Not much to report except that the Digging Deeper film script is now 40 mins long and for fans of Worlds Apart (or just plain old generally nosey people) the first leg of the world tour video is now available on myspacetv ...

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=22826932

Not really a picture to go with this, so one of me looking slightly menacing was the best I can come up with. suffice to say the film adaptation of Digging Deeper is coming along nicely. The first 25 mins are now written and I'm very pleased with it so far.

Although I have all the images in my head regarding what the scenes look like, the main problem is linking the scenes, when to cut from one to another and how to write the script so that narrative in the text or the background story can be portrayed in pictures.

All interesting stuff though. Anyone for the part of Charlotte?

KIDERMINSTER SHUTTLE : Thursday 8th November 2007

Novelist keen to help other budding authors
By Cadisha Brown

A KIDDERMINSTER-born author has set up a publishing firm to help other budding writers get their work in print.
Lee Crompton, who lived in Woodfield Crescent until he was six, created Positive Publishing in the hope of removing the barriers he encountered while trying to get into print.
He said: "As a self-published author, I know how hard it is to get a manuscript from a Word document to a finished paperback. I also know how much of a buzz it is to finally hold your novel in your hand.
"The idea came about when a friend wanted advice about producing a book. He asked me a series of questions about formatting, designing covers, obtaining barcodes, listing books on Amazon and getting books printed and my response was yes, I can do all that.

"I'd like to assist people in getting their books out without the extortionate costs. If I can help give someone that buzz of excitement from being in print then that's fantastic."

Lee has also released his latest novel, a thriller titled Digging Deep, which is a change in direction from his previous novels, 12 Months and Worlds Apart, which were recognised for their humorous storylines.

He added: "Humour is certainly thin on the ground when it comes to Digging Deeper and while it has its moments, it definitely has some very dark elements."

Lee already has plans for his next project. While in Wellington in 2004, he was involved in the writing and production of a short film for the New Zealand 48-hour film festival and now plans to write his first feature-length script.

"Writing has always been a visual thing for me. I know how every one of my books would look on the silver screen because of the images in my head when I'm scribbling down the text.

"People always comment on the fast-paced dialogue in my books and how they enjoy it and so writing a script seemed to be the next step."

Only 3 days to go until "wear it pink" day. For those of you who don't know it's a Breast Cancer Campaign asking everyone in the UK to wear it pink on Friday 26 October and donate £2 each, so the Charity can continue researching the cure for breast cancer.

They're holding a raffle in the office and so I've donated a signed book for one of the lucky winners. Digging Deeper might not be entirely appropriate charity reading material but I considered it close enough to Halloween to be considered as a prize.

To find out more regarding "wear it pink" visit http://www.wearitpink.co.uk/

The best holiday read this year? Possibly, but I guess it depends on your constitution. I'm not saying it's not a good holiday book but I'm sure reading it in the blazing sun around the pool doesn't quite have the same effect as reading it in a cold and dark environment ... like Scotland for example. Here is an extract from a message I had regarding Digging Deeper. I have had to censor it on the basis of foul language and giving away the ending ...

"You should take this as a compliment - as I definitely invested in the characters - but Jesus, you are a sick weirdo. I spent two hours last night reading Digging Deeper because i couldn't put it down, therefore i didn't finish it till twenty five to one this morning and haven't slept since ... I have never actually felt physically sick whilst reading a book. Lee, where the hell did you get this stuff from? I'm totally traumatised, I can't stop thinking about it. p.s I'm also now slightly scared of you!

Another satisfied customer.

In preparation for my next venture I have enrolled in a screenwriting course at Edinburgh University. It doesn't start until Jan 08 which will give me plenty of time to do some of my own research and develop my proposed story.

I've changed the working title of the "film" but am going to keep that under wraps for now although I'm not sure knowing the title will give too much of the story away, unless you're aware of the previous working title and then some bright spark might put 2 & 2 together and hey presto! No one likes a smart arse ... says he who is going back to university ... for the first time in over 15 years (gulp!)

Falkirk Herald - 27th Sept 07

Let's have a big "awwwwh" from the crowd (squints in the darkness to see if there's more than a couple of you out there to warrant using the word "crowd") at the sight of my godson, Luke, just finishing reading Digging Deeper.

