A little tip on FB advertising ...

We have been ‘quiet’ of late, having just completed a 12-day driving holiday to and from Portugal via Spain, with our two doggies. We are now safely home, and I’m diligently writing again.

With 2026 being the year, I’m going all-out to attend as many UK and European book fairs and conventions, you may have seen more advertisements on Facebook. It has been a little hit and miss, primarily because we've followed the site's recommendations, however just wasn't getting any 'bang for my buck'!

I discovered David Gaughran’s YouTube tutorial and his insight on advertising and marketing books. The tutorial is well worth watching, and I can confirm that there has already been a significant impact on my book sales. To be honest, my dear wife has taken on the onerous task of being my publicity and social media coordinator. She has spent the last few days learning from David, embracing the new advertising approach, which has therefore increased book sales.

If you visit my Events page, you will see all the UK conventions and book fairs I am attending in the coming months. It would be wonderful to meet many of you, where you will be able to purchase books and merchandise, and have them signed.

And a final reminder, my new book Secrets of the Deep, first in the Red Sails series - a dark fantasy where the downtrodden are fighting back - is released this Friday!

Happy reading !!

There is a saying, 'truth is stranger than fiction' ......

... this could be something absolutely fantastic or somewhat really weird.

Secrets of the Deep, book one of the Red Sails series was a concept / book which dawned on me after I had watched the TV series, 'Black Sails'.

I had wondered about the possibilities of women pirates. I checked and researched (not too well, it would seem) back through history, found a few little tales, however they were largely part of a ship's crew.

I then considered writing a story of an all-female crew plying the high seas and chasing down pirates. From there, I had to consider why they would do this, and how … this is where the world-building starts: not only developing a 'plausible' environment, but creating a society where such a concept was feasible.

As mentioned, I had overlooked a situation very early in history ... real history … however a good friend of mine, John, sent me a YouTube clip While not exactly what I had envisioned, I think that there are some definite and uncanny similarities to Secrets of the Deep. I promise you, I had no idea of this until this week.

Truth IS stranger than fiction!

Jeanne de Clisson (1300–1359), also known as Jeanne de Belleville, Blood Jeanne, the Lioness of Brittany, was a French/Breton noblewoman who became a privateer to avenge her husband after he was executed for treason by King Philip VI of France. She crossed the English Channel, targeted French ships, and regularly slaughtered almost their entire crew. It was her practice to leave at least one sailor alive to carry her message of vengeance.

I wonder now if I can classify Red Sails as 'historical fantasy'?

HORANDO and surrounds ...

These last few weeks, I channeled my creative strengths into drawing and designing a map to be added to Secrets of the Deep before it's release on 23 January. My mapping skills are improving however I may just keep to writing. The map was created using the Wonderdraft software. In the past, I have used Inkarnate, however Wonderdraft was better suited.

And while I have your attention with a very brief blog, I invite you to visit and browse the Bookfunnel site which is yet another fabulous source of great sci-fi and fantasy books to read.