FREE e-book of A Million Tears on Saturday 19th May

Once again this weekend on Saturday 19th May, we are offering a FREE download of A Million Tears from Amazon: UK version or USA and overseas version

The Stirling Observer has written about Paul’s success with the world-wide exposure of A Million Tears by using Social Media.

ALLOWING readers to download a book free helped a Scottish author increase his sales tenfold in just three months. . (more…)

Another birthday and all is well

This week it is my birthday. A good time to reflect on my life. At the personal level, life is exceptionally good. Dorothy and I are now home alone – the kids happily off doing their own things. We are lucky they are both within 40 miles so we still see them regularly. I do feel for parents whose children are on the other side of the world. Although it is not like the days of the Griffiths family 100 years ago. With Skype, video calls and relatively cheap flights the world is a smaller place.

While on a personal life I couldn’t be happier, I look at the world around us and feel despondent.

Look at the basics. We have never had so many politicians. We have MEPs, MPs, Scottish Assembly Members, regional councils etc. We pay for them all. They all have reasonable salaries, decent pensions (except MEPs who have very generous salaries and pensions beyond avarice), decent pensions and very generous expenses (except MEPs who have exceptionally generous expenses).

We are paying for a level of incompetency we don’t want and, more to the point, don’t need. What are we to do about it? Do you ever wonder what these people do on a day to day level? Last week I think I found the answer when I read the following:

Lord’s prayer: 66words; 10 Commandments: 179 words; US Declaration of Independence: 1,300 words; US Constitution with all 27 Amendments: 7,818 words; EU regulations on the sale of cabbage:……….. wait for it ……… 26,911 words!!!

Writing thrillers has, in many ways, been cathartic. They allow me to vent my spleen against the powers-that-be hence the reason the stories have a degree of politics mixed up in them. In Debacle for instance a group of bankers and politicians are taken prisoner. I have had great feedback on the book, with many a reader saying “tongue in cheek” why would we want to rescue the hostages?

In the past most MPs had done many other things in their lives before taking up politics. Many had been through the war and had seen and experienced hardship. Or had worked in factories and trade unions or been in business. Nowadays people read politics in university and then decide which party to join, first as a researcher then working through the system before, they hope, getting a safe seat. Check out the level of idiocy we have in the Welsh Assembly, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Scottish Parliament, the UK Government and the European Parliament.

Hang on! They do little, earn good salaries and have generous allowances. Who, one wonders, are the idiots? Us or them?

Anyway back to my birthday on 11th February. As a thank you to my readers, in case they missed it last time, we are again offering the FREE Kindle offer. But this time for both A Million Tears and Mayhem. These will be free to download all day on the 11th. So please spread the word. But we didn’t want to leave non-kindle readers out, so are offering A Million Tears for £2.50 (plus £2.50P&P) up until the end of February. Signed and personalised this will make a great Valentines or Mother’s Day gift.

Thanks again for all the emails…… now back to Nick who is currently chasing baddies in a Swiss ski resort!

A New Year & A Good Read

Two weeks into January already. 2012 has arrived and I have now stopped using 2011 every time I write a date! Festivities are over and it’s back to reality.

Or at least it is for most people.

Me? I’m lucky. I can live in a world of my own making, my own choosing where the good guys win and the bad guys have a rotten time.

I also find that bad weather is conducive to writing. I can stay in my study, coal fire burning and escape to anywhere I like. For instance, the new Nick Hunter I am now editing has him chasing the bad guys in Switzerland over the New Year. Though I have to confess that even as I am writing it I wish I was there, enjoying the skiing and especially the apres ski.

I have just found a great site called Goodreads for book lovers. I have rated the books I have enjoyed as has Dorothy. If you register with the site be sure and “friend” us by selecting our names. That way you can see what books we love (and hate!). As we are both avid readers it will also be great for us to see your recommendations.

I have to start working on another national tour around the country soon. It does actually take a lot of planning to travel the UK, agree book-signing dates and find suitable places to stay that don’t cost an arm and a leg.

What a dreach (my favourite Scottish word) winter we have had. My son and his family were over from Switzerland and for 2 weeks it didn’t stop raining. And a couple of massive storms thrown in for good measure. Still, with television at its usual level – aimed at 12 year olds (I’m being generous when I say that) – a good book is a great way to spend an evening. Vince Flynn never disappoints. Or you could try A Million Tears or one of the Nick Hunter thrillers. Mayhem is still under a £1 for Kindle readers.

I hope 2012 is a good year for everyone.

To all new Kindle Readers

Welcome to everyone who has joined the world of Kindle. You can buy all the books (Turmoil coming soon). A Million Tears and Mayhem at 89p! What a bargain.
We have found it very liberating when you see a book to be able to do a quick download and you have it automatically. We still love books and always will but there is no doubt Kindles are here to stay.

Christmas and Status Quo

Christmas is approaching, and approaching fast. The time gap between last Christmas and this is shorter than in previous years. This fact I have become aware of each year for about the last ten. Is there anybody else who has found the same? Which means, come this Christmas, Christmas 2012 will be around Easter time.

Still, our grandson of 2 years will be visiting and isn’t it wonderful how the kids inject life into us? And as we all know, we can enjoy having them, enjoy the wonder and awe they will be feeling over the Christmas period and then, joy of all joys, having borrowed them, we can give them back! Just about perfect.

Those of you who use electronic gadgets to read books may like to know that TURMOIL will be available through Amazon – Kindle within the next week or so.

I have also written another Nick Hunter in record time. I have chosen a subject which is highly topical yet we don’t think has been written about up until now. That is one heck of a claim. So watch this space. If I am wrong no doubt somebody will correct me!!!

Finally, last Saturday we went to see the Status Quo concert in Glasgow. It was a packed audience. The music was excellent (especially the Roy Wood Band). However what spoiled it was the intensity of the flashing strobe lights. It is a while since I have been at a concert but in my time I have seen the Beatles, Cilla Black, Cliff Richard, Freddie and the Dreamers and a number of others. Of course they didn’t have the technology in those days but the concerts were brilliant because we were there to see the performers. The little I have seen of the X factor (trust me that is VERY little) the lighting and special effects are way over the top. That is fine – these youngsters are not experienced performers and probably need the effects. But Status Quo? Do the bright and overpowering effects enhance or detract from their music? I’d love to know what you think. Dorothy saw them at Knockhill a few years ago, without a massive stage production, and said the experience was far more enjoyable than on Saturday. So if anyone from the Quo’s management team are reading this…….

Have a great Christmas and New Year and, hopefully, I’ll see you next year as I travel the country visiting towns I would normally speed past while racing down a motorway.