"It's right blooming good,' said Luke, 'Not wanting to give too much away ... but I especially liked the grizzly murders and stuff!"

Not my words folks, the words of possibly my youngest fan. Politicians kiss babies to boost their popularity so if you haven't bought a copy already, here's hoping that the sight of Luke will urge you to do so. I defy you to ignore his cuteness ...

I would like to thank Mel who went into her local Waterstone's to try and buy a copy of 12 Months (which is listed on Waterstone's in-store system and website) only to be told that there was something "abnormal" with the publisher (that's me that is! How very dare they). The upshot of this is that Waterstone's - despite having the name and contact details of the publisher (ME!), my website address and having me listed on their system - were unable to get Mel a copy of 12 Months because it is not possible to obtain a copy through their supplier. (Not that I'm moaning about obstacles in my way again you understand). However, another friend of mine called Claire pointed out to me that Borders (in Glasgow at least) have an "independent author section". I rang the branch and asked how an idiot like me might take advantage of this. They are currently not taking on any more stock due to an impending stock-take but may be interested in October. In the meantime, I have taken the opportunity to pen a little email to Borders head office in London. It goes a little something like this ...

Hi. I am a self-published author with 3 books to my name which are all listed on websites such as Amazon, Watersone's, WHSmiths etc. The problem I have is getting them into the High Street. I used to have a good relationship with Ottackers who stocked my books in various stores on a sale or return basis which worked very well until Waterstone's got involved and now there is no policy/facility to stock books written by local/independent authors. I was able to stock my 1st book through Borders in Bournemouth who were local to me at the time. My question is ... is it possible for me to sell my books through Borders and if so, how do I do it? Is is a central thing through yourselves (which is where I have the problem with Waterstone's because everything has to come through Gardeners/Bertrums who aren't interested in small fry like me) or can I trudge from store to store in the hope that some of your stores may take pity on me and try a few of my books? I'd be grateful if you could let me know.
Regards
Lee Crompton

I'll keep you posted.

I'm pleased to announce that The Linlithgow Bookshop (funnily enough, in Linlithgow) have agreed to stock all three of my titles. Their address is ...

The Linlithgow Bookshop

48 High Street

Linlithgow

EH49 7AE

http://www.thelinlithgowbookshop.com/

It's a lovely shop so if you're in the area why not pop in and have a browse.

Happened to discover the American version of Strictly Come Dancing earlier today (Gemma actually discovered it, not me). Two words ... absolute rubbish. Whilst Bruno and Len are on it, there were no Bruce or (I hate to say it) Aileen. The judging panel are therefore sickly sweet, so much so that the 2 dances I saw, everyone gave both couples 10's. Now I'm no expert, but seeing as how I didn't know which one was the celebrity and which one was the professional before they shook their booty, it was fairly obvious within seconds of them hitting the floor. I'm just saying, I don't think you'd see the 10 boards so liberally used in the British version.

Also forgot to mention that Prince ... as expected ... was AMAZING! I was rung by Mills as we were waiting to go into the gig to say that their 2nd nipper had been born. BRILLIANT! I even managed to get rid of my spare ticket to gay man after hearing his gay friend in the lobby on the phone to him saying there was no way he could get him a ticket. Bish bash wallop, I produce my spare one. We of course later met the man because he was sat with us. He was chuffed. One downside to the evening however was Dave (aka Alan) attempting to add humour to the evening by clapping out of time to the majority of his hits (Prince's hits, not Dave's, who to my knowledge doesn't have any). The gay man sat/stood next to Dave (aka Alan) had disappeared before the end of the gig. Now, this could just be a coincidence ... then again?!?!?!

I don't really want to say too much regarding the after-show party. My expectations were low anyway. The thought of actually seeing Prince up close and personal in an intimate gig would have been a dream come true and even the chance of seeing him play the guitar for a couple of minutes would have been worth it. The problem came when I met the rest of the people there who clearly knew more about this type of thing than me. He'd done a 2 hour after-show set on the night before and even crowd surfed. There had only previously been one occasion when he'd not shown at all ... and even then his band came out for a bit and that was a midweeker anyway. So my expectations went through the roof. I nearly wet myself, only to be told whilst were in the queue by the arena staff that Prince had released a statement to say that he was categorically not turning up tonight (Saturday 11th Aug) and neither were his band. This had never happened before apparently, so much so that people were allowed to change their tickets to another night which was f**k all use to us of course because we were flying to India the following day, so we went in anyway ... secretly hoping it might have been a double/triple bluff. It wasn't, and seeing the intimacy of the venue made it all the more harder to swallow. So why Prince was in a strop I don't know, he even finished on a strange song ... Love Bizarre was from a Shiela E album of the mid 80's. Whilst Prince also sang on the record and I think he wrote it, it's certainly not what you would call one of his hits and not meaning to sound snobby, I doubt half the audience would ever have heard of. That said, other than Dave's absurd clapping, Prince's after-show strop and me nearly crying when he opened the show with Purple Rain ... it was a belter of an evening.

