Malcolm Holt's Blog

Two years ago, as of 30th September, I gave up my day job, basically because I could. Now I must admit that since then I have, as they say, let things go a bit. Sitting at a laptop, all-you-can-eat American buffets and a distinct lack of exercise do not create a healthy lifestyle. Mind you, it's a bloody good one. Or is it? I recently starting swimming regularly at my local pool. This sudden burst of energy was, I must admit, heavily influenced by visits to my GP surgery and conversations and blood tests related to.....how can I put it.....being overweight. High Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and the risk of developing Diabetes in later life were not regularly topics on my list of subjects to talk about. Yes I knew that I had expanded. It was buying shorts that were two inches bigger round the waist that gave me a clue.

If you measure your weight and height on the Body Mass Index (BMI) chart, you can find out if you are underweight, normal, overweight or obese. The latter basically means fat. This week I was subjected to a glucose tolerance test. That involved fasting. Now this is no mean feat. Going without coffee and food from 10.00pm until the end of the test some 14 hours later is no joke. The test measures, as it says on the tin that you not allowed to open, your body's tolerance to glucose. Now the two needles taking blood at the start and finish were not too bad, nor was the actual glucose drink itself. What really killed me was sitting in the waiting room for two hours on a hard chair. Doctors waiting rooms are not designed for patients staying that long on a regular basis.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I am a member of a group that is not on Facebook. There is a group of people who are potentially at risk of developing Diabetes and I am a fully fledged member of that group. Now you can impress your friends with your membership of some groups, but this one doesn't really enhance your street cred. So, I have been advised to exercise regularly and cut out large 'seconds'. I have therefore rediscovered my love for swimming. I have been told that it will soon have the pounds dropping off me. No longer hippo, more hip.


Getting to my point, I try to go swimming as often as I can now and I find that early morning is a much quieter time. I am usually accompanied by a handful of sensible adults, many of retirement age, who enjoy gliding up and down the pool trying to keep fit. Some glide faster than others. Now it is an inevitable curse of nature that, as you get older, you gain a bit. Middle-aged spread is the old-fashioned term for it. Also as you get older, exercise is less inviting. But needs must, as they say.

It is no great surprise that in any group of people there will be a cross-section of body shapes. I do admire anyone who willingly enters a swimming pool and exposes (withing the levels of decency) their body for all to see. Having said that, young adult females in bikinis can be a bit of a distraction. What really sends a shiver down my spine is the sight of a mature, obese gentleman entering the pool wearing Speedos. They are by design meant to be figure-hugging and when that means pushing your fat over the top, it is not a good look.

Now there will be some who will argue that Speedos are designed to be aerodynamic, or whatever, but some people I've seen actually swim slower than I can walk. I wear Bermuda shorts and when the mood takes me and the pool resembles a mill pond as opposed to the North Sea during a gale, I can achieve quite a pace, albeit breastroke. So, my plea today is this. If you are somewhat larger than is good for you, please consider wearing something less harsh on the eye.

My intention here is not to be ageist, fattist, or any other 'ist', I am merely expressing my view on what I think is a wardrobe malfunction. I would not wish to open a can of worms. There might be a risk that I would start eating the contents. In the meantime, I leave you with a little reminder of why I took up swimming.

If you take the U.S.1 from Miami and drive roughly 162 miles, give or take the occasional diversion for food and drink, in a South-Westerly direction (sort of), you will have the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other all the way. When the sun is shining the water will be turquoise and inviting. At the end of your drive you will reach Key West. You can't get lost driving there, it's one long road there. At the end of the journey you will be welcomed to 'Paradise'. In June this year, I visited Key West with the family as part of a holiday that started in New York and after renting a villa at Boca Raton, north of Miami, ended in the Florida Keys.

As you drive along U.S 1 to the Florida Keys you pass through places with familiar names. For me it was hard not to think of James Bond when I drove through Key Largo. Seven Mile Bridge and Marathon are also well-known. It's not a fast road to Key West and because of that, it is possible to admire the view. Of course as you get closer to Key West the sense of anticipation grows. You know it's there but it also seems quite a distance away.



I had been fascinated by Key West long before I actually got to go there. I wondered what made the island tick and why it inspired so many writers. Of course everyone's heard of 'Papa' Ernest Hemingway and his six-toed cats. His former house remains a pilgrimage for fans of his work all the year round.


