Today, 15th April 2014, is the day we find out what really goes on inside a zombies head with the launch of the new eBook by Damon Rathe called 'Human Rights: Undead Set on Living'.

For more information and links showing where to get a copy click here to go to the Fishcakes Titles page.

This is the first full novel by Damon Rathe, who has previously been published in the anthology 'Souls of Darkness' with co-authors Kenneth Frank and Louise hunt.

This writing shows the dark sense of humour Rathe has in telling the story from the other side for a change. Who knew zombies had such feelings? You will have to read it to find out more.

My new novel that will be released under my pseudonym Damon Rathe called "Human Rights: Undead Ste of Living" is close to being finished. I really excited about this as it was a book that I never expected to write and it literally came out of nowhere just like Cows!
I'm hoping to release it sometime in the new year, 2014, but I'm trying to publicise it now so it will hopefully build up some interest.
Imagine a newly turned zombie that has been out decimating the human race under orders of the structured zombie society, suddenly develops an awareness of what is happening and develops a sympathy with the human race and ultimately tries to save them. However, this is not as easy as it sounds when the humans drop nuclear bombs creating an even worse enemy - the Super Mutants. He also has to come to terms with his new status among the zombie ranks, the limitations of his decaying body and his new addiction to human brains to overcome. But perhaps, something that has happened in his human past, will give him the key to become the saviour of human kind.
Does that sound good? Let me know!

An event that I will be attending on November 16th 2013 is the:

Christmas Gift Fair

In aid of Children in Need and the Huddersfield Down Syndrome Association

Holmfirth Civic Hall

10am - 4pm

Entry is Free

Fishcake Publications has taken a stall there and, as well as selling all it's current titles, will also have some of the authors along to sign them as well. So here's a good chance to meet me, Fred Tidball, Stephen Bailey and possibly one or two other guest authors on the day. 

There will also be some second hand books for sale as well.

I hope you can come along and I'll see you there.

Books available in iBookstore

I've just added a widget to my blog site and I thought I'd take this opportunity to let people know that Fishcake Publications titles are available on the iPhone and iPad through the Apple iBook store.
I know a lot of people out there have these devices and are probably not aware that all these ebooks are available in this format.
So, if you don't have a kindle, nook or kobo you can now get your copy from this store.
Happy Reading!

The time has come again, when I've finally got off my backside and remembered to write something on my blog.
This time it's to promote the book 'Murgatroyd's Christmas Club' by Stephen Bailey, released by Fishcake Publications.
Stephen has worked really hard on this book and it shows. It's funny, light-hearted, entertaining and reminiscent (for you older ones) of life in the valleys around the boom of the textile trade.

I found it similar in feel to an episode of Last of the Summer Wine mixed with the antics of James Herriott (without the animals). This book will appeal to anyone who just wants to entertained gently, and although it's a long book, you'll soon get through it.
It is available on Amazon Kindle and Smashwords, just click these links to find it.

Open Writing (openwriting.com)

I'd like to share something with you.I was put on to this website by one of writing friends, Joyce Worsfold.
It is a site called Open Writing.
It's a great place for authors and writers alike to share their work to a global audience. After getting in touch, I found the chap who runs the site, Peter Hinchliffe, is actually a fellow Huddersfield resident and he is fascinating. He's been a journalist all over the world and started this site as a hobby out of the love of writing. It has a global audience.
Coming soon, he is adding a section called Fishcake Words and will be putting selections of work from the authors of Fishcake Publications on there to share with the the world. (The header is already on the home page but no work has been put on - yet!)
So if you love to read new and interesting things, I recommend this site. You can follow the link below
Open Writing

Volunteer to read with kids...

Great day at the Royds Hall High School celebration day yesterday. Well done kids. I also got this. It's great to volunteer when you're passionate about something and I would encourage anyone else if they have time to do the same

Summer Workshops with Kirklees Library

This summer I am doing a Summer workshop for 8-12 year old kids in the Kirklees area. This is going to be great fun. As well having readings, games and creative writing and illustrating, by the end of the 4 weeks we are hoping to have something that we can publish as an ebook for the whole world to see - isn't that an incentive?
Here's a poster for the event. Please pass it on to anyone you know might be interested.

