'Strange Bedfellows' is Out in the Wild!

Well, knock me down with a feather. I’ve actually done it.

After months (okay, let’s be honest, probably years) of staring at the garden, arguing with the imaginary dog, and recording enough failed vocal takes to make a professional singer weep, the book is finally finished. It’s called 'Strange Bedfellows', and it’s a collection of short stories and novellas that have been rattling around my brain like loose change in a washing machine.

I know what you’re thinking: "Bloody hell, he actually stopped procrastinating for five minutes?" I’m as shocked as you are. But here we are.

So, What’s the Crack?

The title isn’t just about people waking up in the wrong house after a heavy night in the local (though there’s probably a bit of that energy in there). It’s about the weird, wonderful, and occasionally bone-chilling ways that different worlds, people, and ideas collide.

Inside this collection, you’ll find:

• Gritty Noir: Yes, including that body in the ditch I was obsessing over. (Turns out the bumblebees didn't help with the forensics, but I got there eventually).
• The Surreal and the Strange: Stories that feel like a fever dream you’d have after a dodgy kebab and a marathon of old twilight zone episodes.
• A Bit of Heart: Amongst the darkness and the dead bodies, there are real people just trying to get by, usually with a bit of that Northern grit we know and love.

A "Labor of Love" (And Distraction)

I’ve spent a lot of time talking about not writing this book. I’ve blogged about my distractions, my singing "career" that never was, and my deep-dive research into things that have absolutely no bearing on the plot.

But looking through the final proof of 'Strange Bedfellows', I realised that all those "wasted" hours actually ended up in the pages. The banal internet facts, the weird observations from the garden, and even the snippets of lyrics I couldn't quite turn into a song—they’ve all found a home here.

"It’s a bit like a Sunday roast. You spend all morning faffing about, the kitchen's a mess, and you’ve burnt the Yorkshire puddings twice—but when it finally hits the table, it’s all worth it."

Where Can You Get It?

If you fancy a read—and let’s face it, you’ve spent this long reading my excuses, you might as well see the end result—you can grab a copy now.

It’s perfect for:

1. Reading on the bus when you want to look intellectual.
2. Avoiding your own chores (I highly recommend this).
3. Propping up a wonky table leg (it’s a decent thickness).

Buy Now!

Thanks for sticking with me through the procrastination, the sarcasm, and the endless photos of my garden. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a very important date with a nap. I’ve earned it.

Cheers, everyone!