When the Saints go Marching Up

On you Reds

I bet some of you thought I had gone into a convent. It would certainly be a challenge to write a Romance in that setting - but by no means impossible. I'll never forget seeing "The Nun's Story" starring Audrey Hepburn. I'm not sure I'm allowed to say this - but I've always liked those sexy priest type stories - you know, broken hearted hunk turns his back on love and celebrates the celibate by performing some kinda priestease. Oooh - all the ladies want him but no one can admit it or make a move. But there's always one isn't there!


My guess is that hobbling about on one leg is not likely to attract any kind of hunk. Until my meeting with the wet deck of the Brittany ferry "Bretagne", the words medial collateral ligament were unknown to me. Now, I trot them out all the time. On Friday I made it back to the steering wheel of the bus. I was just in time to share in the public mood surrounding one of the greatest moments of all historical time. A great unity between religion and legs gelled into a synthesis. The Saints have been promoted to the Premier Division of English football. For anyone not familiar with the "Saints" this is the popular name for the Southampton football club.


The kids on the bus are hardly the most advantaged or ambitious in our society. On Friday, a rare unity gripped the city. The following day, Saints had to win or draw to gain the greatest prize in many lives. As I dropped them off we exchanged tense glances and repeated the magic formula "On You Reds". Fists were clenched but there were few smiles. We all knew that the next time we met, the world would be a different place.


Now, in fact I'm not any kind of football fan - but I do not entirely mind the odd muscular leg. (By the way, I think they shave them - does anyone know about this?). Football stands as a metaphor for many things that real community used to be. It offers shared aims and equality of voice. We know that in a merciless money driven society the greedy and the selfish get the most, but no supporter is more or less than the other. Many poorer fans could not afford to see the matches very often and yet their tribal passion is no less. Last week Gilles and I had dinner with a local University Professor. In all seriousness he told me that they were watching the league tables intently because as a Premiership football town, many more students would apply. 

And here is the world business news: My book "Knockout" is now available on Amazon USA in paperback, priced at $9.99 +P&P.   The UK is slightly more complicated as the book has to be shipped from the USA so it costs a bit more on Amazon UK £12.41 + £ 2.80 P&P.  I will be holding stock in the UK too and this will be available for £10 per copy, including 3-5 day shipping.  Just email me if you would like to buy a copy by this method.

COMPETITION...
In addition I am giving away two signed paperback copies to winners of a draw on Goodreads. To register your chance to win, click this link before May 21st. The prizes will be mailed to the winners,  anywhere in the world. 

In total now there are 28,000 Kindle copies of "Knockout" somewhere out there thank you to all the kind folks who have purchased or downloaded for free - will you be one of the first to grab the paperback?




Emma thinx: Struggling writers - Enjoy your posthumous success on credit today.