Pattaya Interview

Johnny Diamond has put the interview he did with me in Pattaya on You Tube so I can share it with you!




I'm in Dublin, head down on the new Dan Shepherd book. I hit 100,000 words tonight and it's all coming together!

Cutting Comments

Just about to hit 90,000 words on the Dan Shepherd book. I now think of it as Dark Justice, though Jack Higgins did have a book withthat title some years ago. I think I'll write a good vigilante scene today, lots of blood and broken bones. Lovely.

I saw the following story about kids and knives today. Because it's now an offence to carry most types of knives, older kids are getting younger kids to carry knives for them, like caddies!

Here's what I don't understand. When I was a kid, eight or nine, I carried a knife. Most of my pals did. Usually a sheath knife with a four-inch blade, quite definitely illegal these days! I was a cub scout and it was virtually part of our uniform, and as kids we hung out in woods and played around trees. Knives are just something we played with. And I had a very large pocket knife I used when fishing. Also illegal these days. But we never, ever, used them aggressively and certainly wouldn't even think about attacking someone with a knife. It isn't knives that are the problem, it's people! And I do resent all the laws that have been brought in to restrict the carrying of knives. I have a decent collection of flick-knives which would result in a prison sentence if I'm not careful but I have no intention of disposing of them!


Children as young as seven are being used like "golf caddies" to carry deadly knives for older youths, a report has revealed. The older teenagers are pressuring very young children to help them, in order to try to avoid being caught, the Home Affairs Committee report found.

It also revealed that children believe blades are so widespread that they have to arm themselves to keep safe.

The report claims the average age at which children begin carrying knives is just 11 years old, as they make their transition from primary to secondary school.

Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee Keith Vaz MP called for an immediate stop to the knife crime "arms race" among children.

He said: "Young people carry knives because they fear that others are carrying knives.

"This spiralling of knife possession puts all young people at risk. Too many tragic deaths have occurred because of this.

"Some young people feel the need to protect themselves with knives. We are clearly failing them. Children, of all people, should not feel unsafe in our society."

Currently only one in five of those caught with a knife is jailed, and more knife carriers are given cautions than are imprisoned.

Making someone carry a knife for you was made illegal in 2007 with a maximum sentence of four years.

But no-one was prosecuted for the offence that year. Figures for 2008 have not been released yet.

Wesley Oger was stabbed to death four years ago by a man who began carrying knives in his teens.

His mother Ann Oakes-Odger now campaigns to educate children about the dangers of knives.

She said: "The actual shock of a child being murdered in a violent way and knife crime is so personal, it's such a violent way to kill someone, it just ripples through the whole family."

Tougher sentences, coupled with more investment in prevention, are the report's main recommendations.

They come too late for Ann - but hopefully not for many other families.

Nigeria

Nigeria must be a wonderful country because everyone there seems to want to give me money! This just in, but I'm too busy to reply!

ATM CARD PAYMENT FUND
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
INTERNATIONAL CREDIT SETTLEMENT INTERCONTINENTAL BANK NIG PLC.
Our Ref: IBN/IRD/IBN/021/009
Swift Code: GPZ KBL PS,

CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT NOTIFICATION WITH S/G:INTERSXNIG45/ NGI-IBN /NG-MKT/
MIN/009.

SIR,

I AM DR. MRS.LINDA KWAME, NATIONAL SPECIAL ADVISER TO PRESIDENT PRESIDENT UMARU MUSA YARADUA,
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AND DIRECTOR OF ALL FOREIGN CONTRACT PAYMENT , THIS IS TO
OFFICIALLY INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE VERIFIED YOUR CONTRACT/INHERITANCE FILE AND FOUND OUT
WHY YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR PAYMENT, IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT FULFILLED THE OBLIGATIONS
GIVEN TO YOU IN RESPECT OF YOUR CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT.