In their book 'Quit Your Job And Move To Key West - The Complete Guide' Christopher Shultz and David L. Sloan describe Key West as "A place that immediately brings to mind images of beaches, drinking, rumrunners, writers and a lifestyle like no place else in the United States. It is an island of enchantment and mystery that attracts people from all over the world." David will appear later in the series.

As I took my own walking tour around Key West, I delighted in seeing Sloppy Joe's Bar and the original one, now Captain Tony's Saloon, both frequented by Hemingway. Of course there are plenty of other drinking venues and it's amazing how easy you find them. The Hog's Breath and Smokin' Tuna Saloons are worthy of a visit. Of course all the tourists flock to the Southernmost Point of the United States, a mere 90 miles from Cuba, and have their photos taken.


In this mini-series, 'Writers in Paradise', a title borrowed from Michael Haskins who you will also meet later, I will share some of the experiences of writers from Key West. Coming up in the series are Lucy Burdette, David L. Sloan, Mandy Miles, Terry Schmida and Michael Haskins. During my visit to Key West I managed to share a beer or two with Michael and Terry. Judy Blume was busy writing and filming when I was in Key West, but she did sum up the island from her own personal perspective. Judy said "What makes Key West a great place for writers? Other writers, plus a lively community that appreciates and celebrates the arts. Not to mention the Tropic Cinema, a haven where we meet and greet and find inspiration."

Ernest Hemingway once famously said "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." Sometimes it can feel like that. So, as this series continues over the coming weeks, I hope to bring you a flavour of Key West and its writers. Welcome to Paradise.....

If you take the U.S.1 from Miami and drive roughly 162 miles, give or take the occasional diversion for food and drink, in a South-Westerly direction (sort of), you will have the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other all the way. When the sun is shining the water will be turquoise and inviting. At the end of your drive you will reach Key West. You can't get lost driving there, it's one long road there. At the end of the journey you will be welcomed to 'Paradise'. In June this year, I visited Key West with the family as part of a holiday that started in New York and after renting a villa at Boca Raton, north of Miami, ended in the Florida Keys.

As you drive along U.S 1 to the Florida Keys you pass through places with familiar names. For me it was hard not to think of James Bond when I drove through Key Largo. Seven Mile Bridge and Marathon are also well-known. It's not a fast road to Key West and because of that, it is possible to admire the view. Of course as you get closer to Key West the sense of anticipation grows. You know it's there but it also seems quite a distance away.



I had been fascinated by Key West long before I actually got to go there. I wondered what made the island tick and why it inspired so many writers. Of course everyone's heard of 'Papa' Ernest Hemingway and his six-toed cats. His former house remains a pilgrimage for fans of his work all the year round.


In their book 'Quit Your Job And Move To Key West - The Complete Guide' Christopher Shultz and David L. Sloan describe Key West as "A place that immediately brings to mind images of beaches, drinking, rumrunners, writers and a lifestyle like no place else in the United States. It is an island of enchantment and mystery that attracts people from all over the world." David will appear later in the series.

As I took my own walking tour around Key West, I delighted in seeing Sloppy Joe's Bar and the original one, now Captain Tony's Saloon, both frequented by Hemingway. Of course there are plenty of other drinking venues and it's amazing how easy you find them. The Hog's Breath and Smokin' Tuna Saloons are worthy of a visit. Of course all the tourists flock to the Southernmost Point of the United States, a mere 90 miles from Cuba, and have their photos taken.


In this mini-series, 'Writers in Paradise', a title borrowed from Michael Haskins who you will also meet later, I will share some of the experiences of writers from Key West. Coming up in the series are Lucy Burdette, David L. Sloan, Mandy Miles, Terry Schmida and Michael Haskins. During my visit to Key West I managed to share a beer or two with Michael and Terry. Judy Blume was busy writing and filming when I was in Key West, but she did sum up the island from her own personal perspective. Judy said "What makes Key West a great place for writers? Other writers, plus a lively community that appreciates and celebrates the arts. Not to mention the Tropic Cinema, a haven where we meet and greet and find inspiration."

Ernest Hemingway once famously said "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." Sometimes it can feel like that. So, as this series continues over the coming weeks, I hope to bring you a flavour of Key West and its writers. Welcome to Paradise.....

