My 80s Fun & Facts

The My 80s radio show recently celebrated its first anniversary at Mad Wasp Radio, and I have written a book to mark the occasion. Detailing all the tracks played on the show during that year, as well as Favourite Five, Word Up, Back On Track and Our Choon features, My 80s Fun & Facts includes crosswords, puzzles and word searches relating to the music and artists who have appeared on the show. There is even a ‘hidden’ online Monster Mash Up, accessible via a QR code in the book, and a pop quiz compiled by our quiz meister extraordinaire, Alan Read.

Published this Thursday (27th September) by Red Rain, My 80s Fun & Facts is available from most online book stores, including The Book Depository , Blackwell’s and Amazon*.

 

“I remember the Eighties as a rollercoaster ride and My 80s reflects that diversity, playing a winning mix of hits and surprises.  This book is the perfect accompaniment”  Gary Crowley

 

 

 

*Delivery is approximately 3 working days, NOT the 1 to 2 months currently stated on Amazon.

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More Eighties For Free on Father’s Day

A little treat for all the dads this Father’s Day, or for anyone wanting to escape the World Cup – actually, for all fans of 80’s music, whether or not you’re celebrating your paternity or avoiding the football frenzy – the kindle version of More Eighties will be FREE on Amazon this coming Sunday and Monday. 

For those readers who don’t own a kindle, simply download the free kindle app to read the book on devices including PC, mobile and laptop.

The third and final book in a trilogy on Eighties’ popular culture, More Eighties explores how the decade provided a backdrop against which creativity and individuality flourished, the social and political factors which shaped the music of a generation, the changing role and influence of record companies, and why the era remains a golden age for so many of us.
Featuring interviews with artists including:
David Ball – Soft Cell – Martyn Ware – Heaven 17 – Dave Wakeling – The Beat – Pauline Black – The Selecter – Eddi Reader – Fairground Attraction – Rusty Egan – Visage – Jona Lewie – Suzi Quatro – Andy Kyriacou – Modern Romance – Nathan Moore – Brother Beyond, and Junior Giscombe.
Reflecting the diversity of the UK charts during that time, this book offers recollections, insights and observations from those at the forefront of British music during the most exciting, transitional period in its history. With a foreword and commentary by Peter Coyle, former lead singer of the Lotus Eaters, songwriter, and the man responsible for introducing karaoke to the city of Liverpool, completing the eclectic mix.

If you could leave a review on Amazon when you’ve finished More Eighties, that would be great. Not only does your feedback help me with my future writing but it improves the book’s visibility on Amazon (don’t ask me how – their algorithms are beyond my comprehension!), meaning more fans of the decade are likely to find it.

Happy reading.

 

Back To The 80s With Jenny Colgan

This week on the My 80s radio show my special guest willbe Jenny Colgan. The best-selling author of titles including The Little Shop of Happy Ever After, The Endless Beach and Looking For Andrew McCarthy (well, she is an Eighties’ girl after all) will be choosing her Favourite Five Eighties’ tracks and recalling some of her memories of the decade. So, if you want to hear Jenny’s fantastic five choices, and also discover who was the heart throb who adorned her teenage bedroom walls, tune in to Mad Wasp Radio from 7pm this Sunday.

You can also join in the Twitter conversations that accompany every show by using #My80s to tweet your comments and make requests for future shows. It’s a lot of fun and I look forward to chatting to you on the hashtag – I’m @MyEighties.

 

Wouldn’t It Be Good To Listen To Nik’s Favourite Five?

Back in August, I interviewed Nik Kershaw for The 80s Annual Vol. II, which will be published next month. After our interview, he agreed to be a guest on the My 80s radio show, choosing his Favourite Five 80’s songs. We weren’t quite sure when that would be, as Nik had a busy couple of months ahead of him. However, I caught up with him towards the end of his tour, and we recorded Nik chatting about his Favourite Five ahead of his gig in Margate, at the beginning of October.

The interview will air on this Thursday’s My 80s 9-11pm on Mad Wasp Radio. It’s a good one, so be sure to tune in!

Backstage with Nik Kershaw at The Royal Theatre, Margate

Cover Reveal!

