PULSE

Hugh, just had another few hours reading. Really enjoying, very thought provoking.

Dear Hugh, this is a real book, because this, one day, will be reality. Everything else is insignificant. You write in such a way to make the protagonist's actions, and the context he operates in, immediate. The reader is involved from the beginning, and the, in the main, short sentences, enhance this.

On the downside, you do mix tenses quite alot which can be slightly confusing (most of the story is told in the oast tense, but there are passages which, although obviously dealing with the same moment in time, flick into the present. You'll need to do an edit for this. Ditto commas.

You may be interested in a seminar which took place in London a couple of weeks ago, mainly on electronic warfare. The most interesting bit is a mock trial, which deals with the legal ramifications of electronic warfare and its consequences, and a synopsis of which you can find if you scroll down the page at http://www.cosac.net/synopsis.html.

I'm putting pulse on my rotating bookshelf, so, by the time you log back in, it may well have gone from the bookshelf again, but the vote will have been preserved. Good luck. I'm glad I read this.

R

If this had been on a bookshelf I would have bought it and stayed up all night to finish it. There is no doubt that this is a dark dark book, and the whole dystopic nature of the future had me feeling quite down at one point. If this book had been published and I had read it, then I would have purchased the next book purely on the basis of your name alone.

Well Done.

Does need a little polishing here and there, but it would seem unfair to list it in the face of such compulsive writing. I hope you manage to get an agent!

ARISE, AUTHONOMY GHOST!

Ease those weary, withered limbs from your coffin. Push away the stone from the mouth of the tomb.

You have one last task to perform. One last, sacred shelf to confer.

Whether you were plugger, spammer, gusher or troll, whether you flirted or fought in the forum or beavered away in the shadows, now is the time for your resurrection.

One last time. Marshall your strength, muster the last vestiges of your power and carry out your final Authonomy act:

Back my book, MIRROR IN THE SKY.

Then, only then, you may rest easy in your Authonomy grave.

Nick Poole2 (formerly known as NickP)

Hugh,

Good work, good read.

Any update on the progress with your book?

-Jay

This is slick, page-turning stuff, well-written too. Both the politics and the technology seem all too credible which makes the story all the more unsettling.

Hi
I am through 5 chapters and somewhat entranced by this story.
I don't think your tsunami scenario would work, however (naming of wave, speed of wave, direction of travel).
Outside of that, it has been an interesting read so far.g.

In ch6 -7, start seeing typos. In a couple spots you mention dawn-to-dusk curfews -- would you rather that be dusk-to-dawn?

Thank you for the comments. I will have a look at the typos. S'funny, dozens have read and ur first to spot - observant. I will have another look at the 'wave', premise actually based on an exellent documentary I saw itself based on study/papers from UCLA (I think). Aparently it is enevitable and well overdue.

actually finished it !! Comments - not sure 'cos you don't seem to be around these days! When you come back on line you can ask me!!! Rob

Hugh email me robalexander@live.co.uk

Hugh you've been quiet for a while - which book are you on now!!

Hugh -- First, you've written the best bio I've seen anywere -- well done!

I enjoyed the early chapters of Pulse but would suggest a quick edit to make your tenses consistent. I'd also suggest the possibility of a bit more emotional reaction on your main character's part to heighten the drama a little. All in all, a great idea. -- Michael Alan

A very interesting book. atill reading though and will say more when all is read.

only read a little bit but so far, seems like my kind of book

Hugh back again - up to 34 - will make time for a few more chapters this week.

Jame. I really appreciate you taking the time for giving me the feedback. I acknowledge your point. I have updated some of the earlier chapters, probably since you read them originally! Also the 'book' is under discussion/review with a guy in the publishing business and I am awaiting further feedback to see what further steps are recommended/required. I had originally intended that the main carachter would be a little bit 'open' in terms of emotion and not too clearly defined,so that the average reader could impose themselves into the main role. On this point I am getting mixed reviews as it is somewhat 'outside of the box'. Take care.

Hugh, I provided you with some encouraging comments a while ago and bookshelved "Pulse". But I have read enough to want to give you some more feedback. "Pulse" has the makings of, well, something that a publisher might fancy. But.