In the UK we regularly complain about the weather. We moan when it rains. We moan when it's windy. We moan when it's cold. Some people even moan when it's too hot. Well, we should be grateful that we are spared the annual hurricanes that batter the US and the Caribbean. As the current hurricane, Isaac, heads towards New Orleans on the eve of Hurricane Katrina, I would like to share a few personal moments with you all.
In August 2004 we had a family holiday at Kissimmee, Orlando in Florida, the Sunshine State. We did all the usual things, hit the theme parks and the shopping malls, not forgetting the all-you-can-stuff-in-your-stomach buffets. Well, we also spent a lot of time watching the Weather Channel and CNN. August 2004 brought Hurricane Charley, a category 4 storm. As we watched the daily forecasts, we realised that Charley was heading straight towards us. As the day of our departure drew closer, so did Charley. Now I've watched television footage of hurricanes and there is a certain amount of disaster movie feel about it. When you are facing the prospect of being stuck in one, the reality soon sinks in.
Hurricane Charley hit Orlando within hours of our flight back to the UK departing from Sanford Airport. Had we been leaving a little later, we would have been stuck. The airport was closed, The windows were buckling. When we arrived at the airport the wind and driving rain was already there. People due to fly out after us were stuck for over 24 hours or longer before they could head for home. The whole experience was one that we will never forget. However, that was nothing compared to Katrina.
On 29th August 2005 Hurricane Katrina made landfall. A category 5 hurricane, it devastated the city of New Orleans. Over 1800 people died during Katrina. We visited New Orleans in 2011, some 6 years after Katrina, and found that some parts are the city are still recovering and some hadn't been touched.


The Lower 9th Ward was the worst hit part of New Orleans, as shown above. Six years later, parts were untouched, as shown below.


So, as Hurricane Isaac heads towards land, I will spare a thought for all those affected by whatever it brings and perhaps the next time we in the UK feel like complaining about the weather, we will consider just how lucky we are?

I have just attended my second Theakstons Crime Writing Festival, often known simply as 'Harrogate'. I have heard much about Crimefest, Thrillerfest and Boucheron, but I have never had the pleasure. The latest 'Harrogate' featured a panel that I didn't attend. I was busy checking into my hotel at the time. I arrived at the festival venue just as the panel was winding up and I caught the immediate reaction afterwards outside. There has been much debate ever since. The subject was the impact of ebooks. Now I do not propose to dredge up all the stuff that has littered the social networking sites since that panel took place, but I do have one or two thoughts that I would like to share.
It is so difficult getting a traditional publishing deal nowadays and even having an agent is no guarantee of anything, apart from being able to say "Hey, I've got an agent!" It is no surprise that ebooks have taken off in a big way. They have given aspiring writers a voice, a chance to have their work read. Now I know all the arguments for and against ebooks, but perish the thought that I am going to get involved in the politics of it all. There is an establishment and there's no way that anyone can deny that. Writers are attached to publishing houses who look after their own. There are cliques at a festival. You don't need 20/20 vision to see those.
So, on behalf of the aspiring writers who put in the same hours as the so-called 'proper' writers and self-publish so that readers can be given more choice, I would like to see a festival where writers and readers can celebrate the occasional smelling pisstake, the bad line break or two, and a cracking good story that would otherwise never see the light of day. I give you 'Ebygun', my vision for an alternative crime festival where everyone celebrates the fact that readers are given the chance to meet the unknown writers of this world. As for ebooks and all their faults, frowned on by the establishment, let the readers make up their own minds. If a great story surfaces and the readers love it, let them forgive the poor editing. Surely it's the story that matters.
And finally, I wonder how much extra income ebooks are generating for the big authors? The alternative festival could be a celebration of writing and less of a lovefest. Now please excuse me. I need to locate my bulletproof vest.......

Yes folks, 'A Bit on The Side' is set to return real soon with the first part of my 'Writers in Paradise' Key West Special. So, forget all the rain in the UK, get out those shorts, put on the sandals and make yourself a Rumrunner. See you soon........

Yes folks, it's time for 'A Bit on The Side' to take a break. But first.....

My new story '27' is out on Amazon now. It features a new character, Kettle, a pathologist in the depressed town of Whitemare, who suspects that someone is creating their own version of the famous '27 Club'.
Get your copy from any Amazon site today.....

Coming up.....Starting in July, 'Writers in Paradise', a new series of interviews with writers from Key West. Well, if it was good enough for Ernest Hemingway.....So, follow me on a journey into Paradise. You won't regret it.....