Things so far...

Launches, launches everywhere!!
County Tales by Fred Tidball is now out as an ebook and a paperback.
Souls of Darkness has been released as a paperback.
Sheep has been released as an ebook and will shortly be launched as a paperback (June 28th).

And if that wasn't enough I'm in discussion with 4 other authors about publishing their work and there's the in the pipeline is a sequel to County Tales and my own zombie novel.

Also, I've just done the booklet for the Holmfirth Arts Festivals launch event tonight, Eye of the Heron, that can only be bought at the event.
http://holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk/eye-of-the-heron/

Aside from that, I have just been offered a job as an Educational Teaching Assistant in the English Department at Royds Hall High School. This is something I'm really looking forward to and feel very passionate about as I'm keen that all kids should have a good grounding in English before they leave school and I'm hoping that I can make a real difference.

This is a really busy and exciting time for me. I hope it continues...

NAWG Wentworth Castle Writing Retreat

I just thought I’d let everyone know how good the Wentworth Castle Writing Retreat was this year as it was an entertaining, informative, fun, writing weekend.

We were lucky enough again to be blessed by the lovely, sunny weather as well as some excellent workshops run by Julie Bokowiec and Leonora Rustimova.

But best of all for me was meeting a bunch of new, enthusiastic creative writers who all got into the spirit of the event both literally and socially. It is a great way to network and share thoughts and ideas with like minded people and generally make new friends from other writers groups and see what they are up to. I had a great time.

A big thank-you to Chris Huck for organising the event, as usual he did us proud (except when he had us racking our brains for his literary quiz! Very painful, I have a lot to learn and read.)

And thank-you to everyone who sat and listened to my little presentation / book launch about Fishcake Publications. You were very patient and enthusiastic about the work I’d done and I hope you enjoyed it. I enjoyed getting your feedback.

I even managed to get some writing work done of my own (beware zombie novel coming soon!) This is a gift in these very busy times that we live in! But the surroundings and atmosphere certainly help.

If the event runs again, I’ll definitely be trying my hardest to get there.

Launch Day - A Brilliant Day

I have never been so excited (or so busy). And why is that? Because I have so many books to bring to people, that's why.

Today (Friday 17th May) is the launch of the eBook County Tales by Fred Tidball. This is Fred's first book and is very funny, it will definitely make you giggle. It can be found on Smashwords and Amazon using the links below. Other eBook retailer will follow soon.
County Tales - Amazon
County Tales - Smashwords
I also have in my possession the proof copy of the paperback which is to be launched on Friday 7th June, so keep an eye out for that.

Also, today, Sheep by Martin D Rothery (me) is being launched as an eBook. This is also available on Amazon and Smashwords right now and a paperback version will follow shortly though I haven't decided a launch date for that.
Sheep - Amazon
Sheep - Smashwords

I have also taken delivery of the first printed versions of Souls of Darkness by Louise Hunt, Damon Rathe and Kenneth Frank. So keep an eye out for it appearing in shops and various web stores including Amazon and Ebay. But it will also be available from the Fishcake Publications or the Fishcake Books websites at a cheaper cost.
Fishcake Publications
Fishcake Books

So why not buys a few new books today and I'm sure you will be entertained.

UnDead Set of Living

It's amazing sometimes where your writing can take you.
What started as a funny first person zombie story has now turned into something darker and more political - how did that happen?
After being inducted into zombie society, our protagonist is now on a mission to save 'human rights' after the introduction of the super-mutant zombies (created after a human nuclear strike) who are intent on wiping out every human on the planet. Would you believe from the hum-drum bureaucracy of simple everyday zombie life our hero is out to actually save mankind from extinction. This is after realising, from resurfacing memories, that he actually tried to stop the outbreak in the first place!
I'm loving writing it!

Festivals!!!

