Hello from beautiful County Clare in Ireland
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Welcome to my first newsletter |
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About six times a year, I'll be producing a newsletter, and this is the first!
My intention is to share interesting news and gossip from Ireland and beyond. I'll also include pictures, exclusive content, lots of freebies and information about the latest book launches. Feel free to share this edition with your friends!
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News from Ireland |
What's being going on during lockdown.
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Writing |
The truth about what I've been doing in my office!
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Picture This |
News about my photography project
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Turn the Page |
Hot new releases in print.
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Book Reviews |
Honest reviews of my recent reads.
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Now Hear This! |
News and views about audio books.
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Free Stuff |
Totally free Kindle and Audible books!
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Time for Tea |
Put your feet up and listen to Alan
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News From Ireland
In the year since covid arrived in the west of Ireland, the pandemic has impacted many lives - some more than others. Lesley and I are fortunate to have been cocooned in such a remote and beautiful place, but even with so much space on our doorstep, much has changed at Glenmadrie.
Read more in my blog below.
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It feels like only yesterday when Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds book three was published. Incredibly, more than 20 months have passed since I submitted the manuscript. I remember thinking I was on a creative roll and should continue typing. My plan was to have book four in the bag by May 2020. Fat chance!
As soon as my dear wife realised my desk was clear, she presented me with a long list of (much delayed) DIY jobs. In between laying floors, decorating, fixing the chimney, insulating our damp conservatory, laying carpets and attending to several major plumbing tasks, my muscle power was required in the garden, where oodles of things needed to be planted, dug up or moved. When I wasn’t bending, sweating, swearing and cutting myself, I was tasked by my daughter in England to create several on-line lessons, interesting enough to keep an inquisitive 5-year-old boy occupied during their Covid lockdown.
Consequently, I didn’t begin the preplanning for Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds book four until the end of 2019. By working through Christmas, I delivered the first four chapters to Zoe Marr, my excellent editor, in the second week of the New Year. From then on, my progress was slow but steady. I’m delighted to report, book four is now finished and will be published on April 5th!
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Available from June 27th 2021 |
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Chasing the Dream - A new life abroad |
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I was delighted when renowned artist and writer Alyson Sheldrake invited me to participate in her new travel anthology. It's an honour to be included alongside so many prestigious authors. I did my best to produce a cracking chapter. Only time will tell if I made the grade!
Chasing the Dream is on sale from June 27th.
Watch this space for more news.
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Audio Books |
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I’ve also been busy working with the multi-talented Andy Stevenson to turn my Fresh Eggs series into audiobooks. It takes a lot of work for these things to happen, but Andy has done a magnificent job. Book one, two and three are now available at Amazon Audible. We hope book four will begin production as an audiobook towards the end of this year.
Click on the pictures below to hear a sample.
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Before I begin work on Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds book five, I wanted to complete some other writing tasks.
Although the first in my planned series of Eric Stone thrillers was well received, I was always aware “Wrecking Crew” had some editing issues and a few hanging plot lines. These had to be cleaned up before I could begin writing the second book, “Stone Façade”. With Philip Wood and Andy Stevenson’s invaluable assistance, I have reproduced the book under the new title “Hunting the Wrecking Crew”. The new manuscript included more than 3,000 changes from the original and now proudly wears a redesigned cover more relevant to the British storyline and locations. Hunting the Wrecking Crew is available now at Amazon, and there is an opportunity to win a free Kindle copy later in this newsletter.
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I’m delighted to report, Andy has just begun recording the audio version. I reviewed the first chapter yesterday. It’s a cracker! Check out this new promo video.
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Introducing my photography |
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I've always been a keen photographer, even more so since moving to Ireland. The wildlife and scenery of County Clare provides a rich palette of fantastic photographic opportunities for anyone, regardless of their skill. For many years, I took all my snaps with a mid-range mobile phone. However, with the country in lockdown and the golf courses closed, I decided to invest in a decent DSLR camera along with some lenses and embark on a new hobby. I'm a long way from being adept, but I'm keen to learn and improve. Some of my favourite pictures are available to buy via the link below, but I'm happy to offer digital copies free to anyone subscribing to this newsletter. If you see a picture you like, please email me by clicking the "I'd love to hear from you" button at the bottom of this page.
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Turn the Page - Hot New Books |
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MORE FUN AND FROLICS IN FRANCE |
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Life is never dull for Beth and her grumpy husband, Jack. In this fifth sparkling episode of the Fat Dogs series, they take on an accident-prone puppy, an impossible forest project and murderous pheasants. Renewed tangles with French authorities and an unexpected animal adoption add to their challenges.
Join the pair as they hunt down rampant mushroomers, raise countless critters and build witches with knobbly knees in their eccentric corner of rural France.
