R D Croft: The Redemption of Don Calogero

One of my favourite feedback comments is: ‘It’s like reading Hardy.’ When I read the comment I chuckled and giggled. It is obviously silly to compare Hardy and Crofty!

But…

Let’s deconstruct the situation…

There is a comparison that can be made:

Hardy is Lionel Messi stroking the ball into the top-right hand corner of the net in the final of the Champions League…

Crofty is Bert Bloggs of 9, Ironside Crescent, Scunthorpe playing in the Doc Martins, Sunday pub league, reserve team…and failing to make a positive connection with the ball!

Both are writing… both construct a narrative… with a subliminal meaning/allegory! It’s just that one is great and that one is seriously average!

Are you telling me that the ‘Don’ has a deeper meaning????? Ooops: missed that!

I am always intrigued to get feedback on the book. So far I have had a range of comments such as it is: evangelical; thought provoking; a page-turner; superbly researched; entertaining; light; difficult; compelling and one I adore 'it's like reading Thomas Hardy'!

But the best came from a colleague of Geraldine's mother-in-law. Initially she was perfectly happy with it; but we hit a major snag when Cuella checked into the 'hotel' in Paris. Her reaction changed...

'It's filty, filty, filty... it's a filty, filty, filty book... the person who wrote it has a filty, filty, filty mind... I'm not reading any more!!!!!'

Gerry's colleague was delighted! He has been trying to upset his mother-in-law for years and has had very limited success! He was impressed that I could accomplish something in a few hours that he had been trying to do for such a long time!!!!!

Rather special that Sandra has a copy of the book. The poor girl had me as an IB Economics teacher - how on earth did she survive.

The 'Don' had his first birthday last Thursday.The book has been out for a year, during which time rather a lot of copies have been sold on four continents.

If you haven't already done so, order your copy in the UK through the WH Smith or Waterstones web sites or Amazon. Overseas the best way (and most reliable way!) is through the bookdepository web site.

Honestly, you could not make this up but it appears that two nuns, based at a school in California, have embezzled half-a-million dollars and run away to Las Vegas for a few days in the casinos.

Who said that my story was far-fetched?

Wonder if they read the book? A Hollywood film contract can only be a few weeks away!

Thank you to all those who have ordered a personalised copy as a Christmas present for the unsuspecting! We can take orders up to Monday 17 December. £12 including postage and packing to UK addresses!

A really novel Christmas present!

If you are interested in a novel Christmas present do message me for further details. £12 - wrapped and packed and posted to anywhere in the UK. I am terrified by the number of people who will be receiving one in their Christmas stocking!

Here's a novel Christmas present: a copy of the Don signed by me, gift wrapped and posted to anywhere in the UK. I'll also write a personalised dedication to the recipient. Further details to follow.

The Don appears to have made it back to Corfu. The hotel is where I finished the book two years ago. I have to admit that, were the book to be a member of a frequent flyer club, it would now be attracting massive numbers of air miles!

Just had a fabulous evening with some enchanting women! Thank you all so much for making me feel so at home!

The Don is now heading for San Francisco in the company of Claire Dardis. He ought to be getting air miles!!!!!

Meet the latest recruit to the 'Redemption of Don Calogero' marketing team. Hercules, who makes a cameo appearance in the book, has been telling his servant's friends just how much he liked the novel. Today he chalked up his first sale! He is on commission - a tin of a cat food of his choice for every copy sold. Well done Hercules!

Under WTO rules we are obliged to treat all animals equally. Therefore if other servants have literate and lucid 'pets' who wish to avail themselves of this marketing opportunity, for a similar commission, do encourage them to tell your friends and relations just how much you loved the book.

Offer available only within GB and Northern Ireland. Terms and conditions apply.

When I finished Barry's excellent book (highly recommended!) I put his and my book on the shelf above my desk. It was only the other day I realised what I had done. I suspect that it is rather a large measure of wishful thinking!!!!!

Sold four copies of the book this morning to a lady who had read the book, loved it and wants to give them as Christmas presents!!!!!

Now there's a thought! Is there someone who you have trouble deciding what to buy them for Christmas? More to the point, is there someone you really don't like for whom you feel obliged to buy a present????? Could solve a lot of problems: buy them a copy of Don Calogero and they well might never speak to you again.

It's a thought!!!!!!!!!

Good to see that Kerrie Graham's copy has arrived. A very tasteful arrangement - very artistic!

The book is not about abuse in the Catholic Church: it is much more about institutional conflict. Having said that: the pope's trip to Ireland seems to suggest that Don Calogero may be more relevant today than I had ever anticipated. I suspect that he has a real battle on his hands with the establishment.

Not wonder Timothy ran away and tried to implement his beliefs at a micro level!

I rather wonder whether I am the only published author on the planet who has had a copy of his own book dedicated to him and signed by one of his readers!

