

He's only gone and done it!
Well, well he's only gone and done it. Thanks to you the most precious of things, fan, customers, followers, call them what you will, for me you are just inspirational, the reason I write. Thats not bull crap, its fact. When I started to write the first book it was only published because people wanted to read it. Now we are considered a proper author because there are 2 books... who knew So heres the thing, you need to buy a book now, liking a Facebook page is one thing but a


Breaking News...Breaking News...Breaking News...Breaking News...Breaking News
For those with really good hearing... There is a trumpet call, a clarion, Hark!! It is the news we have all been awaiting. The launch date for A Shot From The Shadows is officially The 7th of MARCH On that day all pre ordered books will be dispatched and the winner of the competition will be announced.... I'm so excited my legs are crossed


Europe or no Europe,That is the question.
So now we know, we are going to have a vote! If it had been left to Jack Adams and Albert Hagerman.... I wonder if there would have been need for a vote 100 years after their Long Shot. Its funny how things turn out isn't it.. Be safe and warm, Mike x


Exciting times, ordering and spending !
Now it starts, today we have started to spend more money on marketing material such as 'pop ups' and posters. It's now that it starts to become a reality that the finished book is only a few days away, hopefully this time next week the first 500 books will be here ready for dispatch. Now I start looking at the book signings we have already got and look to see if we can go anywhere else? who knows, you might want one in your town? All you have to do is find a venue such as a g


Oh, I hate waiting...
There are a very few things I'm ok at, waiting isn't one of them and although I know that even as I type the first 500 copies of A Shot From The Shadows are clanking away at the printers, I'm still having to wait. Now there are things I could be getting on with I know, the housework always needs a bit, you know, just to help out. Then there is the current marketing strategy, book signings to arrange, and locations to visit. Stands to order and collect as well as a public char


Let the fun begin
According to the people at Atherton HQ its time to have some fun. I dont know if I do fun very well? I try, but then life gets in the way and I become all serious and "puff" the fun's gone, and it's my fault. Well let me tell you, not today buddy bear, today I'm going to have fun, I'm also going to have haggis and mash and then theres a fair to middling chance of pancakes. I know, WILD.. But hang on, why? I can almost hear it on the air. Well because of a number of reasons 1.


Resist the urge, it's just not that easy sometimes
When it's a diet or when its cake or in my case pies, resistance is easy, I just dont! Despite all the evidence to support a healthy lifestyle and good diet I'm a bit hopeless at sticking to diets. But today there is new kid in town in the form of temptation and to be honest I dont think I'm going to be able to resist it for long. This seductress and ner do well of a temptress has come in the form of.... I want to start writing the next book! Now this was never in the plan, '


How did you do it?
Shhhh, can you keep a secret? I'm going to tell you something amazing, after reading this blog today You will be able to do something so amazing your friends are going to ask you how did you do that? Well, er actually i'm not really going to tell you anything you dont already know, but before you slam the lid down on your lap top or throw something at your monitor, let me expand on what I mean. I'm asked on average three times a day How did you do that? Write a book let alone


PayPal, me and a nun
Before I start I should say I meant to say NONE not NUN but I'm a Northerner and somethings get mixed up in pronunciation! But come on you have to admit you're reading this because of the nun. Big day today, we have sorted out the new PayPal account so you can order the book direct from the author. This serves a couple of things, first the money comes to me! and second I can sign them with a message as long as you tell me what you want. Its almost a booksigning right in your


Oh, the cost of fame.
Today we see me a broken man, all my money has been spent the publisher wants his pound of meat and because it's important for me to get it right for you, I gave 500 grams (which is slightly more than a pound!) But am I downtrodden,, no of course not. I'm Mike Atherton, all round good egg and cheerful Charlie, friend to the masses and dependant on my wife to give me some spending money. Maybe I should become a gigolo but its cold outside and if we're honest there wouldn't be