blog

Launch of book three!!

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 10:53:06 +0100

So...... at last, something to tell you all....!
Going to Blazes has just been released. This is book three of the ongoing series, and continues to paint the fascinating picture of life in a rural fire brigade. There's more bizarre characters to deal with, more animals causing us to scratch our heads, and more challenges to face. The biggest challenge was starting to ride the Emergency Tender, the two man vehicle which goes to all the serious car accidents....... and my very first incident proved to be a real emotional and practical test!
I'm really happy that so many people, all over the world, have enjoyed reading my first two books.
I hope you all enjoy GOING TO BLAZES.

Wonderful email from Canada

Fri, 02 Jan 2015 15:15:00 +0100

Good Day, Malcolm. Just finished reading All Fired Up and thoroughly enjoyed it. Brought back a host of memories as I started in the fire service here in Canada (1975) about the same time as you did. Remember well, for example, using a circular cut saw at motor crashes long before the hydraulic tools came out. I was 19 years in the volunteer service(retained, I think you call it in the UK) and have been a full time chief officer since 1995. Still at it and will have 40 years in this February...still loving every day of it too. We have three full time admin staff and 54 volunteers working out of 2 stations. We are as far south in Canada as you can get and actually travel north to go to the USA. Our website is www.kingsvillefire.ca if you want to have a look. Thanks again for sharing your memories. I could not put the book down and am really looking forward to getting a hold of the sequel. Take care and best wishes and good health in 2015.

Nice to be recognised....!

Wed, 10 Sep 2014 08:40:44 +0100

So there I was, coming to the end of a 30 minute telephone conversation with Celia from the planning dept at the local council. To be fair I felt almost overwhelmed with the amount of red tape and bureaucratic nonsense we'd been talking about, but she had shown the patience of a saint and now the light was beginning to dawn. She asked me for my email address, which I duly gave..... "Malcolm Castle?" she asked. "You're not the Malcolm Castle who writes the books about life in the fire service are you?". Well, I was really chuffed. It doesn't happen all that often yet, but when someone does recognise me because of my books, it's a wonderful feeling.
We then started to chat like old friends and then discovered that we'd talked before. We both walk our dogs along the same route and have chatted a number of times....... How Bizarre!!!!!
Of course, what this also means is that I now appear to have that rare and much sort after thing...... A friend in the Planning Dept!!!!!!

The TV story continues

Wed, 13 Aug 2014 16:39:40 +0100

Y'know, one of the many great things about my publisher Alan Samson, is that even though the list of authors he represents reads like a blinkin Who's Who, he still manages to make time for us 'smaller fish'.
He's still in discussion with the head of BBC Drama about them making a series of my books, and is convinced that something will happen in that area in the fullness of time. I'm very happy to believe this obviously.
So it's another case of 'Watch this space'

Catch up #6. Lunch with Alan, and wonderful news!

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 17:46:33 +0100

I decided I'd like to take my publisher, Alan Samson out for lunch. He's been incredibly supportive and encouraging over the last couple of years, so I thought a 'thank you' lunch was in order. I asked him to choose a venue, but insisted that I would pay. This was potentially risky as Alan's office is just across the road from The Ivy, But I reckoned even if he took me there, it would be money well spent.
I caught the train down to Euston and met Alan at Orion's office. He told me we were going to a 'Loire Valley Gastro Pub'. Wow I thought.....what's one of those?? Well, it's simply a wine bar style restaurant whose wine comes from the Loire Valley....Doh!!
Alan's a great conversationalist, and it became almost an inconvenience to put food in my mouth with there being so much to talk about. One little nugget which Alan casually slipped into the conversation (I think on purpose), was that he'd been out to dinner recently with the head of BBC drama and had been talking about my series of books. Apparently they were very interested, which I must admit stopped me in my tracks. This was HUGE news, and I think Alan quite enjoyed seeing me in such a dumbfounded state!
The lunch was great, as was the company, but then, as if to put a cherry on top of the cake, Alan put the meal on Orion's card, so I didn't end up paying after all....!
So we're 'watching this space' at the moment, but it has to be said (without bias of course) that the story, setting, characters, and incidents make for a potentially wonderful series on TV. I'm very happy that Alan believes this too!!

When there's more news.... You'll be the first to know.....

Catch up #5. The Author's Party

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 14:40:20 +0100

This year the party took place in the Paul Hamlyn Hall, at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
As it turned out, as partners aren't invited, and as the people I would normally link up with weren't going this year, I did spend the first twenty minutes walking round the outside of the gathered throng, on my own. Fortunately, with there being free champagne and canapes on offer, I was soon in a happy enough state to talk to anyone!! I did however meet Alan Samson, my publisher, and have a great chat with him before immediately finding Jess Gulliver, my publicist, who as always was instantly friendly and entertaining.
All in all, a very good evening. And here's a picture. (There's more in the Gallery by the way)

Catch up#4. Another glamorous do

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 14:28:56 +0100

Back in February, I received an invitation to my second 'Author's Party'. These are a wonderful blend of casual and friendly conversations, in a spectacular venue.
Here's the invitation (or a 'stiffy' as a friend told me they are called. I'm saying nothing)

Catch up#3. Historical society presentation

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 14:05:23 +0100

On the 19th October last year, I had been asked to deliver a presentation to the 'Shropshire fire and rescue service historical society'. It sounded like an interesting proposition, so I said yes. Katy Lowe, who works in the control room at Shrewsbury fire station, had done a huge amount of work putting it together so I needed to pull my socks up and do a good job of the presentation.
All went well on the day with the gathered members seeming to enjoy the fruits of Katy's work. I decided to do the presentation with a few character voices to give it a more colourful appeal, and to hopefully prevent any post lunchtime snoozing....! Seemed to be successful.
Here's a picture of me in full swing

Catch up #2. Book signing in Waterstones.

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 10:37:11 +0100

Later on in May 2013, I did a book signing for Great Bales of Fire in Shrewsbury's Waterstones. Lots of people came which was a relief if the truth be known. It would be a lonely old time to be sitting there feeling like Billy no-mates.
Lots of books were signed and sold, and I enjoyed it so much the two hours flew by.

Catch up #1. Surprise request

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 10:21:09 +0100

Last May (2013), I was contacted by Chris Pratt, a Station Manager with Devon and Somerset fire and rescue service. He asked me where I got the cover picture from for All Fired Up. I had to admit that I didn't know because it was the art department at Orion Publishers, who had created it, perhaps with the help of Photo-shop.
It turned out that it hadn't been 'created', and in fact was a photo of an actual incident at a village called Clyst Hidon in Devon, which was hanging on the wall of Chris's fire station.
The Fireman crouching next to the swimming pool was retiring soon so Chris asked me if I could help with a leaving present by signing a book jacket which he would then frame and give to Chris Russell at the retirement party. I was happy to help, and here is the resulting picture.