To explain - when I created the character of Brando (owner of Smugglers Hotel on Grande Batture) I pictured in my mind someone rather special with whom I used to work. Greg Whiddon, for that is his name, really is a larger than life character; a man of great charm, intellect and fabulous, dry sense of humour. However, the more I wrote the more I lost control of Brando and he ends up not like Greg at all - Mr. Whiddon is far to erudite to be consumed by stereotypical cliches.

However, he appears to have forgiven me and I shall treasure his gift of my book to me for ever!!!!!!!

Problem is that he appears, in a cameo performance, in book 2.

I am about to have a rant. Please ignore if you are not interested.

The founder of Amazon is estimated to be worth 150 billion USD.

Amazon last year paid massively less corporation tax in the UK than high street retailers.

When I sell a copy of 'The Redemption of Don Calogero' through Amazon they take 60% (£5.40 of £8.99). What do they do for it? They include my book on their web site and when a book order comes through they tell my publishers to knock it out to the purchaser. Not, you understand, from the Amazon warehouse, but from the publisher's warehouse!.

Not a lot of work for £5.40!

I love the impact of modern shopping technology!

Not sure that I look any better but it was wonderful to meet up again with Gavin - from what I remember!

A few years ago I went to the launch of a friend's commercial art project. It was really impressive, right down to the quality of the cash register she had.

I thought you might like to see the highly sophisticated, technologically advanced cash till we use. On the evening of the launch of 'The Redemption of Don Calogero' one of my guests needed change. I reached into the 'till' and got my hand stuck! It took a good few minutes to prise it out of the pot! Needless to say - I no longer 'handle' the finances!

The Don is having a good day. Someone just contacted the sales manager (who is also the marketing manager, distribution manager, proof reader, secretary and office assistant) and said he was going to count up his friends and relatives and buy the book as gifts for them!

Hope he comes from an extended family!

Has anyone you know got a birthday coming up? Apart from me that is! Roll on Christmas!

I am delighted to announce that there is now a copy of the Don in the library at Halden maximun security prison in Norway. I always suspected that the Don might end up 'inside'! Thank you Ellen!

Thank you to all those of you who have said how much you enjoyed the book. Tell your friends.
Thanks to Yvette Main who posted this review on the Bookshop Cafe FB page today.

I have just finished reading this brilliant book by this new author. It’s not my usual choice of genre and the in depth detail, particularly at the beginning made my reading a little slower than usual, but as the story develops, WOW! What a page turner! I love the striking cover too. Would highly recommend

Having a fabulous time with Elisabeth Norr on her weekend visit to the frozen northeast. She even purchased a book! Nice necklace.

So the Russian journalist, Arkady Babchenko, who was reported as murdered in Kiev a couple of days ago (it was assumed by the Russians) has turned up alive and well at a press conference!

Does this outcome/story remind anyone who has read 'The Redemption of Don Calogero' of anything in particular?????

Answers on a postcard please!!!!!

Hilarious!

Wile e Coyote would be proud of me - I must be a ge-ni-us!

Sitting around and waiting for King Lear to turn up on BBC 2 at 9:30. Had a wonderful friend called Pip Appelby. We used to argue about Lear. I have always felt that Lear is at his most insane/mad at the beginning of the play when he attempts to give away his kingdom. I have always thought that he is at his most sane on the heath when traditionally he is portrayed at his most mad. Pip did not always agree.

The Don has arrived in Texas! He is a much travelled Don! Thank you Dilum Ranatunga!

Interesting book signing at W H Smith in Alnwick today! JK makes it all look so easy. Major 'success criteria' is to ensure that you like talking to people... not sure that it is one of my most endearing qualities!!!!!!!

Author realises his dream as debut novel is published ‘There were times when I enjoyed writing it, times when I hated it and times when I ignored it’.

I have just given my first press interview about the Don, as well as the book signing at W H Smith in Alnwick on Saturday 26 May between 1030 and 1400. It was to the local newspaper The Northumberland Gazette. They also want a photo of me and the book - so it means that tomorrow will be spent in wardrobe and make-up in a vain attempt to make me look intelligent and appealing.

Could be a long day!

A few copies of the Don have been to Tereza's Hotel in Corfu. I left two signed copies in the library - and flogged a couple more! The young man is Gregor who is the 'love interest' in book two - we were discussing his place in the next story! The family group photo consists of the wonderful gentlemen who run the hotel and who feature in the book, as well as a member of the next generation!

Reckon I need a haircut!

Have just spent a week at Tereza's Hotel in Corfu. I put a couple of copies of 'The Don' into the hotel's library. Have you any idea how strange it was to see someone - not known to me - reading the book by the pool??????

Thank you John for saying how much you enjoyed it!

Books on display at W H Smith in Alnwick. Sorry about the quality of the pictures but Gerry's phone is not high-tech. Those friends who live in the area please tell friends, relatives, colleagues and even enemies to get along and pick up a copy!!!!!

And many thanks to Karen and her colleagues at W H Smith.