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memoir

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Now, Crack On!

Soon to be published – order your copy now!

by Rebecca Alton

Nothing fazed Rebecca Alton. Diagnosed three times with childhood leukaemia, she refused to let that define her – or the life she continued to lead. When faced with any setback, Becca’s philosophy and stock phrase to family and friends was: “Now, crack on!” That same spirit underpins her memoir.
Rebecca was determined to offer hope and solace to anyone else suffering similarly. With her positive mindset, anything seemed possible – like the first-class honours degree she went on to gain in Biomedical Science.
Published to commemorate the anniversary of her death, aged 26, in 2025, this is a story of unwavering resilience and determination to make the most of every moment. Written with an inspirational blend of honesty, humour and self-deprecation, her book reveals how this inspirational woman, facing the toughest of challenges, still chose joy.
Becca loved bright colours, dogs, sunflowers ­– and life. Hers is an enduring legacy, echoed in the rainbow that appeared over her family home upon her passing.
“Meeting Bec was a poignant, bittersweet moment. One of those that makes you want to laugh, blush with pride, then burst into puddles of tears all at once. What a very, very special human, and a story that will make you want to laugh then cry. Just like I did.” – Steve Backshall

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The Book of Bailey Dog

by Steve Bailey
Hellooo! My name is Baileydog. I’m not just a dog… I am a Weimaraner – which means I am almost hooman!! This book is my true life story.
It captures the humour, joy and poignancy of sharing your life with such a sentient animal like myself, a journey that is both hilarious and deeply moving. It’s about the bond that builds without you even noticing, until one day it means absolutely everything.
If you have ever loved a pet, you will see yourself – and them – within these pages. My book will make you laugh out loud while also bringing tears to your eyes. Because while loving a pet can transform your life, saying goodbye to them can change it forever.
It also captures what it truly means to love and be loved by a pet.
The Book of Baileydog is the perfect read for anyone who has ever loved, owned or lost a four legged family member ­– and for those who appreciate stories that remind us to live fully, enjoy the moment and cherish every day.
With a paw-word by Graeme Hall – TV’s ‘The Dogfather’ of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ fame.

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Tommy Cannon – This Is Me

PUBLISHED 24 OCTOBER 2025 – PRE-ORDER NOW

By Tommy Cannon

with a Foreword by Robbie Williams

Tommy Cannon was half of one of the most popular comedy duos British television has ever produced. Wheeltappers & Shunters Social Club … Royal Variety Performances … Saturday night light entertainment … end of the pier during many a seaside season… the pair even made a popular feature film. In short, Cannon and Ball were everywhere.
But just who is this unassuming welder from Oldham, real name Tommy Derbyshire, whose life changed on the day he met Bobby Harper? And when you’re the straight man in the partnership, what happens when you lose your beloved best friend to Covid? You question everything: past, present and whether there’s a future.
Here, for the first time, are Tommy’s reminiscences of a tough start in life, the unexpected fame, fortune and loss of all that – and of how hard he found it to grieve  for his little mate in the red braces. Five years later and back on the road with a huge social media following, he is now ready to tell his story. Rock on, Tommy!

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The Place That Knows Me

A Memoir – by Richard Hines

Richard Hines seemed destined for a life without academic achievement until he read TH White’s The Goshawk. And having then borrowed another falconry book from the library, he began to train Kes, the kestrel he found nesting in 16th-century ruins.

Thus, as a teenager, began an obsession with hawks and a love of nature that – along with meeting his art student wife Jackie – took him in new directions… deputy head teacher, documentary maker, independent producer for the BBC and Channel 4, and university lecturer and writer among them.

Richard’s schoolboy experiences and love of hawks inspired older brother Barry to write A Kestrel for a Knave, a novel that was soon turned into the much-loved and truly iconic 1969 film Kes, directed by Ken Loach.

In 2016, the brothers’ upbringing in Hoyland Common, South Yorkshire, were turned by Richard into a factual book of his own: No Way but Gentlenesse: A Memoir of How Kes, My Kestrel, Changed My Life.

But time moves on. Richard and Jackie are these days grandparents – and about to pull up their Yorkshire roots to live near their now grown-up son, daughter and granddaughter in Hove on the Sussex coast.

 Will their heritage let them go?

“Richard communicates his passion for the landscape of his home town with great warmth…” – Ken Loach

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Call the Police – There’s a Comedian Around

A Funny – and Tragic – Memoir of Life in the Met

by Paul Byrne

Paul Byrne joined London’s Metropolitan Police by mistake. By day a Detective Inspector, by night a stand-up comedian, this is a memoir of law enforcement not exactly going to plan. DI Byrne walked a tightrope of death, destruction and disaster, much of it caused by himself. From a near-death experience at the hands of the Australian SAS to causing a diplomatic incident with North Korea, it was a hell of a ride. Yet sucked into a dark and troubling whirlpool of police corruption, eventually he would be forced out of the service a broken man. Paul remains the only serving police officer to be mugged on duty – and the only one to be sacked for writing satire. His story shines an amusing, and at times horrifying, light into the darkest corners of Britain’s largest police force.

“A fascinating account – full of tragic and hilarious stories shot through with Byrne’s wonderful appreciation of the absurdity of life…” – ARTHUR SMITH

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