Forgot to mention my celebrity spot. I say "my" spot, it was really Gemma's when we were sat in a taxi at Edinburgh airport having arrived back in India.

"Ooh look, it's that bloke off the telly you don't like," she said. Whether it was hearing this remark or seeing Gemma pointing at him that forced him to turn his back on us I don't know, but he turned it nonetheless.

Before you ask, no I didn't leap out and thrust a copy of one of my books into his hand (although I probably would have done if I had any on me) and furthermore Gemma is right, I never liked him on the telly because he always appeared so dramatic about everything. (Hark at me not liking drama queens!) Anyway, I happened to see an edition of Coast on the BBC a few weeks back based in the Channel Islands. I wouldn't normally watch this kind of programme but "it" and "he"were both actually very good but I clearly hadn't updated Gemma with this information ... not like me to be judgemental either!

No, your eyes don't deceive you, this is indeed a picture of the one and only Bill Bryson thumbing through a copy of Worlds Apart by yours truly.

It's been handed to him by Ash (who features in the book ... in the Cook Islands ... yes, Cook Islands Ash ... that's him on the left) at his graduation (that's Ash's graduation, not Bill's)

As to whether or not he's read it, I don't know. Maybe I should drop him a line and try and find out ...

So Digging Deeper is officially OUT!

Big thank you to all those who have ordered it already. Some of you have even read it!!! The feedback so far has been excellent, so thanks.

The website has been overhauled to welcome this new arrival and the Falkirk Herald have just been round to interview me regarding my latest offering.

I'd like to thank Mark Radcliffe, Suzanne Carlsson, Jenny Prowse for reviewing the book and a special thanks to actress Philippa Marshall who not only reviewed the book but recorded a podcast of the opening chapters which is now available for download from the website.

The "news" has been slack, granted, but let me try and explain. I'm now back from holiday in India and only managed to come down with a "bug" when I got back. So I've been ill, but other than that had a fantastic time.

The South was not nearly as harsh on the senses as the North, but it was still very much India where everything is done to an extreme. Visited tea plantations, many temples, an orphanage, did jungle treks, had leeches on me and on a whim, had a suit made 3 hours before leaving to return to the UK, delivered to our hotel room in person by the nice man in the shop.

When I got back, Digging Deeper was waiting for me ...

You'd have thought Connor had learnt from his last expedition to India, but clearly not ... having just spent nearly £100 in Boots on just about everything the store had to offer ... including about 18 litres of hair frizz reducer for Gemma (the days of me needing it are long gone).

We fly out a week today. May the force be with us!

That's it then. The final version of Digging Deeper is finished and away to the printers. They are due to be printed whilst I'm away in India and will be on sale in September.

However, for those of you who check the website and keep up to date, I'm making limited edition copies available for pre-order at £1 off the RRP ... and chucking in P&P for free. It's just a small way of saying thanks to those people who have supported me in the past and keep tabs on what I'm up to.

To pre-order a copy, go to www.leecrompton.com

Prince is less than a week away. I repeat, Prince is less than a week away. Knowing I'm seeing him next Saturday at the o2 arena has meant I've managed to recapture the childlike excitement of Christmas.

I was frenzied with anticipation anyway but then Gemma emailed me some of the reviews from the shows so far and I nearly wet my pants.

What's more, I'm having to sell 2 of my tickets on Ebay because Matt and his Mrs can't make it. Terrible shame really because my first visit to see the purple one was with Matt some 17 years ago. So there I was, looking at the o2 website to suss the arena layout so I could include it within my description, and suddenly, the words "AFTER SHOW PARTY" leapt out at me. Long story short, I've managed to get tickets. Doors open at 11.30pm after the gig and it shuts at 4am. The excitement dial has just gone off the radar.