Brendan is a tough nut and a man of action. But nonetheless even badasses have feelings. Not that he needs to break down and cry, but what limits the story is a lack of an emotional arc. (Well at least as far as I got.) Everything happens to/by Brendan with his family in the background, as if they were furniture. We hear nothing, really, of what they do, say or feel, aside as props for when Brendan goes about Surrey on one duty or another. And therefore we don't really have a strong sense of his connection to his family. We know he is devoted to them and is protecting them, but we have no sense of the strain they're under - as a family, as an emotional unit. And I think this is holding back "Pulse", this extra element of humanity.

I hope this is helpful. Let me know if I make absolutely no sense at all, and I'll try again. Regards, Jame

Dear Hugh,

Didn't mean to bore you to tears, nor am I into "the ramifications etc"; just happened to be aware of the seminar (a civvie friend of mine was presenting), and thought the info might be useful. Pulse is a good book.

R

Done sir, it had been on my watchlist. Now listen up you Pulsites,.... give Ian and "A fitting Legacy" a consideration. High recommended from Setanta.

Hi. In answer to your request for more chapters of 'A Fitting Legacy' I have now uploaded the entire book - so you will not run out of chapters to read. Glad you are interested enough to be concerned. Thanks. (Any chance of bookshelving me?)

Richard,

"the legal ramifications of electronic warfare and its consequences" - on deary me, this brings back dreadful nightmares of military lawyers droning on about convention this and international court that and me sitting down the back row of the lecture hall usually with a dreadful hangover trying to get some kip. I did terribly poorly in the exam, so they sent me to 'intelligence' and I have never looked back since.

Dear Hugh, this is a real book, because this, one day, will be reality. Everything else is insignificant. You write in such a way to make the protagonist's actions, and the context he operates in, immediate. The reader is involved from the beginning, and the, in the main, short sentences, enhance this.

On the downside, you do mix tenses quite alot which can be slightly confusing (most of the story is told in the oast tense, but there are passages which, although obviously dealing with the same moment in time, flick into the present. You'll need to do an edit for this. Ditto commas.

You may be interested in a seminar which took place in London a couple of weeks ago, mainly on electronic warfare. The most interesting bit is a mock trial, which deals with the legal ramifications of electronic warfare and its consequences, and a synopsis of which you can find if you scroll down the page at http://www.cosac.net/synopsis.html.

I'm putting pulse on my rotating bookshelf, so, by the time you log back in, it may well have gone from the bookshelf again, but the vote will have been preserved. Good luck. I'm glad I read this.

R

Dear Hugh,

Just about to start reading Pulse, and I only just spotted your oh-too-humble comment that you aded to your comments last night. Any civilisation needs warriors and dreamers (for that is what intellectuals are). I know who's braver. And not all intellectuals can become warriors. R

Dear Hugh,

Thanks for your stream of consciousness comment on BB - that's a compliment on your comment, by the way. Be interesting to see what your decision is at the end of the month. And it'll be interesting reading your book, which I hope to get to in the next couple of days. Thanks again. R

I could hate you, Hugh, for doing this. A couple of decades ago, when working in technical publications, I had to help write a manual for a certain office in Brussels on the reality of EMP protection. It gave me the idea of writing a sci-fi book called ‘Pulse’. But in my head, the pulse was caused by aliens. The same thing on the ground, though. So you got there first, huh? That’ll teach me to mull it over for 20 years. It is a great subject and you seem to have got it cracked. I wish you every bit of success. The little I have seen so far looks great, so it’s on the shelf for now. It would be great if you could take a look at 'A Fitting Legacy'. I’ve only just joined up, so I need some friends! Thanks.

Dear Richard, As honoured and humbled as I am, to have, not alone a top ranking author (and poet to boot!!) but an intellectual to be considering Pulse...I can only suggest there is some grevious error. I have not imagined for one second that PULSE is the kind of reading for either the sensitive or the considerate amongst us! The best of luck to you sir, and I will treasure the moment that R P S fleetingly glanced at PULSE.

Dear Hugh,

Have added Pulse to my watchlist.

R

Slushie, ur just soooo evil. Evil personified, more evil than, than.....anyways! who are these people you are upsetting. Writers,- I only know (knew) four, and one (very famous) is dead. Very sensitive people indeed. Keep up the cage rattling v important.

Sob ! Damn, where is that crack pipe :-P

I really hope that agent says yes and that you get published. I can already see a film. I suspect Simon Pegg might be in there!