One of many 5* reviews
"Beth manages to see the humorous side of most situations, and you will chuckle along with her. I enjoyed catching up with old friends from previous books, especially the irascible but lovable Jack; and meeting more fascinating characters. All in all, a most enjoyable read and a great addition to the series."
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ROSE WELL HOLIDAY PARK NEEDS A HERO |
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This once shining icon of the Great British Holiday Camp is dying, and the last residents are more interested in preparing for a zombie apocalypse or fighting off imaginary UFOs than playing Crazy Golf or Bingo.
In addition, a foreign bottled water company is attempting to force a sale so they can seize the last asset of Rose Well Park, the Rose Well Spring. The famous spring water claimed to bestow great health and longevity.
And then there’s the bomb.
What Rose Well Park could probably do without, is a hero whose belief in a better tomorrow far outweighs any of his past achievements. But William Fox is all they have.
Armed with nothing more than an undying sense of optimism and a box of books about alien conspiracies, he slowly draws up his plans to make Rose Well Park famous.
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A fun read. Genuine and entertaining |
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As a fan of Val Poor’s writing, I was thrilled to find this little gem sitting on the back shelf of my Kindle store. Semi-biographical, it feels as intimate and honest as any of my favourite memoirs. Set on an extensive smallholding in rural Dorset, the book tells the story of the inexperienced but enthusiastic Maisie, trying to revive her mother’s run-down farm. Always just one step ahead of the bailiffs, the irrepressible Maisie engages the help of her mother, aunt, friends and her boyfriend Simon to gradually turn the outbuildings into stables and the overgrown fields to pasture for a herd of Jacob’s sheep. Along the way she makes new friends, learns many new skills and almost falls in love with the wrong man. How to Breed Sheep, Geese and English Eccentrics is packed with lovable characters, delightful animals and humorous adventures. Five stars!
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It's masterful writing! |
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A recalcitrant vicar gets sacked for housing the homeless and then mysteriously gets a job offer to become the CEO of Britain’s most disreputable bank – what could possibly go wrong? In ‘The Bank of Goodliness’ comic genius David Luddington delivers another sure-fire bestseller. As always, his research is immaculate, I can only imagine the fun he had fact finding banks, bibles and beer all at the same time. David has always had an impressive ability to turn complicated subjects into amusing narrative, but this time he has excelled himself with an analogy of the banking crisis in a plate of stinky cheese. It’s masterful stuff. If you you’re looking for a fun read where the dark suits get what’s coming and the good guy gets the girl, give ‘The Bank of Goodliness’ a try. I highly recommend it.
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Val Poore has written six books altogether: the Skipper's Child (teen/kidult fiction), How to Breed Sheep, Geese and English Eccentrics (sort of grown-up, humorous fiction), Watery Ways and Harbour Ways (memoirs of her first years of living on a barge in Holland), Walloon Ways (three years as a weekend Belgian) and African Ways (a memoir her life on a farm in South Africa). Her seventh book (another novel) is in progress but is taking rather longer than she had hoped. But fear not, Val writes a prolific and excellent blog. Click on the link to read it now.
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David Luddington |
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David Luddington writes comedy. Gentle British comedy. He writes comedy because he wants people to laugh. Having grown up with P.G. Wodehouse, the Ealing Comedies and the Carry On movies, he captures the tone of traditional British humour but brings it firmly up to date. He writes about identity, the personae we use to identify ourselves in the world and what happens when that’s suddenly taken from us.
David lives in Southern Spain, in a funny little house, in a strange little valley, with his wife, two cats and an indeterminate number of dogs.
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Audio books are now a big thing! |
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Once a niche market, audiobook sales have boomed during the lockdown. Many people now see the benefits of listening to a favourite book whilst out and about or the retro feel of sharing the experience with family. The old valve radio and fireplace may have been replaced by central heating and a smart speaker, but the experience is every bit as special!
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Many of my books are also available in audio format at Amazon Audible. "Hunting the Wrecking Crew" is going into audio production this month and, "Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds 4" should be available as an audiobook towards the end of 2021. The series has been narrated by the talented Andy Stevenson.
Click on the pictures below to try these audiobooks at Amazon Audible.
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Voice-over artist, voice actor and acclaimed audiobook narrator |
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Andy Stevenson
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Here's Your Totally Free Stuff! |
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Just click on the images below to enter the free prize draws
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A Cup of Tea With Alan
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A Cup of Tea with Alan is an opportunity to really get to know the person behind your favourite books. Alan Parks aims to get to know the person behind the author, spending hours making that book a reality. Sit back, put the kettle on and enjoy A Cup of Tea with Alan.
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You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and my website, by clicking the links below.
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