Some people and places I recommend visiting:
The Ulster Wildlife Trust and the NI WWF site, plus the official Wildlife Albums site and UWT man ‘Dave The Exciteable’s MySpace site for the Wildlife Albums – a good place to hear a few tracks, not available on the official site, though you’ll find loads more written information on the latter…
Some people who’ve published my books. I think there are facilities from both Bloomsbury and Collins Press sites to purchase books direct – which is probably a better way of ensuring penurious authors get any reward than, say, buying at a fraction of the cover price from Amazon. With the latter link, to North Down Borough Council, the trick – if you really want to buy a copy of Seaside Rock – is to find within it contact info for North Down Heritage Centre. I’m sure they can sort out a copy if you ask nicely…
A couple of cottage industry labels I’ve worked with on curious CD projects, the official Janet Holmes site and a splendid independent Belfast bookstore, No Alibis, which has been very generous in hosting a number of charity events for me along with numerous author events and music events of its own. Run by Dave Torrans – the Mr Big of the Belfast crime bookshop world. Support the small man, that’s what I always say…
Some great musician sites: Judy Dyble, first singer with Fairport Convention and a fellow librarian, after my own heart, who sneaks records out when no-one’s looking… Brooks Williams, from Statesboro, one of the nice guys of the international troubadour scene – a sweet voice and a sublime guitar style… Jim Malcolm, from Perth, the soul man of Scottish folk… Karine Polwart – the soul woman of Scottish folk: beautiful voice, amazing songs… Bert Jansch – need I say more…Steve Ashley, minor legend of 70s folk-rock, ‘the gentle romantic with a flair for mystery’… Jethro Tull, legends of progressive rock – their site features an interesting essay by Ian Anderson on the copyright crisis in recorded music… Ross Wilson: writer of indestructible songs, the Boss of Aussie rock music… Jan Akkerman: European wizard of the six strings… Andy Roberts, the man who’s played with Everyone… Andy Irvine, the one-man-tradition in Irish music… Brian Houston: Belfast’s Elvis, the Great White Hope, the Black Irish Pope, the Uncrowned King Of Northern Soul etc etc…Cormac O’Kane: composer, producer, mastering engineer extraordinaire and a long-time associate in CH’s musical scheme. Alison O’Donnell: ex-Mellow Candle legend…
Some fave authors: the official (charitable) site of the JRR Tolkien Society site… A great site for exploring the world of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes on the net… A shop window for Errol Fuller, all-round diamond geezer and author of fabulous books on extinct birds… The official site for Joanna Kavenna’s mesmerising book on the lost land of Thule, The Ice Museum… And the comprehensive unofficial site for Herge’s Tintin and friends…
Need to purchase Noggin The Nog on DVD? Look no further…