Scratching Shed Publishing

Coming soon… pre-order now

By Peg Alexander

The rucksacks are packed again. Radio and TV personality Peg Alexander embarks on a journey to Asia and the Middle East with husband Jim, another seminal moment in their lately-troubled relationship.

Travel – and the fortunes of Leeds United – bind the couple together as they come to terms with Jim’s mental health issues, and an adoption process that seems to thwart them at every turn. This ‘rewind trip’ is a partial repeat of their ‘Global Adventure’ ten years earlier, when travel had again been their saviour, part of a healing process that allowed them to learn about themselves, the lives of others, and cultures different to their own.

Amid the anxiety, Peg’s Yorkshire wit and innate positivity shine through. We learn about her upbringing, the duo’s time together and countries they have visited, past and present, plus how those places have since changed too. It’s a different kind of insight into human fragility and fallibility, with an understanding of alternative horizons at its heart – and also an enjoyable travel guide to those places en route.

Sometimes you have to travel halfway around the world before you can see what’s right in front you.

The Story – and Diary – of One Woman’s Inspirational Battle with Motor Neurone Disease

by John Hatton

Contains a foreword by Lindsey Burrow

On 17 January 2023, mere months after her mother had died from motor neurone disease, Julie Hatton was also diagnosed with MND and passed away just 212 days later. Following her diagnosis, husband John began a diary in which he charted the progression of his wife’s condition. Then, as the dreadful disease gathered pace, that diary became a journal wherein he charted their final journey. This book is the result, a story of sadness, fear and love.

OUT JANUARY 2026 – PRE-ORDER NOW

PUBLISHED 24 OCTOBER 2025 – PRE-ORDER NOW

By Tommy Cannon

with a Foreword by Robbie Williams

Edited by Paul Thompson

“I would rather make people laugh, than make them do anything else…”

Hilarious, irreverent, poignant, fanciful, quirky, imaginative, original, musical. Jake Thackray was a storytelling genius who loved using words to entertain, move, surprise and provoke. While his extraordinary songs are rightly celebrated, they were not the beginning of his life as a wordsmith, nor the end. Jake Thackray – The Unsung Writer is a chance to explore Jake’s other writings: love poetry; an experimental short story; his charming script for a school musical; amusing pen portraits; his first published work; tall tales crafted for his concerts; and his acclaimed, colourful columns for the ‘Yorkshire Post’ and ‘Catholic Herald’. This entertaining collection provides fresh insights into Jake’s creativity and the development of his distinctive voice.

Paul Thompson is also the co-author of critically-acclaimed biography Beware of the Bull – The Enigmatic Genius of Jake Thackray