I’ve been sick since Jan 1st which, as I write, is thirteen days. There are quite a few winter viruses flying around and this one has struck down the whole family and has left me quite unable to do just about anything.

Surprisingly it has even affected my ability to write words. What I mean is that the virus seems to have disconnected my brain from my hands and the keyboard. I can’t seem to get my fingers to write, correctly, the words I have in my front of mind. See, even that sounds weird.

Anyway, the point is I have not been enthusiastic for January because I’ve spent most of it in bed struggling to even think straight and I should be enthused because this Jan sees the paperback publication of my Quint novel. Thursday Jan 16th to be precise. It’s been almost a year since the hardback came out and I hope the paperback does just as well (I personally don’t buy hardbacks and I know I would wait for the smaller version). It’s already been featured in The Times for their best paperbacks of January so that’s a good start.

https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/best-paperback-books-2025-683hfn2gg

But I really need this to be a success, mainly because I’ve never written a novel like this before, one that came from such a passionate devotion to a movie from my childhood which I’ve carried with me ever since. I don’t think any of my works have been so personal. That’s why I need it to succeed.

So if you know any JAWS fans who might benefit from my literary acknowledgement to the JAWS phenomenon please send them my way. And it’s a really, really good book.

Thank you.