Right, it's time to pack those shorts.....
As ever, many thanks for reading.

A warm welcome to my guest author today, all the way from Victoria, British Columbia, Grant McKenzie. A writer of thrillers, Grant's work has been described as 'fast, thrilling, gripping, scary' and he has been called 'Harlan Coben on Speed'. I will let Grant introduce himself and tell you all about his early life, starting over the border (from me) in Scotland.
"Since being born in a puddle in Scotland, I've always been a storyteller. Even before I knew how to take the words out of my head and put them on the page, I created huge and wonderful adventures with my toys, especially my favourite, Action Man. And if there were no toys around, I invented stories using sticks, stones, discarded fag ends and beer can pull-tabs. This was really only a problem when I was supposed to be doing something else at the same time, such as playing on a football team or going to school. So, naturally, I was known as "that strange wee lad with the ginger hair". Once they let me attend regular school (not a given since the teachers told my mum that I should probably be sent to "special school" because I wrote my words backwards - this was before dyslexia was given a name and recognized), I began turning my imagination into the written word (mostly forwards, too). At around age 11 in East Kilbride, I wrote, directed, produced and co-starred in my first trilogy of mystery plays based on the Hong Kong Phooey cartoon show that I was fond of, although the dryly humorous dialogue definitely had Top Cat influences, and the action scenes were straight out of Tom & Jerry. The first play was such a hit that I was allowed to craft its two sequels. 
"From there, it wasn't difficult to keep the "strange wee lad" label going strong as my family emigrated to Canada and my Glaswegian brogue may as well have been Swahili. In high school, I became editor of the student newspaper and began sharing both my journalism and my poetry with the school. As most people can guess, a high school lad who publishes poetry is definitely not going to be a target for illiterate bullies. Fortunately, I was a likable lad and had a great group of creative misfits around to keep the naysayers at bay. During those years,  I also wrote my first "practice" novel. 
"From there, it was on to college during the day (where, again, I became editor of the student newspaper) while getting my first real job in journalism on the dead body beat for the daily tabloid at night. Fiction was forgotten for a while (although I did manage to publish some poetry in Canadian literary magazines) as I moved forward in my journalist career. Until, at the age of 26, I made a decision to get back on track and write my first "official" novel. Following the completion of that novel, the avalanche of rejection slips began. Hundreds of rejections, twenty years and six manuscripts later, I sold my debut novel, "SWITCH", to Bantam UK. It was then picked up by Penguin Canada, Heyne Germany, Russia and Taiwan. The year it came out, my biggest supporter, Borders UK, went bankrupt and threw a wrench in the whole works. My second novel, "No Cry For Help", was published in the UK and Germany. And my third novel, "K.A.R.M.A.", is an eBook exclusive on Amazon.
"Interestingly, I reworked that first "official" novel recently and sold it to the wonderful folks at Midnight Ink in the US. "Angel With A Bullet" will be released in the US, UK and Canada on September 8th under the pen name, m.c. grant. I went with a pen name for this one because Angel is a mystery written in first-person-female perspective. I am currently writing the sequel, "Devil With A Gun". "
I asked Grant who was his favourite author.
"Picking a favourite author is always difficult as I have learned, and continue to learn, so much from so many masters. From Mickey Spillane and Enid Blyton to John Sandford, James Rollins, Andrew Vachss and Stephen Hunter, James P. Hogan and Issac Asimov, Neil Gaiman, Dean Koontz and Joe Hill. But if I was being weatherboarded and forced to pick only one, it would be Robert McCammon."
What would be your favourite book read?
"The book "Boy's Life" by Robert McCammon is probably the one I most wish that I had written, and I hope one day to write something that resonates with someone else as much as that book resonates with me."
Who is your favourite band, group or artist?
"When I'm writing, I listen to a lot of Mozart Piano Concertos, Pink Floyd, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Joe Pass and Van Morrison. When I'm  not writing, it's Joe Jackson, Billy Bragg, Mumford & Sons, The Who, The Clash, The Monks, Ryan Adams, Lissie, Kate Nash, Spirit of the West, Great Big Sea, etc."
What would be your favourite album?
"The Who's 'Quadrophenia' is my all-time, still listening to it, fave."
What would be your favourite gig/concert ever attended?
"The Who was a dream come true, The Police were awesome, Elton John and Joe Jackson are always brilliant, but for get-up-and-dance from first song to last was Prince's last tour. Amazing."
What would be your favourite gig venue?
"A small, smokey club with Pete Townshend and Tom Waits on stage - maybe accompanied by Stephen Fearing on acoustic guitar and Sinead O'Connor or Kate Bush on backing vocals."
What is your favourite food?
"I like variety, so a plate of assorted appetizers is wonderful."
What is your favourite holiday destination?
"I've heard of those, they're supposed to be fun. Been meaning to try one."
How many autographs have you signed in one session?
"Too embarrassing to say :-)"
Have you ever been mistaken for someone else?
"Only on Crime Watch."


