MAY 2020

It’s been a challenge for many coping with lockdown. I’m clearly one of the lucky ones. Self-isolation has always been a way of life for me as, each weekday morning, I sit at my desk at 7.00 a.m. to begin another day of writing. Weekends, however, are different now. There’s no visits to friends and family and none of the usual cultural and sporting activities.

So, as reading is my other main hobby, I’ve been enjoying revisiting much of the literature from my past including my large collection of Penguin Classics – paperbacks from the sixties that cost three shillings and sixpence! So, this last week I’ve read George Orwell’s ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’, John Braine’s ‘Room at the Top’ and John Wyndham’s ‘The Midwich Cuckoos’.   

Currently, I’m busy writing number fourteen in the Teacher series. It’s another prequel about Jack’s young life and set in 1976/77 when ABBA was Top of the Pops, Virginia Wade became Wimbledon Tennis Champion and Red Rum won a third Grand National. It’s due for submission later this year for publication in 2021.

Number thirteen in the series, ‘Back to School’, will be published on 3rd September 2020 with a launch, hopefully, in Waterstones Milton Keynes with further signings being arranged including Waterstones York on 5th September and Waterstones Alton on 12th September. However, we shall have to wait and see if these events can take place. This also applies to the various speaking events that are in the diary including a Literary Lunch on 29th September at the prestigious Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall.

During lockdown I’ve received excellent support from my editor and literary agent who are working from home and doing all they can to promote my books . . . so many thanks. My website has also been refreshed with a new look and I’m grateful for these efforts. I receive many emails via the website and I endeavour to reply to every message, particularly those from Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, and France who have clearly enjoyed my novels along with those partially sighted readers who listen to the audio editions.

These are difficult times, the like of which I have never experienced in my long life. I’m writing this on a Thursday morning and, this evening, I shall be outside with my neighbours clapping for the brave frontline workers of the NHS and carers everywhere.

In the meantime, best wishes to you all, keep safe and happy reading,

Jack