The Spoons That Are My Ears!

I regard my new novel, The Wistful Wanderings of Perceval Pitthelm, as an even better novel (just my own view, of course, and who am I?).  As well as being available directly from the publisher, it is also available from Amazon in paperback and ebook editions. As I have said before, it's an adventure story but a little more philosophical than most adventure stories.

Already it has had a good review. I am hoping for more reviews soon. The story concerns a writer of adventure stories who becomes caught up in a series of adventures himself, in East Africa, Brazil and the Sahara Desert between World Wars One and Two. Philip José Farmer was a big influence on this, as were Karel Čapek and Michael Moorcock and even Mia Couto. I think I have successfully managed to capture a certain atmosphere.

My thanks are to Ana Da Silveira Moura for providing the initial nudge that started the first chapter/story rolling. Salutations also to Jim Burns, the legendary cover artist. I have always wanted a Jim Burns cover, ever since I saw the covers he did for Jack Vance's Durdane Trilogy when I was in my teens and had just started reading fantasy and SF.

For the next few days, in order to help promote my novel, my collection of Lovecraftian stories Cthulhu Wants You will be a free ebook from any Amazon outlet. I am striving to reach new readers with this freebie in the hope that some of them will like it and then go on to purchase The Wistful Wanderings of Perceval Pitthelm. Trickle-down doesn't work, we all know that, but maybe capillary-action-sideways still has a chance. Let's see! Free for the next five days. Feel free to share.  

Whatever happens, my new novel now exists as a real item in the world and is available to be read, and that's something very nice to know. Review copies are available, epub, mobi and PDF. Contact me if you think you might be able to review it. Thanks.

Already this year I have ticked off three long-standing items on my bucket list. I climbed to the summit of Sri Pada, had one of my stories turned into a comic, and now a Jim Burns cover! I have wanted a Jim Burns cover since I first saw the covers of Jack Vance's 'Durdane' trilogy when I was about 16 years old.

Anyway, I am very pleased with the way the novel has turned out, an adventure set in Africa, Brazil and the Sahara Desert, taking place between World Wars One and Two. Philip José Farmer was a big influence on this, as were Karel Čapek and Michael Moorcock, but there's also (I like to think) an influence from less obvious sources such as Mia Couto and Alvaro Mutis.

The novel began life as a long short story called 'The Knees of Kionga' that I wrote for publication in Portuguese ten years ago, thanks to the encouragement of my friend Ana Da Silveira Moura. As the years passed, I added sequels to that story and ended up with a novel that I regard as my best adventure novel so far. I believe I have successfully captured a certain 1920s/30s atmosphere. You know the kind of thing I mean; the tropics, the misadventures, the spirit!

The novel is available for pre-order now. Here's the link:

I would certainly urge any readers at all interested in my work to check out this novel :-)