My Pride and Joy
and other tales I tell myself
I’d always harboured dreams of being a published writer, even as a “snot nosed little punk” (Radiohead) or when my Dad set up his own bar in a Field of Dreams and in another universe from ours in 1986 or when in 2012 I finally blew up the dream life I’d always wanted with the second love of my life. It was then that I used the medium of writing as a self defence mechanism against a world I’ve never understood and always seen as inside out, upside down and a personal world I’d sabotaged with my own recklessness and thoughtlessness and struggling to cope with a fragile mental health before it became fashionable to have one, I’d disappear into a writing world whereby I had a semblance of control and despite the abstract nature of my fingers dancing upon a keyboard I could be me, completely and utterly me, and an authentic self that drives me more than words can ever convey. I’ve been described over the years as a “complicated egg” and an “alien, not of this world”, both compliments I hold dear to my heart, but I need to be authentically me, warts and opinions all, and via my writing I am that authentic self. Well, kind of.
After writing on the medium of cinema and film appreciation on another platform for a decade I decided, towards the the end of the ridiculously upside down lock downs that have destroyed our collective society for generations and set a dangerous precedent for the lock downs to come, to branch out my writing into other spheres of interest and an idyll daydream became a idea for a book, an original book that became three, a trio that quickly became seven e-books and today as at the time of writing, eight published books with another scheduled for self-publishing at the end of May 2024.
So that’s the nuts and bolts of the tale I tell myself and here’s the tale of my writing tape in chronological order:
“Diary From the 2022 FIFA World Cup”
(published April 2023)
27 daily dairy entries from the 2022 Qatar World Cup and from the hosts opening game through to Argentina’s glorious victory on 18th December.
“Ashes to Ashes”
(published May 2023)
After watching the England cricket team “through the night” on their Ashes tour to Australia in late 2021 and early 2022 followed by their overseas tours to the West Indies and Pakistan in 2022 and New Zealand in early 2023, I compiled my combined writing into an opus 430 page book I’m immensely proud of.
“Chasing the Impossible and a Sword of Damocles”
(published May 2023)
Another opus book of over 530 pages covering Liverpool Football Club and seasons 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 in their storied history with 8 lengthy personal stories intermingled along the way. My pride and joy.
“The Essential Film Reviews Collection”
(published Summer 2023)
7 lengthy volumes of my favourite spoiler free film reviews penned and published between 2012 and 2023. Only available as Kindle or E-Books on Amazon.
“The Spirit of Cricket”
(published August 2023)
As the subtitle (hopefully) suggests, this book is an “upside-down journal from the 2023 Ashes” between England and Australia but far more than that, a daily diary away from the cricket itself and my Summer travels to the rivers, canals and waterways of central England as well as losing constantly at cards to my cheating son! Please see the front cover.
“Tea and Biscuits in India”
(published March 2024)
Watching the England cricket team once more “through the night” and cataloguing their ignominious defence of the World Cup in India in late 2023 before they returned in early 2024 for the toughest assignment in world cricket and a 5 Test Match tour of the country.
“At the end of a Storm”
(published March 2024)
Volume 1 of my “Rambling musings and other balderdash” divided into three main sections: “Saturday Night at the Movies”, “Sunday Morning on Reverie Lane” and “Friday Afternoon in The Matrix” and a collection of my writing since the end of the lock down through to the present day and a middle section dedicated to my dear old Dad.
“Golden Sky”
(published March 2024)
Volume 2 of my “Rambling musings and other balderdash” which follows in the same fashion as volume 1 but with my recently departed and much missed Mum dominating the central section.
“Tales I Tell Myself”
(published March 2024)
Volume 3 of my “Rambling musings and other balderdash” and as above, a continuation of my collection of writing from the past 3 years with your humble narrator now the focus of the central section.
As at the time of writing (24th April 2024) I have one further book in the works tentatively entitled “A Final Word From The Boss” covering season 2023–2024 and the final season of Jürgen Klopp as manager of Liverpool Football Club which I am aiming to publish at the end of May 2024.
When published, this will be my 16th self-published book/e-book and each and every book is FREE to read if you have an Amazon Kindle “Unlimited” package.
Here are some links and up to date images that I hope may pique your interest in supporting an independent writer and author and I sincerely thank you for reading.
"The Essential Film Reviews Collection" - Vol.7
"Diary From The 2022 FIFA World Cup"
"Chasing the Impossible and a Sword of Damocles"
Thanks for reading.
Peace.