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.