I am starting to get a feel for this site ( and 30 + emails telling me I am evil and that I have no right to be critical. And there was me thinking that many writers have skin as leaden as their dialogue. Suck it up kids, freedom of speech and all that.

If you ever want another member of your critique circle then count me in. I'd sign an NDA and all that ;-)

Good Luck. This deserves to be on the shelves, and I guess that I'll have to wait a couple of years for the opportunity to read Emerald Sojourn.

Slushie, Thanks for your recent comments and continuing support for PULSE. In answer, yes, PULSE has been submitted to both agents and publishers and I have had a positive feedback from one agent, although negotiations are at an early stage.

The sequel, Emerald sojourn, is written, and is still under draft review, something (if PULSE is anything to go by) will be a constant tasking. As such I am not willing to release yet and indeed the feeling of the agent is that I should not do so. So I am afraid at least for the time being EMERLAD SOJOURN will not be released in any shape or form. I trust you will understand.

I thank you for taking the time to give me the other links, which I have actioned this morning.

I confess I am addicted to this. I've been thinking about your book all week.

Have you considered re-submitting to agents etc at the present time? William Morris are taking e-queries

http://www.wma.com/dept/books_london.aspx. As always, make sure you have a killer query letter. I advise looking at queryshark.blogspot.com and Miss Snarks archives.

Is there any chance, and I am sure its a very slim size zero chance, of you sending me a PDF of your second book? I really want to know what happens in your post EMP world ;-)

Wow, this is incredible. Your depiction of post-nuclear rioting and confusion is incredibly realistic. Very unsettling. As far the story-telling, I love the conversational tone to your writing as well as how you don't tell whats going to happen until its happening. Constantly makes the reader keep reading to get it. Very, very well done. how is this not printed yet?

If you've got time, please check out my book, Archer. I would especially appreciate the viewpoint of somone who writes in the same genre about realistic events and in a conversational tone. Thanks in advance.

You're on my shelf, by the way, as much as that helps or doesn't...

Hello. I'm really enjoying this. You grip the reader right from the start and the pace rattles along nicely. I see you're a Gaelic person so Glè Mhath!

PULSERS.

Chapt 1 updated. Somebody wanted character! Huh. Well Ive done alittle bit. You know the Carly Simon song that every red blooded male thinks (I am told) was written about himself "Your so..." Well I want the reader to believe they could be our main man, so I wont be giving him a chiseled chin and deep blue penetrating eyes and a wild shock of auburn locks... but ive done a little bit!

Jame, Chapt 13, 'the market' updated. U were right complete junk.

Jame, thanks I will have a look. Too s******** right now. Hey did I tell ya I ran (yeah ran) from my hotel in Central up by the funicular to the peak, a couple of sesons past! I cannot recall what the temp and humidity was like, but jeeeeez! But hey, comm'on man with running a HK financial magazine u must be in the thick of it at the moment, where did ya get the time? Agreed entirely my punctuation is s***, all that time dreaming out the classroom window and ignoring the nuns blathering on about the importance of writing skills. Huh!

Hugh, you've hooked me. I've gone through nearly the first half and will back "Pulse". Chapter 13 gets rather messy and should be tightened and clarified. Throughout, you are sloppy with punctuation. But the story is compelling, you are economical with words, and Brendan is a good character. Jame.

Jame,

The term Fat, Dumb and Happy, a phrase originating in the '70s, means to be unaware of some pending problem. "Here I sat fat dumb and happy while my partner was draining my bank account." (eg) I rather like my own variation 'Dumb fat and happy' (Typical !) - and I think that until about three months ago in Surrey that was just about the place where everybody was (mentally), and the place where I want the opening chapter'characters to be. Thanks for reading

Annie, Great stuff Iknew you'd come through on this! BTW I 've read Sundays a few weeks ago, along with others and have only commented on a few of the books I read. OK, OK, I fess up, I was only re-assuring myself that my own work was no worse than the rest! As you will have observed I have incorporated some of your comments, and let others be as they are. I find that word perfect prose often negates good storytelling, and if there is anything that kills the amatuer novel, then the lack of the nack of the 'seanachie' is it! (You've lived in Corcaigh, so you will understand the reference)

Hugh, an entertaining first chapter. I will read more, and put this on my watchlist. The main weakness, which I hope you will be able to address, is character. A fast pace does not disqualify you from building stronger characters. Perhaps these will flesh out in subsequent chapters but I could use a bit more about them up front. Not to be told facts and histories, but through little clues dropped here and there. It's harder to do than it sounds. As evidence that this could be done better, I direct you to your own chapter title. There is nothing about fat, dumb or happy when we read about the characters, so instead of telling us, try to show it, here and there.

