Daizy and the Weeds Rap it Up (now available on Amazon) is my latest novel for older teenagers and was originally called Voice of the Lobster, a title I still prefer. However, advice from agent’s website (I forget which) was to have a title that summarised or indicated the book’s content – or avoid one that could not be understood until the story had been read. I took the point, even though many books do not follow this rule. I suppose well-known authors can break the rule because readers are attracted to them and aren’t fazed by an obscure title. Anyway, my book is about a girl called Daizy from the Weed family who make music including rap so I hope this is now acceptable. Preferably, I hope an agent/publisher shows interest in forking out for the manuscript. And, of course, people will purchase the book from Amazon.

I began writing the story some years ago (maybe 10 or 15) and always intended coming back to it when the time was right. It includes contemporary issues such as racism, media bullying, dysfunctional families, etc, and focuses on the two major preoccupations of my life; music and working with young people.

The central character is Nina, a black teenager and one of a large extended family of travellers who narrowly escape being killed in an arson attack on their bus. Far-right activists harass the family, but they are protected by a mysterious friend who offers to support them in exchange for musical performances. Nina and the Weeds are successful but discover a racist group has been exploiting the band by inserting subliminal messages into their performances. Nina’s absent father, we later discover, along with the political activists behind the conspiracy, served in the army together and were involved in the massacre of a rebel group in Somalia some years previously. The crime is kept secret, but Nina uncovers it and, eventually establishes her father’s innocence.

Some might criticize me as a white middle-aged man for having a black teenage girl as the main character but, I believe, readers will understand when they get into the book. Also, as an author, I hope I have sufficient imagination to write about a whole range of characters who may or may not share my background or life experiences. In fact, the most important characters in the book are troubled teenagers (boys, girls, black and white) and for many years I worked with just such kids in the education system.

The following is an extract early on in the novel after Nina and her New Age traveller family have been fire-bombed out of their campsite and sought refuge at a squat in the suburbs.

She was sick and tired of the weird, wired and wacky, mad and muddy, spaced-out and tacky world of the road. The festivals, campfires, communes, raves, road rallies, tree protests and other radical scenes which, when all was said and done, made every day a bad hair day and each night fit only for dirty dogs and frozen turkeys. It also helped if you were an eco-warrior, fired up by dreams of anarchy and revolution – so full of it in fact you were blind to the squalor and lack of privacy – but she wasn’t.
       No, all Nina wanted was a bit of peace and quiet. Not the ‘chill man’ type of peace that made you cringe and feel like swatting every doped-up body-painted loon that hung around the fringes of her world like mosquitoes, but the everyday type of peace she’d only ever glimpsed at enviously from a distance through the curtains of suburban terraces. Houses, in fact, exactly like the one they were in now.

In London last week I visited the Imperial War Museum and was, of course, both amazed and appalled at man’s (and it usually is men) ingenuity in devising such terrible machines of self-destruction. But the part that was most devastating was the Holocaust section on the top floor. In fact, after a while I found the galleries depicting murder on an industrial scale, mostly in dim light, almost too much to bear and simply wanted to get out. Unfortunately, leaving was not so easy (no doubt deliberately) as it was difficult finding the exit among the maze of rooms and passages.

Of course the Nazis didn’t only murder Jews. With their warped philosophy of Aryan superiority they believed they could treat anyone deemed inferior or different as worse than animals. This included, gypsies, homosexuals, any non-white races, those with a disability or learning problem, etc. We may believe nothing like this could happen again but in fact it is, right now, in many places around the world. Autocratic regimes are discriminating against and persecuting minorities or supporting religious and other groups to cause political unrest, terrorist explosions, etc, and even sponsor revolution and war.

My song was a reaction to all this when I got home.

PROTECT THE POOR

Protect the poor and needy, from the cruel and the greedy,
And those in power who do not care.
About society now – where everyone is free now,
To live in peace with their fair share.
Some say life is a race – you better know your place,
The cards are stacked before you begin.
And so why give a damn, about the rights of man,
The strongest rat must always win – must always win.

Defend the weak and helpless, from oppressors in the darkness.
One day who knows, it could be you.
Trampled down by heavy jack boots – storm troopers all in black suits,
Too late to cry you never knew.
But some say life is a farce – all things one day must pass,
Might as well enjoy it while we may.
There is no right or wrong, so sings the tyrant’s song,
The only truth is what I say – is what I say.

Do not deny the awkward, odd-balls you may call backward,
With special needs or broken down.
Different colours, different ways, bring sunshine to our days,
Reveal the wisdom of a clown.
But with their righteous anger, and obedience for ever,
The master race broke all the rules.
That was long ago now, a goose-stepping comedy show now,
Surely, we would not be such fools?
Would we – be such fools?