How often do you get recognized?
"As the editor of a popular alternative weekly news magazine in Victoria (and a redhead), I get recognized a lot. I haven't reached that same level of recognition as an author yet."
My thanks to Grant for being my guest today.
As ever, many thanks for reading......

A very warm welcome to my guest today in 'Talk on the Wild Side', jetting in from sunny Las Vegas, Dayna Roselli. Every weekday morning, bright and early, Dayna is the Co-Anchor on the morning news television show at KLAS-TV (8 News Now). She also presents an entertainment segment and writes a popular blog. Dayna has established herself as one of the most prominent entertainment reporters in Las Vegas and she has interviewed numerous famous celebrities who now call Las Vegas home. Dayna had co-anchored the morning news show since 2008 with Dave McCann who recently moved on from Las Vegas and she is currently awaiting a new permanent co-anchor on the show.

Dayna is originally from Rochester in Upstate New York. I wondered what her childhood dreams and ambitions were and how she began her career.

"I actually didn't really have any. I never thought, 'I want to be this or that'. I did like playing in front of the camera and I always enjoyed watching the news. Once I got older, that's what I decided to pursue. When I left college I got a job as a weekend assignment editor at a CBS station in my home town of Rochester, New York. From there I was able to make a more professional looking resume tape and I applied for a reporting job at a new station in a small town called Jamestown, New York. I got the job! I shot my own stuff, I wrote, I edited, I did it all. After that, I got a job at the NBC affiliate in Elmira, New York. It was a morning anchor job and I was thrilled. I really enjoyed the 'ad-libbing' side of the news and so I knew this show format would allow me to do that. Then I moved on to a Fox station in my hometown. I reported and anchored. Eventually I ended up as a helicopter reporter in Las Vegas in 2004. I wanted to try out the West Coast and see if liked it. KLAS-TV has been great to me. They have promoted me through the years, and I have just celebrated 8 years at the station."

Co-anchoring the morning news show means an early start for Dayna and her daily routine keeps her very busy.

"The show starts at 4 a.m. and goes until 7 a.m.. We then have post-show meetings and promotion spots to tape. We also have some live news cut-ins. I then update online content and social media sites and prepare for any pre-planned segments for the next day. Live interviews etc. I leave work before noon and usually run some errands on the way home or sometimes people meet for lunch. I sleep in the day time for about 4 hours. I get up and have a small dinner and then hit the gym. I make some phone calls. Sometimes I'll head to a Las Vegas event. I then prep for the next day and head to bed for another 4 hours, before doing it all over again!"

With such a full day and a busy life, I wondered if Dayna ever managed to relax.

"I often relax by going to get a pedicure or facial spa treatment. That's a real treat for me! It allows me to just sit and get pampered. I also love laying in the sun. It's 'SO' relaxing to me. I love swimming too. I often read fiction books. I like escaping into a fictional world and using my mind to picture the story. I actually don't watch much TV. I recently went to a movie by myself for the first time. I really enjoyed it!!! I love 'live' music. It's one of my favourite things. I'm so glad that Las Vegas is bringing back the live music scene more and more."

I asked Dayna if she had any guilty pleasures when it came to her favourite food.

"Mexican food is my weakness. It's my favourite. Pretty much anything will do. I also love my mother's Italian food. Nothing beats a great bowl of pasta, gravy, meatballs, and braciole!"

In her entertainment segment, Dayna has interviewed some very famous people. She also once famously inteviewed Bill Clinton. I asked her who decides who she interviews. I also asked about the former President.

