But I Smile Anyway…

I enjoy spreading the word about books written by friends of mine, and it gives me great pleasure to allow my dear friend Geoff Le Pard to the stage today. Now, His Geoffleship and I have a lovely, comical relationship going back a few years now, and I have always loved his quirky short stories, as well as his fully formed novels.

Today we are lucky enough to hear a bit about His Geoffleship’s newest novel, a sequel to his Dead Flies and Sherry Trifle, following the story of hapless teen Harry Spittle during the summer he really grew up. In the Last Will Of Sven Andersen, Harry is back, as a fully fledged lawyer, and there are still plenty of crazy goings on!

I’m going to step back and allow His Geoffleship to take the stage now.

The first book in the Harry Spittle Sagas, Dead Flies and Sherry Trifle took its inspiration from a summer I spent, back form university working in a country house hotel in the depths of the New Forest. I took the time (summer 1976) the age and sex of the main character (19, male), the setting (New Forest, working in a large hotel) and carved a story of love, loss, a psychotic cat and a fair few bodily fluids. But the rest was made up, all my febrile imaginings. There were times I took an anecdote and dragged elements into the story, but I was very careful to ensure none of the characters could ever be identified as real people.

When the call came from my characters to write the second book, I knew I had to follow the process I’d adopted before: I kept the main character and some of his closest friends and rivals and put them in the time, place and situation that I found myself in. The clock wound on to 1981 and Harry, like me, is finishing his training as a lawyer in a small three partner firm of solicitors in the West End of London. He shares a flat on the south of the river near Wandsworth Bridge and commutes to work on his bicycle. So far, so me. But Harry’s life is inextricably entwined with a gangster’s affairs and his life takes on a more bizarre life than mine ever did. Thank heavens.

Once again I really wanted to avoid having characters from my past leaping off the page but, boy is that difficult? Some, such as the senior partner in that small firm will now be dead but, boy did they deserve a story of their own? I’ve done my best to avoid the pitfalls of writing any real people into my book but, having embraced a second instalment in the Sagas, I realise that becomes more difficult. And with Book three, already written and being edited, it’s even harder. Maybe if I hadn’t taken any elements so overtly from my own life I might have avoided that risk but, well, the scheme is set now and we will just have to see if anyone thinks they’ve found fame if not fortune on the upcoming pages. I just hope, they being lawyers, they won’t sue…!

Here is the official Blurb for The Last Will Of Sven Andersen

When Harry Spittle, nearly qualified as a solicitor, is approached to write a Will for old acquaintance Sven Andersen, he is somewhat surprised but rather pleased. That pleasure sours after he finds that the Will Sven actually signs is very different to the one he has drawn up, with Harry as the executor. Disappointment turns to horror when he discovers that Sven has been winding up his late father’s criminal empire and a number of not very nice people are interested in the Will’s contents.

Set in 1981 to the backdrop of punk, Thatcherite politics and an upcoming Royal wedding, this is a book for those who like their nostalgia served with a side of humour and a dash of optimism all wrapped up in a compelling mystery.

If he is to remain in one piece, able to continue his career in the law and save his on-off relationship with his girlfriend Penny, who is unfortunately under suspicion of murder, he needs to find out what’s happened to the money and distribute it according to Sven’s wishes. The trouble is Sven has not only hidden the assets but also the identities of those who benefit. Harry will have to solve a fiendish puzzle Sven has left behind with the help of his sister Dina before his world comes crashing down. With so many people depending on him, Harry knows it’s time for him to grow up – it’s just that he really, really doesn’t want to.

Pre Order Here

And the Blurb for Dead Flies and Sherry Trifle, which will be FREE for a few days, check out the details below to find out!

It’s summer 1976 and hotter than Hades. Harry Spittle, nineteen, is home from university, aiming to earn some money to go on holiday and maybe get laid. He expects he will be bored rigid, but the appearance of an old family friend, Charlie Jepson, his psychopathic son, Claude, and predatory wife Monica changes that. As his parents’ marriage implodes, Harry’s problems mount; before he knows it he’s in debt up to his ears and dealing in drugs. Things go from bad to worse when he is stabbed. He needs money fast, but now his job is at risk, his sister is in trouble and he has discovered a family secret that could destroy all he holds dear. Will Harry have to join forces with the local criminal mastermind to survive the summer and save his family? Can he regain some credibility and self-respect? Most importantly will he finally get laid?

Dead Flies will be free from 30th October 2019 to 3rd November 2019

And if you want to know a little more about Geoff Le PArd and the other wonderful works by His Geoffleship, check out the details below.

Geoff Le Pard started writing to entertain in 2006. He hasn’t left his keyboard since. When he’s not churning out novels he writes some maudlin self-indulgent poetry, short fiction and blogs at geofflepard.com. He walks the dog for mutual inspiration and most of his best ideas come out of these strolls. He also cooks with passion if not precision.

My Father and Other Liars is a thriller set in the near future and takes its heroes, Maurice and Lori-Ann on a helter-skelter chase across continents.

Smashwords

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Dead Flies and Sherry Trifle is a coming of age story. Set in 1976 the hero Harry Spittle is home from university for the holidays. He has three goals: to keep away from his family, earn money and hopefully have sex. Inevitably his summer turns out to be very different to that anticipated.

Smashwords

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Life in a Grain of Sand is a 30 story anthology covering many genres: fantasy, romance, humour, thriller, espionage, conspiracy theories, MG and indeed something for everyone. All the stories were written during Nano 2015

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Salisbury Square is a dark thriller set in present day London where a homeless woman and a Polish man, escaping the police at home, form an unlikely alliance to save themselves.

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Amazon.co.uk

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Buster & Moo is about about two couples and the dog whose ownership passes from one to the other. When the couples meet, via the dog, the previously hidden cracks in their relationships surface and events begin to spiral out of control. If the relationships are to survive there is room for only one hero but who will that be?

Smashwords

Amazon.co.uk

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Life in a Flash is a set of super short fiction, flash and micro fiction that should keep you engaged and amused for ages

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

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Apprenticed To My Mother describes the period after my father died when I thought I was to play the role of dutiful son, while Mum wanted a new, improved version of her husband – a sort of Desmond 2.0. We both had a lot to learn in those five years, with a lot of laughs and a few tears as we went.

Amazon.co.uk

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Life in a Conversation is an anthology of short and super short fiction that explores connections through humour, speech and everything besides. If you enjoy the funny, the weird and the heart-rending then you’ll be sure to find something here.

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Geoff Le Pard’s Amazon Author Page

Let me tell you that The Last Will of Sven Andersen is a fantastic sequel to Dead Flies and Sherry Trifle. I was honoured to be asked to beta read and I can vouch for it being a great read! I have read all His Geoffleship’s books, and have never been disappointed, and I can tell you (off the record) that there are more Harry stories to come, and a couple of other projects that he as up his sleeve… Including a full length novel about Pearl Barley, a modern day exorcist, who featured in a few of Geoff’s short stories: a character I love!

So? What you waiting for? Go, get your free copy of Dead Flies and pre order the Last Will! You’ll have a giggle, promise!