06/12/2023
On 4th Dec 2021, just over 2 years ago, I launched my book 'The Boy from Neighbourhood 54' on a rainy evening at the Swan Pub in Huyton and vowed on that evening to sell 10,000 signed copies before my 3 Year Restraining Order ends on 21st March 2024. I did get some strange looks from people near and far when I made that comment Well today, I met that target, 107 days early and took my last couple of orders today, wrote out the invoices, banked some cash and cheques for book orders. With the support of so many of you, via book purchases, prayers and messages of support many many of you have helped me reach the 10,000 sales target. Oh, and also those few negative messages also spurred me on . So what does this all mean, what will I do next. Well in the run up to Christmas I will take it easy a little. But it means two things. It demonstrates to my Wife Nikki and Daughter Rebecca (and those whispering into their ears and phones) that I can do positive things and generate a stable income for us all. Second, when I sought to get represented by a Literary Agent in 2022 the message often came back - 'yes interested but come back when you have sold 10,000 copies'. Needless to say I will be knocking on their doors in January. And after all of this what do I do next. Well my plan is ow with the support of an Agent is to sell 100,000 copies of the book. On the face of it 100,000 seems a massive target. Just like in Nov 2021 when I announced my 10,000 target I am getting a few strange looks about this larger target. But when I was under treatment for what I did to Nikki on the Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme in June 2021 when I started writing this book, selling 10 copies, never mind 10,000 or 100,000 seemed impossible. Once again thank you all for your support, Ray.
You see what you have to do is quite simple, believe, and NEVER, and I mean NEVER give up hope, even when all around and those nasty little voices in your head are telling you get a proper job and move on. I have to say special thanks go to my Offender Manager at HM Probation Service and the two therapists who supported me week in week out in 2021 when I was being treated by them. The three of them NEVER gave up, they have always supported me. I am grateful of that ###
I am doing all of this for me, and my Little Family Nikki and Rebecca. For me its all about love, unconditional love and saying sorry to Nikki and Rebecca in 64376 words. I haven't known what it was like to feel proud of myself for a good many years. But today I feel proud and happy. I am going for walk now and grab a lovely cup of coffee ###
Ray / Daddy ###
The Boy from Neighbourhood 54