I suffer from acid reflex which is a result of my hiatus hernia. A lot of people apparently suffer from this and taking a tablet every day solves the problem. However, being the stubborn git that I am, at 33, I'm not prepared to have to take medication for the rest of my life just yet. I therefore altered my diet to help myself. I now maybe have to take one a week. Giving up the fags last Sept was beneficial but caffeine still gives me a lot of jip. This in turn makes people at work think I'm gay (for wanting decaf coffee or herbal teas). I've also struggled to find a substitute for my favourite all time drink, Vodka Redbull (which I was possibly the first person in Dorset to discover when it was only sold in a few exclusive London clubs, what now seems like 25 years ago).

But, dear friends, I know may well have the answer ... FRIJJ CHOCOLATE FUDGE BROWNIE MILK. The idea came from a holiday in Spain many years ago when I used to drink La Mumbas which were basically Rum and chocolate milkshakes. "Why not add vodka to chocolate fudge brownie milk" I thought. Chocolate & milk? Might sound gross but I defy you to like it. Give it a go. Yum!

PS Should any of you wish to make an official complaint as to why the book release date is dragging on, please direct your wrath at Milton Stilton and Dave (of the big, evil variety).

They said it would never happen, he vowed never to return, but in August, Connor (sorry, I mean me. I often get the two confused) will be returning to India. This time, I'm off to the South, starting in Mumbai.

With respect to the previous entry, I plan to get "Digging Deeper" to the printers before I leave so that the limited edition copies will be available on my return. The idea will to be make them available for pre-order on the website whilst I'm away.

For those of you who have read Worlds Apart, you'll be pleased to know that the trip will involve some very long stints on Indian trains. Completion of the Connor trilogy to come?

Before we go any further, I apologise for lack of updates and news on the latest book release. I can report I'm not merely spending my time watching rugby, doing the garden, going to concerts and playing on the xbox (honest). With certain events - which will be revealed later - Digging Deeper is now set to be available in early September. For the lucky couple of people who keep up to date with the website, I'm proposing to make limited edition copies available for pre-order on the website in August, so keep your eyes peeled.

As for Genesis, they were superb, although the audience was mainly made up of men my Dad's age wearing sensible shoes with faux leather jackets slung over their shoulders (some even wore dark shades). Next stop, Prince at the O2 arena (millenium dome) in August.

This weekend I'm off to the Debut Authors Festival at the Treverse Theatre in Edinburgh. Friday at 7pm is the "jam session" where budding young hopefuls get 4 minutes to read their work in front of a distinguished panel. I guess it's a bit like X-factor for writers (just without crap singing and a man who wears his trousers to close to his armpits)

Sunday, there's a discussion on the pros and cons of creative writing courses. I hope there' a lot of cons ... cus I haven't been on one (does it show?)

Last weekend I went to Murrayfield for the last round of the rugby 7's.

England were rubbish and got booed by the locals (and the Welsh, the Aussies & everybody else).

The cheerleaders were nice though ...

Picture the scene, an Englishman abroad ... the wrong side of thirty coming out of retirement and dusting off his boots for a special game of footy in Drumchapel, Glasgow. With the opposition including professional footballers including a Motherwell striker (yes, I'm making excuses already) and me at centre-half alongside a man with a dodgy knee and bad back, we were always going to be on a hiding to nothing. The end result was a fairly respectable 7-0 beating. I'm pleased to say I lasted 90 mins without turning my ankle and thoroughly enjoyed the occasion.

EXCLUSIVE - The Positive Publishing website has now been launched.

I've basically set it up to help people try and avoid the barriers I've encountered over the last 3 years and brought everything under one roof.

Your one-stop publishing stop.

http://www.positive-publishing.co.uk

Digging Deeper has now officially been assigned an ISBN ... 978-0-9556090-0-8. You heard it here first.


It's been an interesting day all told ...
1) For those of you who knew I had an "appointment" today, the verdict is, I'll live. The nurse asked me what I did. I said I was an author. She said her cousin was Iain Banks. I felt 2 feet tall.