As we enter Autumn, I am delighted to reveal the cover for The 80s Annual vol. II. Designed by the incredibly talented Natalie Owen, with photography by Tania Hoser, and featuring the gorgeous Kat Crawley, the cover embraces the bright, fun times of my favourite decade. I love it!

The 80s Annual vol. II will be published in November. Watch this space …

 

Only Fools And Fun At Quizfest

It is just over a week ago since I was a guest at Quizfest, and I have finally found time to share some of the photos from the day. Fellow authors, signing their books, included Nicholas Parsons, Helen Lederer, David Hamilton and John Challis, aka Boycie from Only Fools And Horses, who was accompanied by Del Boy and Uncle Albert lookalikes. With a number of Chasers and Eggheads and TV stalwart Fred Dinenage also in attendance, it was a fabulous day full of familiar faces.

Ready To Jack Up The 80s

It is that time of year when I start to get overly excited as I pack my suitcase, ready to head off Solent bound. Yes, I am happy to say that Jack Up The 80s is now only days away.

This year’s line up includes Nik Kershaw, Jason Donovan, Alexander O’Neal, The Fizz (Formerly Bucks Fizz) and JUT80s favourites, From The Jam, who gave an incredible performance last year. I can’t wait!

As well as some great acts, the festival will also have an array of fantastic stalls, offering everything from food and fun to memorabilia and music.

For lovers of vinyl (the best way to listen to music) The Vinyl Countdown is a stall not to be missed. Not only will there be plenty of plastic for festival goers to choose from on the stall, but there will also be the opportunity to purchase my books at the stall, as the lovely Adam has agreed to sell them for me while I’m busy photographing and interviewing artists. We all like a freebie, so there will also be free 1″ badges, featuring designs from my book covers, for everyone buying a book or vinyl from The Vinyl Countdown. Well, until we run out of badges that is, so be quick!

I look forward to seeing all my fellow fans of the Eighties next weekend – come and say hello when you see me.

 

Books, Beaulieu and Bargains

Tomorrow I will be signing copies of all my titles at Quizfest in Beaulieu, and the good news for everyone attending is that all of my books on sale there will be available at prices lower than their online price. Those who cannot make the event can still pick up a bargain though, as all my titles published by Fabrian Books (the Eighties trilogy) have offers running on their Kindle versions this weekend at Amazon.

Happy reading!

Book Signing In Beautiful Beaulieu

With just over two weeks to go until Quizfest, I am beginning to get more than a little excited. Not only will I be signing copies of all my titles at the event, but I will be stationed on a stall in the Domus Hall, alongside the legendary DJ and presenter David Hamilton. I was told that we will be in a section dedicated to pop culture, but I can’t help wondering whether I’ve been put there to make ‘Diddy’ look taller!

Joking aside, it promises to be a fantastic day with book signings, ‘Meet the Stars’ from 2 – 4.30pm, and a quiz in the evening hosted by Christopher Biggins, all set in the beautiful grounds of Beaulieu’s National Motor Museum. I am hoping I’ll have time to have a look at some of the amazing cars housed in the museum too.

So, if you fancy pitting your wits against an Egghead or a Chaser, grabbing a new (signed) book or just coming to meet some of the many familiar faces who will be milling around, then Saturday 29th July is the day to put in your diaries. I look forward to seeing you there.

The Week That Was

It has been quite a week, with the publication of More Eighties on Tuesday, a radio interview on Thursday, a gig on Friday, and throughout all of that trying to learn the art of vlogging – no mean feat for a Luddite whose technical prowess peaked at the vertically split black and white TV screen, when adjusting the tracking on our Betamax video recorder!

As I mentioned in my last post, I marked the new book’s launch with a celebratory lunch with some fabulous friends. While we were in Dover, I visited Banksy’s latest offering and could not resist a little step up the ladder. I also recorded one of my vlogs there, which you can see below, along with the one I recorded at the gig featuring Jona Lewie and The Blockheads. All my vlog posts are available via my  YouTube channel or my website, which also includes the link to the recording of my radio interview. Enjoy …