed to me a very comprehensive timeline of much of his time in the music industry, including with the Big Town Playboys. Check him out at www.mikesanchez,com. Anyway, his bio (or ghost written autobiograhy) will contain a significant number of pages of photos, and of course large amounts of text, so Createspace is not really appropriate, as it appears to only allow either full colour or black and white interiors. Fortunately there are tons of "publishers" or printers that do really cost effective short run prints, but it will mean a lot more work u front. Mike is 50 in February 2014 and he wants the book out by then - so there is lots to do.

I will keep you posted with progress here.

Its DePENber!

This could catch on!

Write a letter for DePENber