The first two paragraphs are superfluous, I think you can bin them without harm.

Regards, Jame

Slushie. You can make a difference!!! See the all new Chapter 2. Your comments, a bottle of '75 St Estephe and my dearests fondest hectoring persuaded me to compromise my artistic integrity and go easy on the sole remaining superpower. All is changed, utterly changed, a new and more commercial version of PULSE, - PULSE LITE is available to all 'n sundry. Thank you again for your forbearance and dedication.

Your story builds up wonderfully, and you have your reader fully aware that something out of the ordinary is going to happen. The scene is set brilliantly, and even though thorough setting is not really my cup of tea, I think that you've done a good job at painting a very exact picture, of the scene on which you want your reader to concentrate.

I think that from reading the pitch, I was expecting something powerful to happen in the first chapter. Even though background is vital, I think that a little more time could've been spent here on the story itself. We know exactly what the houses and the street looked like, and even that the main character drives a Mercedes E class, which is held in the garage. We even know Vanessa's husband's job, but we're not given someone to like, to relate to, or even to despise. We aren't given any ties. I think that in order for the reader to go on, she/he should be given something/someone to care about.

All in all, I think that you're a good writer, but that this first chapter does not quite live up to the exciting pitch that has been painted for it.

There are a few things I noticed ,which I've laid out below. I hope they can be helpful to you.

First line: one solitary? do you need both of these words? They mean the same.
'each and every' - the same comment. Also a bit cliched.
Where we were, I understand, but 'when' we were?
Ellipses (...) only have three dots. It's not good grammar to use more than that.
If you take out 'as' from the top of the sentence, 'As I passed through the perimeter...' and start with 'I passed...' you could make two sentences out of that one. The one seems too long (with two many phrases as it is). You could then end the first one with, 'avenue' and begin a second with, 'My.'

I think that you have a fantasic premise for a story. Your setting description seems more for script writing than for book (I'm no expert, so don't believe everything I say).

I'll be back in due course to continue.

Come over and read my book if you have the time. I always need some new pairs of eyes on it.

best
anne

Hawkie, how in tarnation can you work with a pencil that size? In training for 2012?, but I digress.The baby boomers. I must admit that having written the term in draft 1, many moons ago, I was forced to google it - (for a defenition) and I am more or less correct (I really do hate absolutes!). The birth boom that happened post WW2 thus putting most of us fortyish at her death (and the chap in the book), which I hope is close enough for government work. Thanks for taking the time to read.

Hi Anne,

as I'm just about to start my working day, I read your comment with not a little surprise and interest.

Outside backers, top listing authors not reading or commenting on others work. Thats pretty cheap and kinda worrying.

Can the people who run this website do something about it? I give up my hard earned time in what I feel is effectively a free bookshop ( yay ) and even though, to put it politely, I wouldn't buy a lot of the stuff here, it all deserves a fair chance.

Authonomy? Heeeelllllllo? Time for a rethink before this goes out of beta?

SP

Hugh, I know that no one's comments are less favoured than anyone else's. If anyone says that to you, they're lying. All helpful comments make our books better, it doesn't matter who they're from.

I don't know if there is a secret. All I do is read and leave comments that I think are helpful to fellow writers. I don't always get the favour returned, but it's nice when I do.

About Authonomy readers/authors not paying attention to your book: This is my personal opinion, but I think that most of us have done the hard graft of really working hard to read other's work. We take the time off from our personal lives to basically do a job that others get paid considerable amounts for. All this we do for the love of it, and for a chance to show the community that we're here.

Then comes someone new - with a party of backers - a person who has no interest in anyone else and reads practically nothing. His/her book climbs up the rank and gets to the top with no effort, no input, no involvement.

It makes me think that all this is unfair, and causes me to step away from that author. Why read a book that has its own backing already. The author obviously does not need my help.

I'm not saying that this is you, I have not read your book, but if it's so popular, it must be good, so I have no right to say anything negative about it or you. All I'm saying is that your sudden rise in the charts, with your party of outside backers, made me feel a bit angry.