2) I had an email from Nielsen BookData who informed me that I'm able to use a sooper dooper service they offer whereby book shops and distributors will be able to order Digging Deeper through them ... NBD will then inform me ... and I will do the necessary. Brilliant! Theoretically this is great because it gets around the problem of having to have a distributor who generally don't appear to be interested unless you have 100's of 1000's of books to sell. The thriller's good, but we're not quite in that bracket yet.

3) Following my email from NBD, I rang them, to confirm that this sooper dooper "thing" was indeed sooper dooper. I'm pleased to report it sounds like it is. I therefore asked if I could have 12 months and Worlds Apart ordered through them on the same basis ... even better, they said yes. I asked what was currently on the system for the first two books, and she informed me that anyone wanting to order them would have to go through Gazelle book services. I've never heard of them ... and subsequently (although not surprisingly) found out when I rang them that they'd never heard of me. Having sent an email to NBD, this has hopefully been sorted through Positive Publishing (watch this space for further news)

4) It also may appear that I've found a printer ... again, watch this space

So yes, the book is finished ... reviewers, editors, proof-readers, cover contributors, ISBN's and the like are all being done/sorted and I'm hoping the book will be released in the next 3-4 weeks.

If you'll excuse me, I'm off to watch Liverpool lift the European Cup for the 2nd time in 3 years. Come on the Reds!

The news in brief? Well, Last weekend was spent seeing the folks down south and a good time was had by all ... I've bought a polaroid camera ... bought tickets to see Prince in August ... and had some success with editing the book and receiving contributions for the cover.

I'd like to thank the following people for their help to date

David Markoff - http://markoff.pl/

Meghan Colson

Clara Goodger

Laura Gregory

carmendevos http://www.polanoir.com/carmendevos

www.philippamarshall.co.uk

Currently in discussions with actor Philippa Marshall with regards to releasing some sample chapters of my books as podcasts. This is for the lazy gits who never get around to reading any of the chapters on the website.

As well as her acting, Philippa has done loads of voice over work so I'm looking forward to working with her.

I've come up with a new idea for the front cover of Digging Deeper, which I'll keep under wraps for now as I am working with a few people to come up with some proposals.

Suffice to say I'm very pleased with the response, glad with both the concept, the potential eye-catching appeal and the fact that Enrique won't be on the cover for a 3rd time.

If you'll excuse me, I must get back to some editing ...

Image details:

magdalena #04 by carmendevos

people.polanoid.net/carmendevos

http://www.polanoir.com/carmendevos

Aaaah, gorra b jaysus, that's me back from a Bank Holiday weekend in the Emerald Isle. Very nice to get away although the majority of the city was shut on Good Friday. Thank heavens for the hotel bar.
I'm planning to get straight back on the editing now although I'm slightly concerned having read some 'proper' books of late and wondering if I can cut the mustard. The story flies along at 100 mph at the moment and although - in my humble opinion - it's a page turner, does it have enough description to allow the reader to actually give a monkey's about the characters? Add my previous concern with regards to the level of dialogue ... and I have a bit to work on, but I am really pleased with the storyline.

On another note, I don't know if I've mentioned it before (I don't think I have) but someone was telling me the other day that they're doing (or at least filming) some reality show involving authors. The basic concept I think is for self-published monkeys to stand up, knees knocking in front of a panel of judges, and read extracts from their work. Would I ever enter I hear you cry?

No chance!

1) I find it difficult to read to an audience.
2) Imagine the humiliation of hearing your work's a pile of pony only fit for the recycle bin ... and then it being aired on telly so that everyone else knew you were a loser.

I can see it know, me with goofy teeth and a lisp, forearms across my face in the form of a cross. "I'th got thhe xth thactor" just before we cut to a scene of me in tears, crying/hugging Ms Deeley or Dermot O'Leary (I imagine it would be one of them presenting it, both of whom lack the bosom to cry into following such a traumatic ordeal. Maybe some boffin type like the Vorderman would be more appropriate, a heftier bosom if nothing else) after having my book, yes MY BOOK, cut to ribbons.
Not sure how it's going to work. I can hardly see the contenders walking out onto the stage to some hip-hop beat, bright lights and a frenzied audience, with banners and all ... there's an expectant hush ... before some geeky bloke with glasses produces a book and proceeds to read some poetry???
All the best to all those brave enough to have a go though eh? Don't let a self-critical wuss with no confidence eager to cling onto whatever pride he has left like me put you off ... I'll still probably be sad enough to watch it, especially if they shoot anyone not up to the grade. A programme that kills and maims any of my potential competition gets the thumbs up from me.

