Sadly, The Bookie’s Runner, my little biography of my late father, didn’t make it onto the list of finalists for The People’s Book Prize Summer Collection. I know there are many admirers of the book out there, and I’ll be eternally grateful to those among them who took the time to vote for it. Clearly, however, I don’t have the legions of family members, friends and other sycophants that some authors were able to muster.
But I despair not. As indicated by the picture above (which I’ve borrowed from a recent post by fellow-McVoice Pat Black), I’m bouncing back. Yes, that wee spider allegedly advised The Bruce, “If at first ye dinnae succeed, Big Man, gie it another go.” Well, that’s what I’m doing. I’m delighted to announce that my novel, The Island of Whispers, has been included in the Autumn Collection of said Book Prize.
But I despair not. As indicated by the picture above (which I’ve borrowed from a recent post by fellow-McVoice Pat Black), I’m bouncing back. Yes, that wee spider allegedly advised The Bruce, “If at first ye dinnae succeed, Big Man, gie it another go.” Well, that’s what I’m doing. I’m delighted to announce that my novel, The Island of Whispers, has been included in the Autumn Collection of said Book Prize.
The Island of Whispers is the story of a colony of rats living on a tiny island tucked under the world-famous Forth Rail Bridge. This book also has loads of fans, many of whom have compared it to classics like Watership Down and Animal Farm. In fact, here’s what a respected author said about it very recently:
When I started reading it I was scared it would be twee and anthropomorphic, but within a few pages I realised it was on a par with Watership Down and better by far than Duncton Wood (which I never finished).
Praise indeed. So you’d think maybe the book had a bit of a chance in the competition? I certainly did. But that was until I had a closer look at the Autumn Collection. There, sitting cheek by jowl with my wee book, is the latest thriller by none other than Frederick Forsyth, he of The Day of the Jackal fame. And Oor Fred just happens to be the current Patron of The People’s Book Prize. Mmmm, interesting.
When I started reading it I was scared it would be twee and anthropomorphic, but within a few pages I realised it was on a par with Watership Down and better by far than Duncton Wood (which I never finished).
Praise indeed. So you’d think maybe the book had a bit of a chance in the competition? I certainly did. But that was until I had a closer look at the Autumn Collection. There, sitting cheek by jowl with my wee book, is the latest thriller by none other than Frederick Forsyth, he of The Day of the Jackal fame. And Oor Fred just happens to be the current Patron of The People’s Book Prize. Mmmm, interesting.
Och, well. You never know. Against all the odds, despite the suspected favouritism, my book about rats might just pull it off and at least become a finalist. There again, as The Bruce might well have replied to that interfering spider, “Aye, right.”
Anyway, here’s where you can go to vote for the book and perhaps leave a wee comment while you’re at it:
Vote for The Island of Whispers
If you haven’t read the book yet, you can go here on Amazon to download the Kindle edition and then decide whether you want to vote for it.
Anyway, here’s where you can go to vote for the book and perhaps leave a wee comment while you’re at it:
Vote for The Island of Whispers
If you haven’t read the book yet, you can go here on Amazon to download the Kindle edition and then decide whether you want to vote for it.