Bio
Born in Leeds. Educated at St Michael’s College when it was run by the Jesuits who were fervent believers in corporal punishment. I, having delinquent tendencies, got more than my fair share.
Began my working life as a trainee structural design engineer. Ended up as a site engineer. Started my own construction business at the age of 26. Retired at 51.
Me, when the only crease in my face was the one on the photo.
Painting I did of the area when I lived when I was born. When I painted it in 1984 the streets were in the process of demolition but, using the still existing houses as a guide, plus the foundations of the demolished ones, I managed to paint a fairly accurate image. The street I lived on, up to the age of 6 months, is the one at the top of the steps. It was called Ganton Mount.
Other interests
Painting and most forms of illustration. Worked free lance for most of the big greeting card companies. Have done a couple of my own book covers (Annie’s Legacy and The Fabulous Fox Twins Large Print and audio)
Covers for The Fabulous Fox Twins and Annie's Legacy large print editions painted by Ken McCoy.
Comedy
Mainly after dinner work, although I’ve done clubs, pubs, theatres, odd bits of TV work and radio.
Me on the set of Last of the Summer Wine with Smiler, played by Stephen Lewis - better known as Inspector Blakey in On The Buses. I've just got him to say, 'I 'ate you, Butler!'
I guess the only one in this photo you don't recognise is me (I'm the one without a frock on).
Me and Roy Hudd waiting to go on stage in Leeds City Varieties' Good Old Days.
Having a drink with my mate, author Sheila Quigley, and Summer Wine actor Brian Murphy.
Introducing Tess Gerrittsen, one of the world's finest crime writers, to Yorkshire beer
I've long been a fan of David Nobbs (above), the author who created Reginald Perrin and Henry Pratt (of the Argus), among other characters. I met him recently at an author's lunch and mentioned my one and only attempt at humorous writing - The Fabulous Fox Twins. He encouraged me to write another one along with writing my normal stuff. I've started doing this (if only for personal amusement).
In recent months I've had an embarrassing number of emails from fans (and two newspapers) asking when my next book is due out? Embarrassing because I can't give anyone a firm date - credit crunch and all that. It's finished and ready to go, possibly by the end of this year. I've created a great new crime-fighter by the name of Stryker. He's similar to Lee Child's Jack Reacher, only a bit less of a gorilla and a lot brighter. In the meantime all I can say is that if you're a fan of my crime books try reading my 8 sagas. There's just as much crime in them. Or vice-versa if you're a saga fan.
Writing
Up until 1997 it had never occurred to me that I had any great talent for writing. I knew I could string the odd few words together and make them sound funny but a whole book? No, that would be far too much to tackle. So when I started writing it wasn’t with the intention of writing a whole book, it began with me doodling on our new computer. To write a book by hand would have been just too much, especially with me not being able to read my own handwriting. To type it on an old fashioned type writer would have been just as bad — I’m a two finger typist very prone to typos. Most of my type writer stuff ended up more tipex than type. So, to me, Microsoft Word is a thing of magic. I suspect that many modern day writers owe their careers to Bill Gates.
I started with a short story, just a doodle, nothing more, then I tagged a bit on to it, then a bit more etc etc. The story grew longer and longer but I still didn’t allow myself to believe, or admit to anyone around me, that is was going to be an actual book — just in case I ran out of steam. I just plodded on — and on. It was when I got to around 40,000 words — halfway through — and it was reading OK, that I had enough confidence to say to my family, ‘Yes, I think it might be a book.’
It took me about three months to finish the first draft, which is lightning fast for a full length novel. It’s a humorous story of a youth and his great uncle who formed a comedy double act in the 1950s. It’s not just comedy, there’s violence and romance as well; I called it, Once With Scraps. What it did, if nothing else, was get me a literary agent, who told me I could write. Now, to be told that by a professional in the business really does give the confidence a great boost. Although she struggled to find a publisher for it the fact that I’d been told I could write encouraged me to write another. It was this second book, a saga called Cobblestone Heroes, that got me published by Piatkus Books who, so far, have published 8 of my sagas. Once With Scraps was eventually published in 2002 by Severn House under the title The Fabulous Fox Twins.
In 2001, I took a break from saga writing and wrote a crime book called Mad Carew. It lay gathering dust for three years until we showed it to Allison and Busby who loved it and published it in 2004. It’s the first of a series which also comprises, Tripper, Hammerhead and Loser.
You’ll gather, with such an output, that I’ve been a compulsive writer from the word ‘go’ back in 1997. Luckily, my various publishers have been good to me and have published just about everything I’ve written.
So far, Magna Large Print have published all of my books in large print and audio. This is mainly for the blind and partially sighted. Apart from the first one, Cobblestone Heroes, I’ve done the reading on all my audios. They’re recorded in a studio at Whitehouse Sound in Syston near Leicester and it takes about 3+ days to record a complete, unabridged book. I use various accents and voices for the different characters, plus whatever acting talent I have. There are usually two or more books being recorded at the same time; the others are invariably done by actors, who all say the same thing about reading audio books ie — it requires more concentration than anything else they do.
I’m married to the lovely Valerie with five children and nine grand children, including the new arrival, Erin, who is at least as beautiful as the rest of them.