Ask Me Anything

Please refer to the Professional Services link on this website for a description of the current range of my professional services and expertise.

As you might expect, my fees depend on the type of work that you are commissioning me to do. 

There will, for example, be quite a difference, costs wise, between researching, planning, writing and submitting for publication a 80,000-100,000 word autobiography and researching and writing two 500 word blogs for you per month. 

No two pieces of work are (or have ever been) the same so giving an example of how much I would charge for your work is not that easy to do here. 

What I can say is that J normally base my fees on the number of words that will be written-so a pre-agreed cost of ‘x’ pence per word that we would agree on before I start. 

For the longer pieces you can, if you wish, pay a set amount per month for up to twelve months duration. 

No interest is added to the agreed fee in these instances, and I do not, at present, charge VAT. 

Costs are, of course, a very important consideration for all concerned. I will always endeavour to deliver the very highest quality work for you at a fair and competitive market price. 

As always, when it comes to costs and making payment: ask as many questions beforehand as you like. 

For books, especially biographies, the ideal scenario to be in is for us to spend as much time together as we both need. 

That means J can take lengthy and detailed notes from you during those meetings and get to know you in the progress. 

Even if the travelling time and distance between us is considerable, I’d still look to arrange at least one or two 1-2-1 meetings during the process for that reason-even if we agree to meet at a midway point between where we both live. 

I’m based near Chichester In West Sussex but also work from a base in Norfolk so am able to travel to meetings in places such as London, Brighton, Portsmouth, Gatwick Airport, Southampton, Emsworth, Arundel, Petersfield, Woking, Cambridge, King’s Lynn, Brancaster and Norwich. 

However, if meeting up is, for any reason, impractical, the delights of the likes of Zoom, Teams and WhatsApp mean that we can meet and talk digitally whenever we like. And it works just as well-for example, because of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, former world darts champion Keith Deller and I only met for the first time after his popular and exceptionally well received book 138: Game, Shot And The Match had been finished. 

I can also record and take notes over the phone or work from, as detailed above, your own written notes and observations that you might already have made. 

For the shorter pieces of work (ie) Copy Writing and Feature Articles etc there is usually no requirement at all for us to meet in person as all the work can be discussed, written and submitted remotely. 

Amongst the publishers I have either worked with previously or am currently working with are The History Press, Amberley Publishing, Tidbury Media, Meyer & Meyer, Legends Publishing, Pen & Sword Books and Pitch Publishing .

I have also worked on projects for/with the BBC, The Royal Southampton Yacht Club, The Greyladyes Arts Foundation, Loft Blinds, Mindspan, ThinkPro, Selling Antiques, Backpass Magazine, Town & Country Magazine, Archant, Waterstones, Jarrold of Norwich and Iceni Magazine . 

Current/ongoing commissions include working (two separate books) two former members of the RAF aerobatic team The Red Arrows and alongside two former professional sportsmen on their books, one of whom is a former England Rugby Union international whilst the other played football for a club in the Premier League as s well as winning several international caps for his country. 

I am a member of the Society of Authors and the Football Writers Association. 

I have always been a writer-in many ways, we all are: the love of words, of communication, books, stories, poetry and all forms of prose, it enchants and captivates us in our millions.

For me it started when I was seven years old and started being taught by a truly inspirational teacher at my village school who was also passionate about books, about reading and telling stories.

I was captivated from then on and the fire has never gone out-it just took me a long time to realise that the corporate treadmill that I was endlessly scurrying in post-University just wasn’t for me but, eventually, one day, I decided that it was time for me to do what I wanted to do, what I enjoyed and what I was good at.

So it all started there and I will be happy to tell you more if you’d like to know if and when we work together on a project of yours!

I am an enormous fan of Bill Bryson-he is, to date, the only writer whose words, when read, have made me laugh out loud.

His books on travel meshed information with entertainment, a great mix which I revisit, time and time again.

His more scientific and history based books are also, without exception, of the very highest readable quality.

One of my working mantras is that everyone has a story to tell.

Everyone.

I’ve already worked with clients who felt that no-one would want to read their books, I was arranging a book launch for one of them when he said to me, ‘…I don’t think anyone will come’.

There was a queue on the day, a long one!

If someone has said that you should commit your life story to print, they’ll almost certainly have a good reason for doing so.

Ask them why they think it’s a good idea.

Or ask me.

But if you have a story that is worth telling, let’s not lose it. It’s your legacy. Treat it as if it was treasure.

Yes.

And I’d be very happy to send you or your group/society more information about the type of workshops I offer. They can be a ‘one off’ event that takes up a single morning or afternoon or run over a series of weeks to a maximum of five.

They’re fun-you’ll work hard but you’ll learn a lot about the whole writing process as well.

And if you come out of it ready and excited about writing a book yourself, then I consider that job done!

I also give talks about my work, books and anything and everything about writing to local business clubs, groups and societies etc.

I’d love to come along and be part of yours for a few hours. Let’s make some words dance together.

Get in touch today.