Plum Crazy is my latest novel for children (9-14 years), recently uploaded to Amazon Kindle – both paperback and e-book. Ideally, however, I’d like a nice publisher to take me on for this and other titles.

Below is a bit of blurb:

‘Are you happy?’ asked the Lord of the Prunes.
‘What a question,’ replied Jim. ‘But, if you must know, life sucks. The kids are rotten. The teachers are rotten. Even the food’s rotten.’
‘I could change all that,’ said the little fruit. So saying, he grants Jim three wishes which whisk them both off to Australia, then America and finally by rocket ship to the International Space Station. Along the way the unlikely duo enlists a motley crew of kids and tame adults to help solve the mystery of Greengage Manor and defeat its resident witch.

Jim Skelly, an overweight twelve-year-old, finds a talking prune in his pudding on an adventure centre holiday at Greengage Manor. Bullied by both children and staff, Jim accepts magical help from the prune. There follow adventures in which Jim learns to assert himself and carry out dangerous missions. His main adversary is Penelope Blackthorn, the centre manager, who is suspected of having dark powers but turns out to be a scientist using children as guinea pigs and accidentally turning them into animated prunes. A toxic waste chemical company holding a conference at the hall is also implicated but, after a battle between the children and executives, a truce is negotiated and the company help Jim and his friends in their mission to win a trip to NASA’s space centre in Florida. Having been turned into a prune himself and not able to reverse the spell, Jim is smuggled into luggage for America and eventually aboard a rocket in an astronaut’s kit bound for the International Space Station. Before being discovered Jim manages to fix an air leak and is proclaimed a fruit-sized hero.

Note – no live prunes were harmed in the making of this book.

There’s been a lot in the media about WW1 as we’ve just had the centenary of the war’s end in 1918. Most striking for me was Peter Jackson’s film using old black and white clips of soldiers lives, mostly during trench warfare.  At the folk club we sang mostly anti-war songs – but, as I often wonder, would I have had the courage to voice such sentiments at the time had I been around? Probably not. My Uncle Ralph (father’s older brother) was a conscientious objector and was first imprisoned and then sent to an asylum where he ended his days nearly fifty years later. The war may have been a case of mass insanity but individuals are likely to be sent insane standing up to the millions bent on destruction.

My song isn’t so original but a worth a go anyway.

WORLD WAR III IS OVER

World War Three is over, now I’m the last one here,
Everything’s radioactive and there’s a funny taste in the beer.
We’ve only got Pot Noodles to last for evermore,
Me and this one lousy cockroach – are fighting it out on the floor.

World War Three is over, like the Planet of the Apes,
Now could they do a better job? Why not for goodness sakes?
They may not use a knife and fork, or drink from a china cup,
But at least they won’t go and build a bomb to blow the whole lot up.

World War Three is over, and there’s no sign of a mate,
So the human race cannot start again, I guess we left it too late.
To talk of love and the Lord above while threatening nuclear war,
But at least over-population – will be a problem no more.

World War Three is over, there’s no one left here but me,
I guess with everybody gone, I may claim the victory.
From here in my concrete bunker, far from our green and pleasant land,
Never to view the sky so blue deep in my coffin so grand.

World War Three is over, it didn’t take very long,
One push of a little red button and the whole wide world was gone.
Gone all civilisation, and life as we know it today,
No more David Attenborough to remind us what we’ve thrown away.

World War Three is over, it’s the ending of all our dreams,
Or could it just be a nightmare and not the way it seems?
I guess I’ll never know for sure, it’s for all of us to decide,
Do we choose to live in peace or keep fighting till everyone’s died?

Not Just a Silly Hat, is a spin-off album that includes many songs written about at some length in my book,  The Key to a Happy Life. The title comes from the song about Richard Thompson, which is an affectionate piss-take. All the songs are inspired by great song writers, including Woody Guthrie (the archetypal singer-songwriter), Lead Belly (a powerful performer who was much copied), Bobby Darin (mostly a crooner but also a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter), Bob Dylan (probably the most successful songwriter ever), The Rolling Stones (probably the best rock band ever), John Newton (who wrote Amazing Grace), Lonnie Donegan (who mainly popularised American blues numbers) and Davey Graham (best known as a guitarist).

All these artists, and many more, have been great influences on me and many other singer-songwriters. This CD is my tribute to them (original songs – not covers). It was very ably recorded in Neil Tinning’s studio at Seaton Sluice, North Tyneside.

Having recently re-edited and updated ABE or, Amy Diver and Alien Big Cat, a children’s novel I wrote some years ago, I’m about to publish it on Amazon KDP. Also, I’m going to write to a few agents and publishers to try and get a more orthodox book deal. The problem with my two adult books, The Singer-Songwriter’s Last Stand and, recently, The Key to a Happy Life, is that they don’t fit neatly into the usual categories or genres. (As don’t my children’s song books.) I’m sure readers aren’t bothered – they just want a good entertaining read – but the gate-keepers are more conservative. So, I guess if I want my work in Waterstones, etc, I’ll have to comply.

