1963 Southampton to Waterloo Part 5

[Union St]

Hello gents, I just wanted to say a BIG thank you to everyone who helped so much in the writing of my new book. You can't buy it yet, but it is at the printers and I hope might be available in early January. I took the opportunity of thanking the whole group in the Acknowledgements. Here's the front and back covers.
Again, thank you all so much, not just for the advice, but for my new-found interest in railways in general.

 

[randyrippley]

looking forward to reading it

 

[70014IronDuke]

Congratulations on all your efforts to get it right.

 

[Taunton]

Regarding "the gang leaders, tough men ...", I know we discussed The Krays in previous posts; the girlfriend of (apparently more than) one of The Krays, went on to marry long term one of the Security Express robbers (a comparable heist), and who later became a very prominent actress in UK film and television, died yesterday

Barbara Windsor - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[WesternLancer]

Nice cover artwork! Very good luck with it.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Great to hear that it's finished. I agree that the cover work looks super. Happy to have been able to help.

Let us know if you want to write a second book with a railway back story.

 

[Union St]

Thank you, gents. Yes, I saw that Dame Barbara had died (even here), and I knew she knew the Krays. I wonder if she ever wrote a book about them and Ronnie Knight, etc. The cover work (Wadebridge) was painted by an artist I know called Susan Carson from the picture in Wikipedia of 34067 Tangmere, which I could have used because there is no copywrite on Wikipedia. This was Susan's first time painting a train . Attached is her original, which I had to darken a little to get the gold lettering in.

I've begun research on the next novel, which will be set in the same time period. Trains? Let's see how it goes.
Thank you all. Stay safe everyone!

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Where is it going to be available to buy, please?

 

[Union St]

Good question. I am expecting to receive some copies in late December. But what I remember last time it took a little while later to get on the Amazon site. I will check with the printers.

 

[randyrippley]

this lady I presume?

Susan Carson — Loft Artists Association

www.loftartists.org

 

[Union St]

Yes, that's Susan.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Good question. I am expecting to receive some copies in late December. But what I remember last time it took a little while later to get on the Amazon site. I will check with the printers.

Thanks; I've made a note to keep an eye out for the publication date, which I'll share here when I find it.

 

[Union St]

Many thanks, Junction!

 

[EbbwJunction1]

My pleasure ... I'm looking forward to reading it!

 

[Cowley]

Well done @Union St, let us know when it’s on sale because I’ll definitely get a copy too.

 

[Union St]

Many thanks, I will.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Many thanks, I will.

I see that it's available on Kindle now ... do you have a print publication date yet, please?

Thanks.

 

[Union St]

Oh! Wow, I wasn't expecting it so soon! It IS on Kindle. But I fear the print book date on Amazon may be some way off. I've read through the BookBaby (the printers) information and it doesn't say. I'll ask them and see what they say. Thank you for your interest.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Thank you.

 

[Union St]

Hello Ebbw. They are saying it will be available on Amazon in March.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Thanks very much; I've made a note to check then.

 

[Union St]

Hello my railway friends - it's finally here on Amazon (March 2nd).
I cannot thank you enough for all the assistance you gave me in writing this. I have included the first chapter if you might be interested. I've also included pictures of the faces I used for four of the characters in the book. I would be happy to send a book (all the way from America) to the first person to PM me the identity of the four real people the faces are based upon. The characters have nothing to do with the real people - I just used their faces for help in writing. (They all have an association with either London or crime).
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all those who contributed.
Sean Currie

 

[EbbwJunction1]

I've just ordered my copy!

They all seem familiar in one way or another, but I think that John Russell might be based on Edward Woodward and Billy Tumbler on Christopher Ellison.

 

[Union St]

Negative on both. Thank you so much for ordering the book.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

No problems!

I've had a message from Amazon saying that my copy will be delivered between March 22 2021 and April 29 2022. I hope it's nearer the former than the latter ... !

 

[Union St]

Damn, I could have sent you one. I apologize.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Thanks, but don't worry, that's fine - I'm sure that it won't be as long as that.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

I'm pleased to say that it's just arrived; the bad news is that it's joined a pile of around 20 (and counting) books to read!!

 

[Union St]

Hello Ebbw, thanks for the purchase. Hope you can give me some feedback when you finally get around to it

.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Yes, I certainly will - best wishes!