Now that you've explained, I can see how that can all happen. I will read your book soon. As you can see, I'm no longer at number 1. I've chosen to back some non-fiction books I liked, which were not so high in the charts, to see if I could raise their profile a bit.

I didn't set out to be top talent spotter to begin with, so I'll just continue reading, commenting, and backing the books I really like.

The secret is involvement. Not so much at the forums, as this is where you make friends with a really nice bunch of people. If you want to raise your profile, just read and leave helpful comments.

best
anne

TIMES
Sunday, October 5, 2008
France urges Israel not to attack Iran
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has urged Israel not to launch a military strike against Iran's nuclear programme, an Israeli newspaper reported today.
Mr Kouchner, in the region for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, urged the Jewish state to continue to support Western-backed sanctions and dialogue to press Iran to halt its atomic project, the Haaretz daily said.
"I know that in Israel, and the Israeli army, there are those who are preparing for a military solution or an attack" aimed at halting the Iranian programme, Mr Kouchner told the paper in an interview.
"In my opinion that's not the solution," he said, adding that the possibility of Iran achieving a nuclear weapon was also "absolutely unacceptable."
Mr Kouchner called the risk of an Israeli strike on Iran a "danger". He said Tehran was aware Israel had said it would not wait until Iran could produce a nuclear bomb.
He said the West should pursue "talk, talk and more talk", including further sanctions to persuade Iran to stop its nuclear programme. Tehran denies seeking to build an atomic bomb, saying it only wants to generate electricity.
"I don't think the alternative is to bomb first," Mr Kouchner said.
Mr Kouchner said France believed Iran may be able to produce one atomic weapon within two to four years.
Tehran last month rejected a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding it halt its nuclear enrichment work.
Israel, widely believed to be the Middle East's only nuclear power, sees Iran's nuclear programme as a security threat, citing remarks by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calling for the Jewish state's demise.
© 2008 irishtimes.com
--------------------------------------
Oh dearie me, please no, not yet, not until I have a publishing deal!

SP,
Why thankee kindly and thanks for sticking the knife in. Do you not realise dear sir, that this kind of lavish praise is completely beyond the pale. To suggest that a book is readable, engrossing and not just a needless procession of prose, is a slight that the ‘inner sanctum’ (the core element of pre-launch authonomists) will never forget, nor forgive. Why already this morn’ I had a wee lassie commenting that I had too many shelves (more than herself, and she one of the extremely talented writers/spotters!) and that the state of affairs existent was a mark against my name. Forsooth! I suspect that the same lassie might suspect you were me, responding to myself, and me then responding to........[Stop! Ed}. So just watch yer step in the future, and know where your place is. All were born equal, but on authonomy some are more equal than others.
______________________
As for the comments. I do have to admit that the polemic about the US/Israel does sound like a bit of a rant, and actually not intended; but I need to get some of the intensity across. In fairness I really do not attack either party thereafter and I have tried to spread the vitriol of the central character evenly throughout the novel. It has of course been muttered to me that a slight on either set would doom the book. I am lucky that I don’t write to eat!

Chapt 18 on the other hand! Mmmm....have thought about this before. The fact is that there are a few important points in this chapter that although not apparent now will become evident later in the plot. I’ll have a think though.
Finally, in all humbleness, please plod on if you can,and your comments are greatly appreciated.

If this had been on a bookshelf I would have bought it and stayed up all night to finish it. There is no doubt that this is a dark dark book, and the whole dystopic nature of the future had me feeling quite down at one point. If this book had been published and I had read it, then I would have purchased the next book purely on the basis of your name alone.

Well Done.

Does need a little polishing here and there, but it would seem unfair to list it in the face of such compulsive writing. I hope you manage to get an agent!

TALENT ALERT ! TALENT ALERT ! TALENT ALERT !

I've been a very naughty Princeling indeed, and I've spent half of the afternoon reading this. I am enthtralled, and I just can't put it down.

I'm on Chapter 19 so far.

1. I nearly put this back on the shelf because of the extended political rant about the US and Israel in Chapter 2 - i felt quite uncomfortable, and IMHO it would have an agent thinking 'My chances of selling this in the worlds biggest english speaking market just got substantially reduced'. There is a lot of hard core politcal opinion in here. Just IMHO so ignore as you please.

The sheer energy of this bowls me along, although I do sometimes catch myself having to restart a para when you move into the present tense for action dialogue.