The first draft of the thriller has now been completed. I'm taking a break from it before returning to do the editing sometime after Easter.

Also, I've bought myself a digital camera and so have been thinking about possible covers. Any ideas gladly welcome ...

Ahh yes, with the clocks springing forward tonight, we know that Summer is finally here. This fact was reinforced as I drove to Edinburgh Airport last night and was pebble dashed with stones as I overtook a gritter on the M9. Here in Scotland, last week in snowed and last night, the gritters were out.
Is it any wonder the Romans gave up. Managing to conquer the rest of Europe (in bright sunshine) they got up here and eventually thought, sod that for a game of Roman legions. Fighting against tribes who spent 6 months of the year in almost complete darkness, freezing temperatures, cutting winds ... and kilts. Bopping a few Italians over the head would have been a doddle compared with day to day survival. Having survived 2 Scottish winters myself (albeit they've apparently been fairly mild), the changing of the clocks is almost a celebration. It's as if the summer months and light evenings are a reward for having put up with all that the previous 6 months has thrown at you. In a nutshell, I'm looking forward to my pupils adjusting to the new levels of light in the morning.
PS On the book front, I'm hoping to have the first draft complete my Sunday night (fingers crossed)

Not so good news on the word count. Slacked off this last week but belted out a few yesterday. Now up around the mid 52's and hoping to churn out a few more this afternoon.

PS Went to see Alan Carr last night as part of Glasgow's Comedy Festival. Very funny! Alan (from my book) would have loved it.

We have the technology ... sort of! The podcast of my radio interview is now available by clicking the jellycast icon on my website.

The problem - I found out more by luck than judgement - was that the file needed to be an MP3 as opposed to a WAV (I see you all nodding knowingly). It's a little crackly but seeing as how my only copy was on good old audio tape, it made the transfer a bit tricky.

I've just typed a load of updates only for the chuffing thing to crash on me, so I'm afraid you're going to have to have the shortened version.

1) My first official ad campaign has commenced. Having become addicted to urbandead.com over the last few months, I found out today you can advertise with them ... so I have.

2) The cashpoints, bus shelters and telephone boxes of Falkirk are awash with free books after a flurry of releases by yours truly this morning through BOOKCROSSING.COM

3) I'm pleased, following my entry earlier this week, that Liverpool managed to scrape through in the Champions League meaning I didn't need to delete my hard work. Even better, Celtic went out which meant I recouped the £100 bet I lost in the summer on a double or quits. PSV in the next round ... I mean Liverpool of course, not Celtic

4) After 6 months off the smokes, the craving have hit back with avengance. I've not caved though, yet.

5) Ewan McGregor becomes the first A lister to decline, very graciously, to review my book. Something to do with agents dictating what he can and can't endorse. I can't blame these celebs to be honest. They must get asked to get stupid things all the time, open crappy fairs and fetes, read crappy books etc etc

That'll be it for now. Trying and failing to put out my radio interview (yes the one I did two years ago) as a Podcast. Bit too technical for me. Hope to get back the the writing tomorrow.

Word count update, just over 50,000!

So i'm chuffed to meatballs with that as I really wasn't expecting, what with other commitments, to churn out 4000 words in a week. Talking of other commitments, I should have done extra tonight on the basis I shall be camped in front of the telly tommorrow night to watch the footy. If Liverpool fail to get through to the next round I'll delete this weeks work. On second thoughts.

In other news, my God son has taken his first few steps and under no pressure from his Dad, has already been given a Thomas the Tank Engine Ball. At least with such practise so early in his development he'll hopefully be good enough to play for the mighty 'pool' instead of wearing the white and blue of his Dad's beloved Spurs.

Another 1000 words rattled off (47,000 in all), but tonight I managed to do it without the vodka kick start. Lots and lots more dialogue, which isn't ideal, but i thought it best to get it down on paper and I can always fiddle about with it later. After Claire's comment on my last entry, I would like to point out that there is no rhyme or reason to my "story filling in" at the moment, suffice to say it's my bloody book so I'll do it in whatever order I bloody like haha! The last two scenes are yet to be written (although I know exactly what is going to happen) so I've moved back in time from what I was writing last night although I've missed a bit out so I'll need to move forward again at some stage before going back to the beginning and then doing the ending. Maybe it's time for a sniffter of vodka after all.

