For all those people who asked when I was going to write another book, it turns out the answer was: Not until I was clocking a hundred miles a day without touching the helm or the sheets.
Sure enough, the Atlantic crossing by the trade wind route provided the perfect motivation – there wasn’t anything else to do.
And so I am pleased to present The Good Stuff.
I won’t describe it here because there’s an extensive introduction explaining how it came about – and of course, the blurb on the Amazon page.
But already it has its first review: From Betty Gibbs of Tunbridge Wells, who wrote to the editor of the Daily Telegraph with fulsome praise for the episode involving the dog, the Animal Health Inspector and the leak and Roquefort tarte.
And this book (these books – there are two volumes) have been professionally produced! I found myself spending all my waking hours trying to correlate the page numbers and the Table of Contents – something which hadn’t been an issue with Old Man Sailing.
Anyway, I ended up working with a wonderful editor in the USA. Then a talented graphic designer in France produced the cover – and Hey Presto! Something that wouldn’t look out of place in Waterstones.
Not that I’ve actually seen it, of course. I’m sitting here in Deadman’s Bay in The Virgin Islands, and the Amazon delivery man doesn’t call here.
You can find The Good Stuff – Book One at https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09ZK3DX3G
Book Two is at https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09ZK7F6RV
I wish there was some way Amazon would offer a discount for buying them together – but apparently not. Still, it would save on cardboard…
VERY, VERY funny John. I’m on the boat and thought I’d check out the “look inside” function to see whether it was worth buying the physical book, but by the time I got to the end of that, I was so hooked I had to buy the Kindle Edition!!
Thank you, Tom. Kindle is better (for me). Not only is there a higher royalty because of no printing costs but people can’t pass it on to their friends. Selfish I know – but I’ve decided I need a new roller-furler (Furlex or Profurl?)
I’m confused. You haven’t received the book yet but you have it in your hand in the photo!?
Ah yes, good point. This was the first edition which was waiting for me when I went home in April for the skiing holiday. However, upon reading it, I decided on all sorts of changes. Then, when I went to republish, I ran into these problems with the Table of Contents.
Hence bringing in the editor – who was so impressive, I had her go through the Old Man Sailing book – which was always a bit of an embarrassment because of the oversized print. Now we’re doing Trident which is enjoying a resurgeance thanks to Mr Putin.
Excellent, Well done and that’s great news for me.
Terrific stuff John, both books just purchased! I’ve gone for the paperback versions, Kindle is fine but it isn’t the same as a proper paper book!
I can’t wait to see it in print! Ordering soon!
It wouldn’t be half as good without your belp as the “wonderful editor in the USA”!