Blog - Burnley Express and the BBC

I had released 'Beneath the Red Cap' with very little fanfare. While I'd advertised it on Twitter and Facebook and messaged friends, my promotional efforts largely consisted of creating silly, photoshopped pictures featuring polarising political figures holding my book. I hoped this would spark conversation, but unfortunately, it didn't catch on as I'd hoped.

With 'Protegimus,' I was determined to approach things differently. This time, I wanted a proper book launch, this was no longer my personal story; it was an adventure that I genuinely wanted as many people as possible to experience. My dad suggested contacting someone at the Burnley Express, and friends put me in touch with a team at BBC Lancashire.

The Burnley Express conducted a phone interview with me, after which journalist Sue Plunkett wrote an engaging article. My wife eagerly stepped in to take promotional photos, something I usually shy away from, but this time I knew it mattered.

Here is the link to the site: HERE

The BBC Lancashire experience was even more memorable. Invited to their Blackburn studios (admittedly with some reluctance!), I took a day off work and headed over after receiving my vaccinations. My interviewer, Hayley Kay, was wonderfully engaging and genuinely interested in my story. We enjoyed more conversation off-air than during the interview itself. Although I didn't get the chance to meet producer Maria Felix Vas personally, her coordination made everything seamless and enjoyable.

The video of the interview is below this blog.

I'd previously had the pleasure of being interviewed by the BBC twice, once on Christmas Day in Iraq when Padiham Primary School sent packages to our troops, leading to a comically overwhelmed British Forces Post Office, and again on 'Jamie's Marvellous People' with ex-Burnley midfielder Jamie Hoyland. Both experiences were special, but being in the actual BBC studios brought a new and exciting dimension to sharing my journey as a writer.