It's going very well, thanks for asking. Forgive me, I've had a couple more vodkas than I probably should have - on a school night and all - but the planning of the book has come along in leaps and bounds. It's all there, it's just a case of incorporating what I've already written around my new framework. Written about 1000 words tonight but had to delete around 600 which are now obsolete. Current work count of just over 46,000. Still a long way to go but feel happy it's all fitting into place. I'm actually starting from the back and piecing it together as i work my way forward but I was just toooo keen to get another twist in at the end.
Only just realised this is the first book I've written in the third person and although it supposedly gives you more freedom, I actually find it harder to write. Slightly concerned with the amount of dialogue currently in the story but that's something i can address later.
PS Saw HOT FUZZ at the weekend. 6/10.

Some of you may be pleased to know that I'm working on the thriller today having finished reading The Catcher in the Rye this morning. I didn't know anything about the book before I read it other than,

1) It had a cult following.
2) The bloke who killed John Lennon was reported to have had a copy of the book on him when he was arrested.
3) The bloke who tried to assassinate Reagan was supposedly obsessed with the book.
4) I think it's been mentioned in "Lost".

I read it, and as much as I don't take criticism too well myself (and who am I to comment on a modern classic), I just didn't get it. So I've done some research this morning on the basis I'd missed something (after all, I'd have probably thought Animal Farm was about some talking pigs if it wasn't for the fact I studied it at school) and from what I can tell, yes it is purely about a messed up teenager who's been booted out of school. I can't say I really ever got into the story. It's written in the style of a teenager (although it was published in the early 50's i think) but everything is "kinda" this and "sorta" that and "if you wanna know the truth". He basically hates everything, including himself at times but I never really knew when he was being serious or not. The story trundles on, he was going to ring someone and then couldn't be bothered, then he was going to go some place, but couldn't be bothered but I kept with it on the basis that if someone killed the inspiration behind the biggest boy band in the world and someone else attempted to assassinate the President of the United States because of the book, then something really profound must happen at some stage. It doesn't, but then Donnie Darko was supposedly a cult film everybody loved (about another messed up teenager) and I didn't really get that either - and this comes from a teenager who wrote crap depressing poetry until it came out of his ears.
Being a sucker for trivia as I am, I was however pleased to learn that the title is based on a misreading of a line in the song "Comin' Thro' the Rye," by Robert Burns. Furthermore, the lead character's surname is Caulfield. Apparently 'Caul' in Scottish, means 'Rye' ... Rye field.
Who am i to criticise? I just don't understand ... even thirty years after it was first published, it was the most banned book in the States. Still, don't let me put you off.

If it takes this long for the completion targets to be done on the third book, how long is it going to take to finish the actual book? Well, I'll tell you ... 12 weeks ... with a following wind. That's the aim, and doesn't include cover design, formatting, getting it to the printers, sourcing an ISBN etc etc. It's going to be a tall order. Going back to full-time work for the immediate future has put pay to any plans to crack it out ASAP. I've completed over 45,000 words though so I'm half way there. It'll just take about 3 months of evenings and weekends to get to grips with it.

As for my day job, the news is good. Now that the weather is warming up a little, it means that the site toilets aren't frozen up until lunchtime. There were 2 days last week when I couldn't go for a wee before noon. And they say nurses have it tough ...

An update on the thriller ... I'm afraid to report that nothing has happened. What with signing up for full-time employment to boost the coffers apres Christmas, and getting the Xbox online ... it ain't happening. I plan to sit down in the week and plan a schedule to give me a target completion date however.

On another note, I have been to see 2 films recently, both very good. Last weekend, I saw The Last King of Scotland, and on Friday I watched Blood Diamonds. I would suggest going to see the latter if you're a man who is under any pressure to get engaged. Diamonds are BAD, people die ... make do with a Coke ring pull or it's nothing.