"I decide who I will interview. It's my segment, so I produce, set up the shoot, and I write it. Of course I bounce ideas off my managers and many times they will have a suggestion too. We all come up with ideas. I was once covering a campaign stop for Hillary Clinton when she was running for New York Senator. Bill Clinton was the President in office at the time. He attended the event in Binghamton, New York. I stopped at the side of the road near the event location to interview some supporters with signs.While there, the President's limo stopped and he got out. I couldn't believe my eyes. I wasn't too nervous, but I tried to think, 'What could I ask him that he would answer?'. When it comes to the President, you can't just throw your microphone in there and ask him a serious question. He most likely won't answer. The press corp showed up and did just that. They saw we were there and started shouting questions.He didn't answer any of them. As he shook hands with supporters, I got in there and shook his hand, stuck my microphone out, and asked "Mets or Yankees?" (The subway series was taking place at that time and baseball was a fun and timely hot topic) He laughed.....and looked me in the eye and gave me a two minutes response. He told me that he had been watching the games at the White House. It was great. I had a one on one soundbite from the President of the United States!"



Dayna's guestlist for her entertainment segment has been most impressive and I wondered if there was someone she was still desperate to interview.

"I would like to interview Celine Dion at some point. I have seen her at press conferences and attended both her shows at Caesars Palace. But she's hard to get a one on one interview with....maybe some day! When it comes to a big star that I admire and hope to interview and meet some day, that would be Tom Cruise. I'm a huge fan of his work. I'm still waiting for him to win an Oscar!"

Dayna has interviewed several cast members from CSI. I asked her if she watched the show and ever fancied having a cameo role in an episode.

"Yes, I've pretty much interviewed every cast member from CSI (the original one that takes place in Las Vegas). They were here for the opening of the CSI Experience at the MGM Grand.  I interviewed them on the red carpet and even toured the attraction with George Eads. I have also interviewed Eva LaRue from CSI Miami. I've actually had a cameo of sorts already. They used a shot of our news helicopter for a few scenes in an episode. I was in the chopper at that time. We had to fly by the Stratopshere tower and the Wynn several times as another helicopter filmed it. That was me inside! :-)"

In the US, awards are very big. I asked Dayna about any that she has won.

"I'm not big on awards. I hardly ever apply. I'm not sure why. Some co-workers always tell me I should, so I recently submitted for an Emmy in the Entertainment category. I'm not sure if I have been nominated yet. I did receive an Electronic Media Award for Best Spot News. This was when I was reporting in the helicopter. It was a tough job because I worked the camera and ad-libbed breaking news at the same time. My pilot and I happened to see a plane crash while doing a traffic report near the highway. We immediately turned our attention to it and started covering what happened on 'Live' television. I am proud of that day. It was amazing. Everyone survived the small plane crash and we watched it all unfold. We watched them crawl out of the plane."



Having visited Las Vegas myself, and loving it, I asked Dayna what she likes about the city.



"I like A LOT about Las Vegas. The people are nice, number one. There is a sense of community here, even though it's a big city. I love the Strip. I love the shows and entertainment. It's great knowing that if you 'want' to do something you can. You can go out and listen to live music or watch a stand-up comedy show. I like having choice. Outside the Strip, it is a normal community. There are neighbourhoods, parks, local businesses, great restaurants. It's very convenient too. Stores and restaurants are open late, many 24 hours! I also love that parking is free, even valet! It's a real treat compared to some other cities that charge as much  as 40 dollars for a quick stop.It's also nice that we have no state taxes!"

Las Vegas is known for its 24 hour casinos, but there is a whole lot more than that.

"There is so much to do besides gamble. Free things on the Strip. Sights to see. There are amazing pools and gardens. We also have the best shows and restaurants in the world! The shopping is amazing too. You name the store, we probably have it here. Off the Strip, we have Lake Mead, Lake Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon, Mount Charleston, and so much more!"


So, if you get the chance to visit Las Vegas, start your day by watching '8 News Now' with Dayna. It really is a great city.

My thanks to Dayna for breaking off from busy schedule to take some time to join me today.
As always, many thanks for reading.....

It's the great Summer giveaway. Yes folks, both my eBooks 'Hard Drive' and 'Red Light' are free to download from Amazon on 30th and 31st May. If you don't have a Kindle, you can still get both if you have the Kindle App on your mobile phone. So, if you like your stories gritty and dark, get downloading now!!



For the growing fans of Slinger, he will return later this year in a new story. You have been warned.....