‘Remotely’ hits the shelves
The news today is all about ‘Remotely‘, my latest offering to world of novel comedy which is now available at Amazon. I know I’ve been banging on about it for over a year now as I wrote it, some of it was written on Tilos, the rest was written on Symi, and it’s all set in a place not unlike Littlestone-on-Sea, on the south coast of Kent. A place I have called Middlestone-on-Sea because just along the coast from Littlestone is Greatstone, and my fictional community live somewhere in between. There’s also a theatre in it that I borrowed from Folkestone, the Leas Pavilion Theatre which I once worked in, and which was used for filming of the French/British TV series, ‘The Tunnel.’
That’s the setting, what’s the story? I’ll put the blurb here in a moment so you can read it if you want to. First though, I’ve already had people ask about the Kindle version and yes, there will be one as I know many people these days use that format. The text has to be reformatted for Kindle and that’s going to take them a couple of weeks, but I will let you know when it’s ready. Meanwhile, if you’d like to support a struggling writer please feel free to order an Amazon copy, or pass the link on tor friends and family who might like to read it and, if at all possible, please put up a review on Amazon when you’ve read it.
The first person to be seen reading a print copy on Symi wins a drink!
We now have to do some publicity work, starting with the newspapers local to the area where the book is set – newspapers I appeared in when I was younger and doing lots of Am-Dram. (I wonder if they still have the photo of me as Ali Hakim in Oklahoma!) Any other ideas for publicity would be welcome as would as many shares and reviews you feel able to do on Twitter and Facebook and all those kind of places. Thank you!
The book is not going to be for everyone, not every book is, and it’s not really suitable for under 18s due to the language some characters use, but it is fun and if, like me, you are fed up with the banality of ‘reality talent shows’ and the like, then you might like some of the pops that some of the characters take at that genre of mass-appeal TV.
Anyway, here’s the ‘Remotely‘ blurb (most of it is also on the back cover) and the link to where you an order a copy from Amazon.co.uk – it should filter into worldwide Amazon stores before long.
‘Remotely‘ pokes fun at British reality television.
Britain’s newest and most pointless TV talent competition is coming to Middlestone-On-Sea. ‘So You Think We’re Remotely Interested?’ has taken Friday night viewers by storm as it streams live variety shows from remote, provincial theatres across Britain. The theatre with the most audience votes wins regeneration and revival, and lord knows, Middlestone-on-Sea needs both.
The dying seaside backwater rests its hopes on the performance of two ex-best friends, gay Gary and straight Stag. The visiting celebrity judge, the mysterious and timeless Miss P, knows that for all to be well, they must mend their broken friendship. But there is no success without trial. She magically swaps Gary and Stag into each other’s bodies.
Secrets are learned, comedy ensues, and yet the community remains divided. Rifts must be healed, differences accepted, and bodies swapped back before the season grand finale in four days’ time otherwise Middlestone will lose everything.
“Once you start on James Collins’ coming of age, body-swap comedy, you won’t be remotely interested in putting it down.” G. J. Mugwatch MP
Some Amazon reviews for James Collins:
“Brilliantly observed and a wicket wit.”
“Lots of laughs and loads of page turning moments. Yes, it was hard to put down.”
“Another unputdownable book that had me engrossed from beginning to end, and chuckling.”
“Finished this book yesterday and oh so amusing, would love to see it as a film.”
“More, I want more! I truly could not put this book down.”