I'm looking forward to the following festivals in Holmfirth this year:

The Holmfirth Folk Festival

The Holmfirth Arts Festival - Holmfirth Writing Group will hopefully be getting involved in this again.

The Holmfirth Art Week

I try and visit or take part in all of these festivals every year, as they are all always good fun.

Maybe I'll see you there.

Wentworth Writing Weekend

One thing I am looking forward to this Summer/Summer (if Summer/Summer ever arrives that is, as currently the snow is blizzarding here and there's quite a few inches of snow - in March!!) is the Wentworth Castle Writing weekend.
I've been for the last two years now and it's been a lot of fun, so I can't wait for this year.
It's from the 31st May - 2nd June.
It's run by a friend of mine from the Holmfirth Writers Group who is also a committee member of NAWG (the National Association of Writers Groups).
It's the chance to get some writing done of your own or participate in some of the workshops on offers - it's up to you, it's a very informal weekend.
So hopefully, I may see some of you there!
If this sounds interesting, please follow the link below:
NAWG Wentworth Weekend

Coming Soon and Latest News!

I am pleased to say that the first full edited version of SHEEP! has been completed and it has just been issued for consumer feedback, so I am really looking forward to getting that published soon.This book is also going to be illustrated, which will make it even more enjoyable.

Also, I am also very excited to announce that their will be another book being published by Fishcakes soon titled County Tales by Fred Tidball. This is a collection of your not so ordinary faery tales, told in a rather unique and funny way. So keep an eye out for that.

I am also looking at a very good manuscript by another talented new author that will hopefully also be out later this year, but you'll have to be content with that teaser for now as more details will follow soon.

And best of all, after some great reviews and the initial success of Souls of Darkness, we are looking at releasing a paperback version very shortly as well.
Souls of Darkness by Louise Hunt, Damon Rathe and Kenneth Frank
As well as that, the second print run of COWS! has just been received. Due to the success of the first print run, we've had to get some more.
COWS! by Martin Rothery

So I'm happy to say that everything is looking very good at the moment and I am having a lot of fun. Isn't that what this job is all about?!

World Down Syndrome Day

Today is World Down Syndrome Day, so please show your support by wearing odd socks today. My nephew has downs and he is a beautiful little boy and it's nice to know that he would be supported in the future. Follow the link below for more information.
World Down Syndrome Day

World Book Day 2013

I hope everyone enjoyed World Book Day as much as I did.
The fortunate thing about working in a school is that you get to take part in these things first had with the kids.
At Royds Hall  we were lucky enough to have a visiting poet and a cartoonist and the whole day was based around the theme of Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (which is a really funny read and a good recommendation.)
We had some excellent poetry and cartooning workshops and I was so impressed with the creativity and imagination that the year 7 kids had.
I'm already looking forward to next years!

Guest Blog on Nuts and Crisps

Hello All,
Been a while since I last posted.
Hope everyone had a good Christmas and new year. Unfortunately I was ill for all of it, so a bit of a downer.
But I'm determined to make this year as successful as possible!
So here's a good way to start.
I've just done a guest blog on a fellow writer's blog page and here's a link to read it:
Nuts and Crisps
Nuts and Crisps is run by KB Walker who has had published two books of her own. All the details are on her blog.
Enjoy.

Calling all bloggers...

I am running a promotion in conjunction with Tomoson.com to find bloggers to review and spread the word about 'Souls of Darkness' by Louise Hunt, Damon Rathe and Kenneth Frank.


If you would like to take part, and get a FREE electronic copy of the book, click the link below and get on board. You may even find other promotions to take part in which results in you getting free stuff.

Tomoson.com 'Souls of Darkness' Promotion

Nonagenarians for FREE

As we want to share the work of Frank and Jessie Littlewood with more people, Nonagenrians is now available as a free download at Smashwords.
It can be downloaded as a file for any eReading device from Kindle to iTunes, or even just a standard PDF, so there's no reason why everyone can't have a copy.
Just click the link below and you will be atken to the page where you can download it.
I hope you enjoy it.

Nonagenarians on Smashwords