I must say selling books and getting people to read them is hard work.I believe that how good a book is isn't that important in the grand scheme of things.Largely it's about a book being accessible enough to be picked up.If you can hold a book and read a few pages then you might consider buying it and then reading it.A friend of my dads a writer called Pat Anderson has renewed my faith a bit this week by pointing out that my ratio of hours put into selling books to sales has been luckier than John Prescotts recently.He spent a week aboard the QE2 and sold 7 books.I went to Carnforth the other weekend and sold 3 books during 6 hours on a stall selling 'More Scouse,Vicar'.I can't imagine how much a week on the QE2 costs but I think that it will cost a sight more than 7 books?I try not to subscribe to enjoying other peoples misfortune but I can't help smile at that.I know that would have tickled my dad.

I went to Carnforth Railway Station to their first ever 40's weekend last week to try and flogg a few copies of ,'More Scouse,Vicar!' and met truly fantastic 40's enthusiasts.Amongst them were some seriously lovely,eccentric people,all enjoying the fun of dressing up and appreciating everyones elses efforts. On the station platform I met a Homeguard called,'Elvis' who helped to maintain order he was a gent and helped Jaq and I carry our tables.Joyce the Snood lady and her hubby were others,I couldn't stop laughing at most of what Joyce said,at 80 years old, what a warm and charismatic women,she's been making Snoods since 1942 and hubby hadn't been idle either having recently published his 3rd book.I also met some great soldiers and a  dashing Homeguard officer who admitted he also quite enjoyed getting dressed up with his wife as Her Flick and Holga.What a laugh we had,what a great set of people.However there was one soul that managed to sap our life force out of us a bit,the stressed out cafe man,he didn't like our idea of giving tiny samples of Scouce for free to passers by?Some people?The Scouse was a big success with a fair few people commenting on how it took them back to the tastes and smells of the day.It's a simple dish, fresh and full of flavour, made from pototo,carrot,onion and Oxo,no fat,cheap and delicious.

Thankyou for being so lovely to us everybody we met at Carnforth,Louise & Jaq

My dad had written a list of 50 people that he was going to send a copy of the book to and I decided that I should write to them to let them know that he wanted them to read his book.The Bishop of Liverpool and the Vicar of Christchurch, Bootle being two of the 50 names. I received a fantastic letter from The Bishop Of Liverpool-Reverend James Jones,this it what he said below: 

'Dear Louise, 

You wrote to me on 11th April letting me know that your father had wanted me to read his book 'More Scouse,Vicar!' I have obtained a copy and before finding time myself to read it,passed it to two sisters who were brought up in  the Dingle and lived through the weeks of the Blitz.I thought you would like to know what they have written to me;  

 'The book was totally fascinating from a Liverpudlian point of view ,and that the reality of wartime situations,both local and military,were brough to life. As for the day to day lives of the people,they were portrayed with such vividness and honesty. Even the most tragic happenings were interspersed with typical Mersyside bluntness and of course humour. We found it was hard to put down once we started to read'.  

They were surprised at the close relatilonship described between the Anglican Vicar and Catholic Priest. This would ,of course been most unusual in that area at that time.I wonder if your father had based this on a real -life friendship that he had observed?  

Thank you for letting me know about this book and I look forward to having an opportunity to read it.  

 God bless you,  

 James  of  Liverpool.'

In response to the Bishops letter I contacted my Auntie Iris,my dads oldest sister and she informed me that the friendship in the book had been based on two real friends from the early fifties in Liverpool during their childhood .  The Vicar was from Christchurch,Bootle,Liverpool and called The Reverend William Chipping and the Priest was from St Monicas called Father Fitzpatrick.At the time the Priests from St.Monicas used to live next door to the Vicarage in Bootle. The two men used to meet under cover of darkness and share the odd glass of wine and a Woodbine together. I wouldn't have known this without asking my auntie iris because my dad knew a lot of Vicars,Priests,Rabbis and had freinds from all faiths.

Having a book published was a life long dream of my dads, it meant

the world to him.He refused to go out for meals with friends and family,turned down

party invitations,delayed meeting his nephew from Australia until the book was

published.I said,'dad don't put your life on hold for that book'.Did he listen?

Did he heckers?This book was too important to him.I feel I have to ensure that it

is read.My dad was a very thoughtful and kind man.He had a great sense of humour

and I am so proud that he was my dad.

I spoke to Dean Sullivan about the book,he used to play Jimmy Corkhill on Brookside.I was quite nervous but Dean was very supportive and I relaxed after a minute or two.It was a great help as soon as the bookshops in Liverpool knew I was on the radio speaking to Dean they quite quickly agreed to stock 'More Scouse,Vicar!' in the shops.This was my main ambition for the book, to make Scousers aware of it.