Sorry to hear that Sir Terry is calling it a day - won't be the same in the mornings...but hey, let's give Chris a chance!
Pleged 25% of sales of 'Pram' again to Children in Need. Would love to make it 100% but want to get the money together for another huge walk. And I still can't get those 6 numbers right!!
New book is almost complete - New Year looks likelier to get it on the book shelves so watch this space...
Good wishes to all,
MJC
Feels odd - I haven't done a major walk this year - the first time since 2002!
Ah well I'll be back with a vengeance next year I'm sure...maybe walk to the World Cup in South Africa...?
Anyway friends, am doing my bit for Children in Need. My company (IFDS) is one of the contact centres that takes the calls so I'll be getting involved there.
In the meantime, Christmas is coming (ever faster!) but there's still time to enjoy Halloween and Guy Fawkes first.
Hope you are all well,
Good wishes always,
MJC
Well summer's here! Off to see Bruce Springsteen tomorrow in Hyde Park.
New book is nearing completion, possible Christmas date, maybe book-for-the-beach for next summer (the wheels turn slowly in the world of publishing...)
New house is pretty cool, in the 'Village' in Chelmsford. Evenings on the balcony, wine & friends etc.
Just musing whether it's time to think about another walk this year. Wasn't going to, but I get to this time of year and the feet get itchy and the Pram starts a-calling!!
Been getting more e-mails from readers of 'Man & a Pram' which is great. Weird how you leave footprints in random places around the world - and some right here in the UK. It's good that people have the story 'fresh' and want to chat about it.
Anyway, back to Bruce and polishing the new manuscript.
Enjoy the sunshine!
MJC
Just had a few days travelling round the Fields of Flanders, very moving. What a waste of a generation.
Then on to Bournemouth. Car was serviced before, needs a new engine so had to take the train...grrrrr....
Book sales picking up again, which is good. Currently putting finishing touches to new novel - out for the summer? Here's hoping.
Doing a talk for under-achieving students at my old school next week. An ex-teacher heard me doing a talk at Southend Library and recommended me as a "motivational speaker". Be interesting to see how the 16/17 year olds take to my tales in this life!
Keep you posted...
Your servant
MJC
Happy New Year (belatedly)!
Christmas & New Year was great with family & friends down in Southend. Did the talk and book signing at Southend Library, whch went really well. If only I could jack in the current 9 to 5 and tour around the libraries of the UK...alas the bills must still be paid for the moment.
Got my royalties cheque for sales during 2nd half of 2008. Treated myself to a brand new pc and felt suitably encouraged to get writing again!
Got the completed MS for "The Legacy of Michael Shelling" - a novel - ready for publishing and also looking at a couple of non-fiction MS that will remain under wraps for the moment.
Am also project-managing an excellent Essex band called Shy June over the next few months. Have a listen at www.shyjunemusic.com.
So it's a busy start to 2009. Watch this space for updates.
Your servant,
MJC
It's been a good week.
Got invited to take part in the BBC Gala Night at Theatre Royal, Norwich next Saturday (25th). Rick Wakeman is on the bill, a little further down is...me.
Started training in earnest, with a 12-mile walk on Saturday, which left me with cramp - I don't get cramp!!! What's going on??
Followed up with 8-mile walk on Sunday and have been walking most nights this week. Starting to feel like I've got my walking legs back.
Waterstones in Piccadilly have confirmed I'll be crossing a "finishing line" at their store on Saturday 15th Nov. Excellent!
Just sent out 47 press releases to the TV, radio & newspapers along the route as well as old favourites that have supported me in the past. Watch out for me in your locals...
Well the Walk 2008 is on!
Spent a couple of happy weekends cutting out felt Pudseys to go on the M&S coat I got off ebay. Can't claim all the credit though, as Mum & Auntie Barbara did most of the work...
E-mailed all the police forces to let them know I'll be walking across their patches. Usual "make sure you are aware of the risks etc" but all in all very nice messages back. No offers to walk alongside me though...
Two B&Bs offered free room to support charitable efforts which is great. Accommodation all lined up for each night now.
All I've got to do is get in shape! Have done a few 7 mile walks around Chelmsford which have been fine. Also dusted off the old GoreTex boots as November is likely to be a little wet, going by the last couple of weeks.
Waterstones very keen for me to do signings for the book which is sweet of them. Great result with Piccadilly (flagship branch) who want me to "cross a finishing line" on the day after I complete the walk.