ABE, by the way, is about a ten year old girl who becomes able to communicate (note – not talk) with animals following a riding accident where she received a head injury. She is later approached by an ABC, or alien big cat, who enlists her to uncover the activities of a criminal who has been importing endangered and rare species into the country. The book also includes short accounts of the lives of two leading animal characters – Abe, a black panther or leopard, and George, a lowland gorilla.

As a matter of fact, the gorilla’s story came first. It was one of a number of short tales written to accompany a CD of animal songs, but the gorilla’s one just grew. I then became interested in the whole issue of wildlife crime and conservation, etc. Sightings of large wild cats were in the news and I realised were connected to the same issue having often escaped from illegal or inconvenient captivity (so it is often speculated). The heroine, blonde and blue-eyed little Amy, was modelled on an ex-pupil, though her story is, obviously, fiction.

I was watching a documentary about plastic recycling – or the lack of it – and was inspired to write this song. Like many other environmental disasters, what started out as a dream product became a nightmare one until we now seem helpless to make things better.  As the song says, a drive for profits is often the main incentive but one we often conspire with, knowingly or not. But it’s not only just up to multinational companies and governments to act responsibly but also the public to put pressure on them to, for example, relinquish fossil fuels, non-recyclable materials and non-sustainable timber and other crops. The trouble is, we often do not ask awkward questions or demand eco-friendly products because we want low prices. We also, I suspect, don’t want the hassle.

POISONING THE PLANET

WE ARE POISONING THE PLANET FROM THE HIGHLANDS TO THE LOW
ALL THE WILD CREATURES – EVERYTHING MUST GO
AND IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IT LOOK AROUND

WE ARE POISONING THE OCEANS, THE RIVERS AND THE SEAS
THROWING OUT THE GARBAGE NOW ITS BLOWING IN THE BREEZE
AND IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IT LOOK AROUND

AIN’T YOU GOT EYES IN YOUR SOCKETS?
AIN’T YOU GOT SENSE ENOUGH TO SEE?
IT’S ALL FOR THE LOVE OF A PROFIT
IT SURE AIN’T FOR THE LOVE OF YOU AND ME.

HEY-YAH-HEY! (repeat)

WE ARE POISONING THE INSECTS, THE BUTTERFLIES AND THE BEES
TURNING UP THE HEATERS NOW THE ARCTIC WILL NOT FREEZE
AND IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IT LOOK AROUND

WE ARE POISONING THE EARTH – WE ARE POISONING THE AIR
WE ARE POISONING OURSELVES LIKE WE DID NOT EVEN CARE
AND IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IT LOOK AROUND

WE ARE POISONING THE PLANET FROM GROUND ZERO TO THE SKY
WE’VE HARDLY BEGUN BUT NOW E’RE FIXING TO DIE
AND IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IT LOOK AROUND

AFTER ALL THE FORESTS HAVE BEEN FLATTENED
AFTER ALL THE RIVERS HAVE RUN DRY
AFTER ALL THE FISH HAVE BEEN BATTERED
AND THE LAST BIRD HAS BEEN SHOT OUT OF THE SKY
MAYBE THEN WE’LL REALISE

HEY-YAH-HEY! (repeat)

HEY-YAH-HEY! – A Native American ‘releasing’ chant.