A rant to finish with, whilst Africans are forced to work as slaves, some of whom die, for Westerns to look pretty with rocks on their fingers, whilst kiddy fiddlers are let loose on our streets because we don't have enough room in prisons, it's good to know that back in the reality of planet celebrity earth where nobody gives a crap, Tommy Walsh has now plastered his face over and endorsed wallplugs ... ALL wallplugs. You can't just buy a big box of plastic wallplugs which are either suitable for EITHER plasterboard or blockwork, oh no, the only plugs on sale in Homebase were "celebrity" endorsed wallplugs in assorted sizes. They were of course extremely over-priced because (a) they have to pay Tommy Walsh to put his name on them and (b) they're supposedly super-dooper plugs suitable for plasterboard OR blockwork. Wow Tommy, I'll never go back to using NORMAL cheap plugs they use on building sites all over the country ever again.

No matter, I intend to cheer myself up tonight by watching Dawn of the Dead having been recently informed by one of the English teachers at Lytchett that as well as being a horror film, it's also a social commentary on American consumerism and materialism. I think tonight's is the remake though, so whether that has the same undertones, I don't know. In any case, as I eventually intend to write a zombie book (should I ever finish the thriller) it'll be good research in any case.

OVER AND OUT ...

Another satisfied customer ...

Just as the South Coast sun was warming my bones (spent the morning on the decking in a T-shirt) it was time to return to Bonnie Scotland (3 degrees when I landed at Prestwick at 5pm).

A good time was had by all however. The workshops at my old school in Lytchett went very well and I'm planning on publishing some of the results on my website by the end of the week.

Thanks to everyone at Lytchett for the warm welcome, and a special thanks to the four classes for their involvement and enthusiasm.

Ahh yes, school days are the happiest days of your life ... it's just you don't realise it at the time which is why I'm going back to my old school in Lytchett Minster in Poole to remind myself of those heady days of youth.

While I'm there I'll be completing various writing workshops for 4 different classes before treating myself to a good old fashioned school dinner although I'm sure now Mr Oliver has got involved I'll probably only be able to get asparagus in a Ryvita sandwich.

I'm really looking forward to going back and working with the kids ... and hopefully everyone will have forgotten I was suspended in the 6th Form - which incidently did my golf handicap the world of good. It was 15 years ago for heavens sake, let it go, move on!

Wikipedia ... WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE???

I wikipedia'd myself, and found out that some kind of Kangaroo court has deleted my page on the basis that "Lee Crompton is a self-published author who is using Wikipedia to publicise his vanity novel".
How very dare they. My novel is nothing to do with the subject of vanity for starters. What's more, they go onto suggest "The page was created by a user called "crommers", which name makes me think that this was the author himself."
Me? Crommers? self-publisisisiscing? The same person who was hauled over the coals for allegedly sending "spam" to bookcrossing members? Never. You ain't got nuffink on me, right?
WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? Where do they come from? Have they got nothing better to do but to pass judgment on whether or not a page should be deleted? I wouldn't mind but these people have actually taken time to carry out research and have concluded that because I was published by Lulu, a print on demand publisher, I should be voted off. Well I've got news for you Wikipedia, your information is over 2 years out of date and both titles are now published by Ascendere. Stuff that up yer whatnot!

On a lighter note, I can now reveal 2006 saw the end of the kitchen renovation. I shall now be devoting far more of my time in 2007 to finishing the thriller, promoting the plight of the sabre toothed donkey and possibly working with the poor.

A Happy New Year to one & all. Some of you will know that this isn't the happiest times of year for poor Connor but he is glad to see the back of gaudy houses, visible from space with the number of bloody lights and illuminated tacky Christmas characters. In this green age surely we should be taxing the blighters for wasting valuable resources.
The year 2050. A small boy sits on his father's knee. He looks at him, tears tracking down his cheek. 'Daddy, why is the sky so sooty and black, and large cracks in the ground.' The Dad wipes the boy's eye (he only has the one, the other rotted away from pollution ... or something). 'It's OK son, it's just the earth decaying, but it's alright, when I was a lad, all the houses were lit up like Las Vegas at Christmas time and we all had a ruddy good time. Shame we kinda buggered it up for you a bit but ho hum, can't be helped.'
One last thing, does anyone know if street lights use energy saving light bulbs. I'm sure someone must have thought of this before so I imagine it's already been done but imagine what a difference that would make if we could save energy on every street light in the country. In my fantasy world, we could get young offenders and people on community service to go around and change them all.
That's the majority of the planet saved, I'm off to take my new giant telly off standby and go for a lickle lie down me thinks.