I am wondering what the effect on your book would be if you cut the allotment chapter ( 18 I think ). Perhaps it foreshadows something a bit later.

Loving the progressively worse BBC Bulletins at the start of each chapter.

Interestingly there are very few typos and spellcheckisms in this - very polished.

Thanks - the artist that was formerly known as SLUSH PRINCE. You'r spot on with the brummie bit, I need to get the 'locals' into the novel as there is a considerable "community" element to the story. Let me have a fresh look at your points 4,6 and 7. Greatly appreciated that you took the time to look at PULSE.

Dear Annie,

Thank you for considering my book, and congratulations on your remarkable achievement as top spotter. Each time I ‘back a book’ I seem to drop down the tables. What is the secret? Having been one of the selected few to get into ‘pole position’ before the public launch, of course means that the rest of us will have to re-double our efforts to achieve your ranking. Continued success to you!

Over the past year I have sent out over 50 hardcopies of PULSE and I estimate it has been read by over 100 persons. I have received invaluable feedback which has enabled me to substantially re-write considerable parts of the novel, and it is much the better for it. Naturally enough I was disappointed that none of the ‘top rankers’ like yourself had the opportunity to review my work (to date), but I do understand that it takes time to make a worthwhile commentary, and hopefully that will change, as I have been contacted by an agent and wish to present as completed a final draft as I possibly can.

Some of those that have read PULSE, I have contacted (to advise of authonomy)and although I don’t know who they are I strongly suspect that many have logged on the website and supported me with putting me on their shelves. I did of course notice that some had written favourable comment and indeed not backed the book, and in one of my ‘messages’ (above), I have indeed encouraged them to back other books and get into the spirit of the web. One person I got interested in authonomy however, a keen reader, expressed outright disgust that their opinion was “less favoured” than your own, complaining of a lack of transparency and a “closed shop” and unfortunately will not be returning to the site – as I understand it. Win some lose some, I am sure the web administrator will get the balance right eventually.

I have of course uploaded the whole book from the start and I would like to think that those that received the hardcopy have read PULSE in its entirety, something that few of the offerings on authonomy will have accomplished.

I earnestly request that you would give my book some consideration, in terms of feeback (I do not pretend that it is literay fiction) as your contribution as ‘chief talent spotter’ would be greatly appreciated.

1. Good Pitch, the Right now all across sentence seems a little laboured. Perhaps you could say "An Israeli launched EMP etc has gone catastrophically astray over Europe, knocking out etc etc"?

2. Good first para, although there are a large number of words in that first sentence. The para makes me imagine I'm about to settle back and become enveloped in a good read.

3. Really good second para, you've set me up!

4. Slightly jarred by the Funny ... benefits of robotics line.

5. Unable to get the 'ready-use' flashlight to work . Hahaha, well done, I couldn't even find mine in the last powercut.

6. 'well, just to be sure!' slightly jarring again, but I'm getting an impression of a slightly chirpy chappy coupled with that Funny line above, and it fills in for dialogue.

7. Hmm. Bugger, then double bugger, weird then weird. Slightly jarring again. Lose 1%

Part of me is wondering why I'm reading about the brummie dentist, but I'm relating it to the community bit in your pitch.

8. I Like the radio announcement, you just got me to read on because I want to know what happened. Nice

9. Well, I got to the end of chapter 1 and I want to read on. Well Done, this goes on the bookshelf.

I had actually come to your page to read this book, but then I looked at your backers and realised that most of them signed in 28 days ago (about the time you first uploaded this) and never came back again.

Another thing I noticed was that none of them backed any other books, and had no books of their own. You're lucky to have had 62 people back your book in less than a month on Authonomy, so I guess you don't need my help. After all, I haven't got as many backers as you do, and I've been here almost from the start.

One last thing, not all of the people who left you comments have actually remembered to put your book on their shelves. Comments don't raise your book's profile, so you'd be better off getting them to just put the book on their shelves and be done with it.

Think of how higher your book would be on the charts, if all your commenters remembered to put it on their shelves.

Rob, I think you are right about the names. Beckhams agent has been on, apparently he has been reading it aloud to David at bedtime, and David quite enjoys it apparently. He had a bit of a whinge about using DBs name, but I pointed out that by 2010, with his profile on the wane, DBs will br craving any morsel of publicity he can get, and this is for free. He saw the rationale behind my argument. Thanks for the typos will adjust.