Can Leighton’s second book better his first? The answer is nearly here with my new book entitled Save Our Souls. It is not a sequel to Gunboy, sorry folks I know a number of you want to know what is going to happen to our loveable psychopath and his Desert Eagles, but that is a little way away. I am currently writing the second draft, with the working title ‘Disconnect’. Save Our Souls (which I will formally announce with a release date soon) is the first in my space adventur

Hello, gentle readers. When I started the book in 2013, it was because I didn’t know if I could write a book. It was a worthwhile question to put to myself. In 2015 I was about to self-publish, and my editor Siobhan recommended it to my now publisher Gary Compton. I don’t think I can ever thank her enough for this chance. Now the date has been set. I will be published on March 7th (that’s this Tuesday) for everyone to read - or not. And that is a terrifying prospect. I expect

2016 has been a fucking atrocious year. Too many beautiful souls have left us. Racism and bigotry is rampant and everyone has forgotten how to love their brother (or sister). It's too easy to bitch and complain, it's like the internet's faceless abuse has finally broken the damn and drowned everyone in that pink slime from Ghostbusters 2. But don't despair. In the midst of all this crap, there are islands of kindness to the world and each other. Volunteers planted 50 million

I've just written the closing chapter of Gunboy's sequel, 'Disconnect' (Working Title). And it's the first book I've written from notes to novel without a screenplay in between. The difference? Well to start, I realised I can't read when I'm writing. I took a break mid way through and enjoyed Stephen King's Dark Tower, and it screwed me up. When I went back to it, I found myself emulating the great Mr. King in the way a four year old emulates Ironman. I now have two terrible

Drum roll... Te Dah! This is the artwork from legendary artist Jim Burns. Honoured to say the least. I thank Gary Compton my publisher and Siobhan Marshall-Jones for having faith in the book in the first place. To think my name now shares a list with Phillip-K-Dick blows my mind. Here's the cover he did for PKD: Anyway, dear readers the book looks good to be coming out early next year. No date yet, but my last round of editing starts next week and I've been told to dust off m

So, back to it. Point 7 - Contributor Copies. This will outline what you (as the author) get out of this deal. For Free. You should at least get one digital copy pdf/mobi/epub. One paperback and one hardcopy, should it get printed. If you're getting it printed, make sure you've not signed over the printing rights. It may also offer you a discounted price should want to purchase more. However, depending on the size of the company etc. You may be offered a stack of books, you k

I've back peddled. After two weeks of deliberation and questions, alterations and confirmations I have signed a contract so the GunBoy gets published. It's just over three pages long, has some long words but nothing I needed to look up (thankfully). I'll break it down, point by point over a couple of posts so you don't need to hang about reading me waffle on all night. At the top, you get a paragraph explaining who is whom in the rest of the document. It's pretty standard. I

Okay, I had a whole self publishing thing to post but if I post it I wouldn't be telling you guys what's really going on. I said last week that I'd declined the option to be published, I did. What happened next was unexpected, I was offered again. I put my cards on the table, after all I have a self publishing strategy all in place I've even paid for a cover (see above). I wasn't expecting any of this. They say flattery can get you everywhere, or anything. I've never been one

Do you remember 2013? I won't hold it against you if not. It's been twenty four years since. This is a bit of a retrospective. I hope you'll lend me your patience for a tad. You see, I was there. At the start, in London. Carrying nothing but my handmade made sign and lose change in our pockets. Remember coins? Can't say I miss them. Anyway, my sign was a gold middle finger and the words "WTF WTO". I was young and stupid. I wanted my voice heard. If you were alive in 2013 or h