Hello, and thank you for visiting my site. I hope that you'll return often and always find something of interest about my world and what inspires me to pick up a pen. (This is a figure of speech, unfortunately. My handwriting is terrible!) Here's what I've been up to recently...
Flying the flag for local authors!
Sudip, Leah and I were happy to man a stall at the annual Sights & Sounds of Ripon event, which took place in the Cathedral and other venues throughout our little city. A great number of local organisations were represented and the sun shone all day. What more could we have asked for? Well, maybe a rise in temperature – the stone slabs beneath our feet were quite unforgiving – but there was free coffee for stallholders courtesy of Ripon Community Link’s Walled Garden project.
15 March, 2026 - Make the first comment on this story
I Want a Crocodile… Well, what child wouldn’t?
I’m very happy to have contributed a poem and a short story to this book and hope it sells enough copies to benefit the children supported by the chosen charity.
25 February, 2026 - Make the first comment on this story
A new 5 star review!
It’s always a pleasure to wake up to a new review of one of my books, and this one on Goodreads is from an Australian writer known to me only online. However, we both grew up in Leeds and have many shared memories of how life used to be.
10 February, 2026 - Make the first comment on this story
Mark Billingham
This was my first Mark Billingham book and I was enthralled from the start. I really enjoyed the mixture of violence and humour, especially his detective’s little asides into completely irrelevant areas. The outcome took me completely by surprise, which can only be a good thing. I’m now looking forward to getting my hands on the next book in the Detective Miller series.
9 February, 2026 - Make the first comment on this story
Dine and Dashers get their comeuppance – at least in print!
Hearing about the losses inflicted on hardworking café and restaurant owners by ‘dine and dashers’ has inspired my latest story, which is in the 20th January 2026 issue of Woman’s Weekly.
I’m particularly taken with the lovely illustrations.
On a more serious note, though, my heart goes out to all the hardworking people robbed by cynical and callous individuals and groups. What may seem trivial to the latter can be a devastating loss to a small business and even tip it over the edge into bankruptcy. The closure of a popular café, restaurant or pub also has a negative and far reaching effect on the local community, something difficult to quantify but still important.
14 January, 2026 - Make the first comment on this story
The oxygen of publicity!
Once again I have to thank the indefatigable Graham Chalmers for a write up of one of my books in our local newspaper syndicate. It appeared a few weeks ago on the website, but I was very pleased to be tipped off by a friend this morning that it was also in print.
8 January, 2026 - Make the first comment on this story
Christmas is coming!
Thursday evening saw me in the Claro Lounge with friends from Write-On Ripon! We enjoyed good food, good conversation, a Secret Santa and even a mini-awards ceremony. Look what I got! (Blushes modestly.)
14 December, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
Welcome exposure!
As a long-term fan of York Literature Festival (and former member of York Writers), I was very pleased to have this appear in the latest newsletter.
25 November, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
Promoting Yorkshire Authors
This will be our second time at this great venue and we’re all hoping for mega sales of our books. Whether we shall get them, of course, remains to be seen, but what is a writer’s life without optimism?
Update!
Footfall was disappointing, but it was good to meet some fellow authors, especially Chris Gill, with whom I shared a table. If only I’d combed my hair before the photographer did the rounds!
20 November, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
An exciting launch
Sudip Bhaduri has been a staunch supporter of the Write On, Ripon! group for a long time and launched his debut novel last night. Code Blue: Diagnosis Deception was inspired by his own time as a junior doctor and is a riveting read. He has dedicated the book to the memory of his father, who was also a doctor and died at a tragically early age.
Sudip asked Nicky, who acted as one of his Beta readers, to introduce him, after which he read some extracts from the book and talked about the background to it all.
I was asked to give some thoughts before Sudip invited questions from the audience. He is already working on a sequel and hopes to bring it out next year.
The Claro Lounge, which hosts our open mic events, had laid on refreshments and I was particularly taken with the cupcakes. Mine suffered a bit in transit, but you’ll get the general idea.
24 October, 2025 - Make the first comment on this story
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