51 facts on Pollution https://www.conserve-energy-future.com
Fact 1: Pollution is one of the biggest killers, affecting more than 100 million worldwide.
Fact 2: More than 1 billion people worldwide don’t have access to safe drinking water.
Fact 3: 5000 people die every day as a result of drinking unclean water.
Fact 4: The garbage dumped in the ocean every year is roughly around 14 billion pounds. Plastic is the major constituent.
Fact 5: Pollution kills more than 1 million seabirds and 100 million mammals every year.
Fact 6: People who live in high-density air pollution area, have 20% higher risk of dying from lung cancer, than people living in less polluted areas.
Fact 7: Approximately 46% of the lakes in America are extremely polluted and hence risky for swimming, fishing and aquatic life.
Fact 8: In the great “Smog Disaster“, that happened in London in the year 1952, approximately four thousand people died in a few days due to the high concentrations of pollution.
Fact 9: United States produces 30% of the world’s waste and uses 25 % of the worlds natural resources
Fact 10: The Mississippi River dumps 1.5 million metric tonnes of nitrogen pollution in the Gulf of Mexico every year.
Fact 11: Every year around one trillion gallons of untreated sewage and industrial waste is dumped in the U.S water.
Fact 12: Children contribute to only 10% of the world’s pollution but are prone to 40% of global disease.
Fact 13: More than 3 million kids under the age of 5 years die every year due to environmental factors like pollution.
Fact 14: Composting and recycling alone have prevented 85 million tons of waste to be dumped in 2010.
Fact 15: China is the world’s largest producer of carbon dioxide. United States is no. 2.
Fact 16: Almost 80% of urban waste in India is dumped in the river Ganges.
Fact 17: Noise pollution is the most neglected type of pollution.
Fact 18: The amount of money invested in nuclear test could be used to finance 8,000 hand pumps, giving villages across third world access to clean water.
Fact 19: Acidification of the ocean is the worst type of pollution. Oceans are becoming more acidic rue to greenhouse emissions from fossil fuel.
Fact 20: Livestock waste majorly contributes to soil pollution. During monsoon, water runs over the fields carrying dangerous bacteria from the livestock into the streams.
Fact 21: More than 100 pesticides in any medium- air, water or soil can cause birth defects, gene mutation and cancer.
Fact 22: There are more around 73 various kinds of pesticides in the groundwater, which is used as drinking water.
Fact 23: There are more than 500 million cars in the world and by 2030 the number will rise to 1 billion. This means pollution level will be more than double.
Fact 24: Major oil spills like those in the Gulf of Mexico, is the the worst type of pollution due to consistent oil spills in the water body which spreads everywhere else.
Fact 25: House owners use chemicals that are 10 times more toxic per acre, than the amount used by the farmers.
Fact 26: Around 1000 children die in India every year due to diseases caused from the polluted water.
Fact 27: In India, the Ganges water is gradually becoming septic, especially due to dumping of half burnt dead bodies and enshrouded babies.
Fact 28: 88% of the children in Guiyu, China suffer from various respiratory diseases as the area they live in is a huge e-waste site.
Fact 29: Antarctica is the cleanest place on Earth protected by anti-pollution laws.
Fact 30: Scientific research has proven that carbon dioxide emissions are lowering the pH of the ocean and are acidifying them even more.
Fact 31: A single car generates half a ton of CO2 and a NASA space shuttle releases 28 tons of C02.
Fact 32: Americans buy more than 29 million bottles of water every year. Only 13% of these bottles are recycled every year.
Fact 33: Tsunami in Japan during the year 2011, has created a debris of 70 miles, which consists of cars, plastic, dead bodies and radioactive waste.
Fact 34: Cadmium is a dangerous pollutant that kills foetus’ sex organ cells. It is wide spread in many things that we eat and drink.
Fact 35: It takes only 5 days for a jet stream in Chine to carry the air pollution to the United States.
Fact 36: Pollution in China can change the weather in United States.
Fact 37: World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 6400 people die every year in Mexico due to air pollution.
Fact 38: A single person in United States produces 2 kilograms of garbage every day.
Fact 39: The UAE is one of the biggest waste producer and water consumer.
Fact 40: Every 1 million ton of oil that is shipped, approximately 1 ton from gets wasted in the form of spills.
Fact 41: Most of the hazardous pollutants that are discharged in the atmosphere each year are released to surface water, ground water, and land, combined.
Fact 42: Approximately 3 billion people without proper shelter and healthcare cook and heat their homes using open fires and leaky stoves, thus contributing more towards pollution and global warming.
Fact 43: Chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD) that develop due to indoor air pollution is responsible for the death of more than 1 million people every year.
Fact 44: The people more susceptible to high ozone levels are children, elderly, people with lung disease, and people who are active outdoors.
Fact 45: A glass that is produced from recycled glass instead of raw materials can reduce related air pollution by 20%, and water pollution by 50%.
Fact 46: If you think that you don’t smoke and you will be spared by lung cancer, just remember that your lungs or heart may be similarly damaged simply from exposure to ozone and particulate matter.
Fact 47: Places which are near to high traffic roads, seaports or railyards are dangerous place to live or work as they contain more concentrated levels of air pollution.
Fact 48: In cities, where there is huge traffic and vehicles run bumper-to-bumper, the pollutants in the air can seep into your car making the air you breathe inside your car up to 10 times more polluted than typical city air.
Fact 49: In 1987, the U.S. released 1.2 million tons of toxic chemicals into our atmosphere, 670,000 tons into our soil, and 250,000 tons into our water. (International Wildlife magazine)
Fact 50: In the US, 41% of all insecticides are used on corn. Eighty per cent of these are used to treat a pest that could be controlled simply by rotating the corn for one year with any other crop.
Fact 51: Public transportation and car pooling can help you to reduce air pollution and save money up to a great extent.
If these statistics are enough to give a wake-up call, then even more needs to be done beyond that. Step ahead and stop pollution yourself, today.