So all I need to do is get ready to put one foot in front of the other once again. It's good to be back on the road...
Things went a little quiet for a few weeks after big launch, but picked up again.
Did signing at Waterstones Colchester and another coming up 6th September at Bury St Edmunds. Watford Observer did a piece (bless them) and seen another little flurry of sales in America, wo-hoo!
Going to Spain on 23rd for a week. First holiday since 2002 (no, the Walk doesn't count!!)
Currently looking into a walk for Children in Need in November - Sheffield to London still sounds good to me. Watch this space...
Flooded London with flyers last week about the book.
Started at Euston Station Monday morning, standing like a pillock with my hand in the air with leaflet flapping away. One person took one in the 20 minutes I was there. Gave that up.
Instead, walked down to UCL and the guy in reception took a bunch and said he'd stick them in the canteen and all over campus. Excellent!
Called into Blackwells, Borders, Stanfords, Foyles and several branches of Waterstones. This was the real old-fashioned door-to-door way of promotion!
Monday was central, Tuesday the City, Wednesday the west. THursday I got marching orders from Docklands asa potential "security risk" What??? Looks like the terrorists have won to me, if the mighty Docklands gets jittery about a bloke handing out leaflets about a book...
Anyway, got signings coming up from next Saturday (Southend Waterstones) then Basildon, Chelmsford, Colchester and Oxford Street to follow.
See you there!
MJC x
Got next week off work. Went out last night to say goodbye to some people, lots of Southern Comfort consumed...
Heading up to London tomorrow, got a bargain bucket studio flat for 4 nights. Will be spending the days handing out flyers for the book. Going up with pram and will perch myself outside Liverpool Street, Euston, Waterloo, Victoria etc.
Picked up the 10,000 flyers on Wednesday - weighed a ton! Spoke to Met Police to aks if I need any special permission etc, but they said no.
So if you see me standing outside your station (or wandering along the West End) handing out flyers, do stop for a chat!
Oh and if any journalists looking in, I'm available for interiew anytime... :-)
Have good weekends all
MJC
Got my author's copies of the books through - quite thrilling to see my own book in print at last!
Southend Waterstones have set the date for the signing session on 10th May, between 12:00 - 2:00. Have promised to take the pram along and will be dressed 'WorldWalker' style with the yellow vest (now rather faded).
I'm also off on 17th to record an interview for a DVD supporting the government's 'Next Steps' campaign for young people. This will be giving advice and information about travelling, gaps years etc. I guess I'm an 'honorary young person' for the purposes of this project!!
What I found with the Walk was that it gave me the chance to see places & people that I'd never normally meet. The whole book launch seems to be doing the same. I love that aspect of it.
The BBC are doing another interview with me and the Essex papers are planning more coverage/ reviews as well. Great!!!
Collected my 'new' car on Friday. Well, it's a 1996 Ford Fiesta. I had to sell the old one back in 04 to finance part of the walk, so it's good to be mobile again. No power steering, no auto windows, in fact as basic as you can get.
Went out last night to Barfly in Camden to see a mate playing a gig with his band - excellent stuff. Shy June is the band - more driving than their previous 'ambient' stuff, which I'm very pleased about.
For now, got to get practicing my signature for 10th May. Hope to see you there... :-)
MJC
All this and keeping the day job going as well.
Well January turned into February....just approved the photos for "Man & a Pram" with publisher, waiting for the author's copies to wing their way to me.
Exciting times!
Been into the local Waterstones & WH Smith who've agreed to stock the book (excellent!)
Also got 7 Essex papers to agree coverage. Did an interview for the national Weekly News + sent review copies to Manchester Evening News, Yorkshire Post.
Spoke today to a PR firm who said they'd concoct a campaign for me and generate more coverage, but advised me to allocate £2000 - £3000 per month to cover expenses. Just a tad outside my budget.
Have tried joining loads of Facebook groups and looked into how to spread myself widely on myspace, but very few nibbles at the moment.
Combining my day job with marketing self & book is - how shall I put it - "interesting".
Now contemplating a Walk for 2008. Sheffield to London? It's possible. The old pram should be up for one last heave I reckon.
Anyway - England footie tonight and Springsteen shows at Cardiff/London to look forward to, so a little distraction for a while will be good.
Greetings from Essex! Be happy...
MJC
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