Call centre inspiration for author’s new novel. An author has used Sunderland call centres as the inspiration behind his fourth novel. Alan Parkinson launched Troll Life at Sunderland Museum as part of the Sunderland Libraries Literature Festival in October. Set in Southwick and Doxford Park, it tells the story of an online troll who is … More Call centre inspiration for author’s new novel.
Launched Into The Unknown I’m at a bit of a loss today. For the past couple of years, amongst other projects, I have been working on my fourth novel, Troll Life. The humorous tale of an online troll being exposed, and having to work in the very call centre he has been trolling, has been … More Launched Into The Unknown
It’s been quite some time since I last gave an update on my editing process. Back in October I was up to 197 hours worth of effort in writing and editing my fourth novel, Troll Life. This week I hit a major milestone when I finally sent copies to my review team for their critiques … More Time to write. (How long does it take to write a novel? Pt 5)
How far would you go to make amends? Manuel Frost is obsessed with right and wrong. Each day he logs good and bad deeds that he witnesses into a ledger that nobody is allowed to see. Each night, if the books don’t balance, he sets out to perform deeds of his own to even them … More Life In The Balance
You’ve decided on your cubicle and entered with the minimum of fuss. Now what? The advent of mobile phones has been a game changer in the world of on pot entertainment but some people are still old school and prefer traditional reading material. As an author I am all for people buying books to read … More Creating a stink (Toilet etiquette part two).
As well as trying to amuse and educate you with my etiquette blogs, I do have other writing priorities such as writing novels. My ‘proper job’ if you like. Novel number three should be out in early July and I’ve been slaving away on number four recently. Today marked one of the major milestones in … More First draft, how to set a word count target and stick to it.
Liam hates his job working for Phonetix Mobile. Fighting for every second and battling with every customer, he is close to the edge. Bumper’s business is going under. His debts are rising, his drinking is getting worse and his wife has had enough. Jodie is unemployed and is desperate for work to give her son … More Idle Threats
Childhood in the eighties was fun for Peter Wood but nothing lasts forever. Running away seemed like his only option; as did his return fifteen years later. Will his old friends forgive him for going? Will his enemies forgive him for coming back? Will Pete win back the life he thought he had lost or … More Leg It
Alan Parkinson 