No, I'm not plotting another sequel. No, I've not replaced Claude. No, Tia hasn't had a baby. Today, I wanted to shout out another author with their own monkey. A charming one too. Serena Choo is back with The Dancing Monkey and Living The Way of Zen. I wrote about the original a few moons ago and was delighted to see an email from her recently mentioning a new book ready to launch. I've already devoured the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) and am now reading it again on Kindle Unlimited at a more...
15 days ago â˘Â 1 min read
I want to start with a question for you today: Why do you go on holiday? Category A To escape your job for a week or two? To escape your current life for a longer period? To take a break from your normal routine and worries? Category B To do a certain thing you've always wanted to do? To go to a certain place or country you've always wanted to visit? To return to a place (that's not your home) that you like, love or calls you? Your answer may be a bit of both, but probably leans more towards...
29 days ago â˘Â 6 min read
Some people come into your life through a certain unexplained providence. Helping you, encouraging you and having a good laugh along the way. Tom Grundy has been one of those guys for me. Even as a Man United fan... Ahem. I stumbled across his work via a guest post written for Paul Millerd (author of The Pathless Path) that hooked me in from the very first sentence. Tom has an intriguing story⌠After taking two years away from a career in corporate bankingâwith a proper Claude Talador style...
2 months ago â˘Â 1 min read
A spot of "life turbulence" has hit in the last few weeks but I wanted to share my (planned) first post on Substack. The idea is to combine a story analysis/review with a non-fiction idea. At the moment Iâm standing by the side of the pool, deciding whether to dip a toe or dive into the platform... Batman Begins And The Masks We Wear When Nolan and David S. Goyer set out to reboot Batman in 2005, they werenât simply trying to revive a sleepy franchise. They wanted to tell a powerful story...
3 months ago â˘Â 4 min read
I know I tend to beat the jungle drum about stories. But sometimes, a good one isn't everything. I went to see OVO by Cirque du Soleil last Saturday. A bucket list item for Liv. I wasnât sure if it would be my jam. Honestly, the storyline was naff, with a few main characters speaking in gobbledygook (presumably insect language) in painful interludes. The humour felt a bit juvenile. We both rolled our eyes each time they returned to the stage. And yet, Liv said the show was 'one of the best...
3 months ago â˘Â 1 min read
Six weeks ago today, 7:15am, I checked into the Wimpole Clinic on Harley Street. It was time for the transplant. Of the hair variety. Why write about it on my writer newsletter? Because of stories. Particularly the ones we tell ourselves. Ones that can be faulty. I've written this off-the-cuff this morning though, so bear with me. No-Brainers So, there are some decisions in life that are straightforward. You donât question them. What you might call no-brainers. This wasnât one of them....
4 months ago â˘Â 5 min read
It has been a wet & windy Jan down in the West Country, I'm currently up in Yorkshire, and I've recently had a hair transplant (more on that next time). The combination of factors has forced a mini 'hibernation' to kick off my 2026. An unexpected perk has been some extra time for consuming stories. Liv & I just finished Slow Horses, Silo and Pluribus. Two good. One bad. Can you guess which is which? Answers at the end. Bingeing versus savouring a series Some people watch TV like they're...
4 months ago â˘Â 2 min read
Claude officially turns one today. Itâs his pichu birthday. Or moonday, if you prefer. Iâm really grateful you've been along for most, some, or all of the ride so far. So howâs it gone? Low lights âHavingâ to do self-promo and put myself out there on social media Not knowing where to sign a print copy for a friend. I still donât know for sure The long stretch of newsletter inertia. I was focused on finishing the damn beasty Trying to encourage reviews while knowing Amazon prohibits...
4 months ago â˘Â 1 min read
Friend of the newsletter and work/life guru, Tom Grundy, recently recommended a book to me by Scott Adams, the brains (and pen) behind Dilbert. I couldn't find How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big for my trusty Kindle, so I asked for it as a Christmas gift instead. Dad delivered and I've been happily picking away at the paperback since. Adams comes across as a polymath and lots of bits have LEAPT off the page already. One yesterday was where Adams argues that the art of...
5 months ago â˘Â 2 min read