SECONDLY WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT YOU ARE STILL DEALING WITH THE NONE OFFICIALS IN THIS
BANK, ALL YOUR ATTEMPT TO SECURE THE RELEASE OF THE FUND TO YOU. WE WISH TO ADVISE YOU THAT
SUCH AN ILLEGAL ACT LIKE THIS HAS TO STOP IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT SINCE WE HAVE
DECIDED TO BRING A SOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEM.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ARRANGED YOUR PAYMENT THROUGH OUR SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTER IN INTERCONTINENTAL
NIG PLC, THAT IS THE LATEST INSTRUCTION BY THE PRESIDENT UMARU MUSA YARADUA, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
NIGERIA.THIS CARD CENTER PAYMENT UNIT WILL SEND YOU AN ATM VISA GOLD CARD WHICH YOU WILL USE TO
WITHDRAW YOUR MONEY IN ANY ATM MACHINE IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD, BUT THE WITHDRAWAL MAXIMUM IS
TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS PER DAY, SO IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TO RECEIVE YOUR FUND THIS WAY PLEASE CONTACT
THE CARD PAYMENT CENTER AND ALSO SEND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO HIM:

1.YOUR FULL NAME
2.PHONE AND FAX NUMBER,
3.ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT THEM TO SEND THE ATM CARD
4.YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION
5.A COPY OF YOUR IDENTITY

CONTACT PERSON:
DR.CHRIS BERNARD.
INTEGRATED PAYMENT CENTRE
INTERCONTINENTAL BANK NIG PLC
EMAIL:CONTACT:chris_bernard1000@yahoo.co.jp

THE ATM CARD PAYMENT CENTER HAS BEEN MANDATED TO ISSUE OUT $5.500.000.00 AS PART PAYMENT FOR
THIS FISCAL YEAR 2009. ALSO FOR YOUR INFORMATION YOU HAVE TO STOP ANY FURTHER COMMINUCATION
WITH ANY OTHER PERSON(S) OR OFFICE(s). THIS IS TO AVOID ANY HITCHES IN FINALIZING YOUR PAYMENT.

CALL DR.BANK ANTHONY OR EMAIL HIM BACK AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR FURTHER
DIRECTION IN THIS REGARDS AND ALSO UPDATE HIM ON ANY DEVELOPMENT FROM THE ABOVE MENTIONED OFFICE.

NOTE:BECAUSE OF IMPOSTORS, WE HEREBY ISSUED YOU OUR CODE OF CONDUCT, WHICH IS (WWO-2009) SO YOU
HAVE TO INDICATE THIS CODE WHEN CONTACTING THE CARD CENTER.

DR. MRS.LINDA KWAME
NATIONAL SPECIAL ADVISER
ON DEBTS SETTLEMENT.
EMAIL:mrslindakwame@yahoo.co.jp

Another Lucky Day!

I should hit 80,000 words on the new book today, which I now think of as Dark Justice. I am sort of having a race with my friend Anthony Horowitz, who is also due to hand in a book soon. He's on 73,607 words and seems to be writing much faster than I am! Anthony's books tend to be a bit shorter than mine, he's aiming for 90,000 words whereas my last three books have all come in at 135,000! I think Dark Justice will probably end up at between 115,000 and 120,000 so I have a fair way to go!

I'v been offered more money again. I think this one is a Nigerian scam. Sadly I am too busy to reply to him!

Dear Friend,

I discovered a dormant account in my office, as Group finance director of a Bank.
It will be in my interest to transfer this fund worth fourteen million five hundred thousand United state dollars. ($14,500,000) in an account offshore.
If you can be a collaborator/partner to this please indicate interest Immediately for us to proceed.

Remember this is absolutel Confidential, as I am seeking your assistance as the beneficiary of This unclaimed fund.
Since we are not allowed to operate a foreign Account, Your contact phone numbers and name will be necessary for this.
I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not Disappoint me.
We shall share the fund on the bases of 60%-40% at the end of the deal,respond through my secretary e-mail (jamesuche101@gmail.com)

My Regards,
Joseph Sanusi.

Funny....

My pal Dave The Rave in Bangkok just sent me this, and I feel I must share it with the world!

The FBI had an opening for an assassin. After all the background checks, interview and testing were done, there were 3 finalists; two men and a woman. For the final test, the FBI agents took one of the men to a large metal door and handed him a gun. "We must know that you will follow your Instructions, no matter what the circumstances. Inside the room you will find your wife sitting in a chair .. . . kill her!" The man said, "You can't be serious. I could never shoot my wife." The agent said, "Then you're not the right man for this job. Take your wife and go home." The second man was given the same instructions. He took the gun and went into the room. All was quiet for about 5 minutes. The man came out with tears in his eyes, "I tried, but I can't kill my wife." The agent said, "You don't have what it takes. Take your wife and go home." Finally, it was the woman's turn. She was given the same instructions, to kill her husband. She took the gun and went into the room. Shots were heard, one after another. They heard screaming, crashing, banging on the walls. After a few minutes, all was quiet. The door opened slowly and there stood the woman, wiping the sweat from her brow."This gun is loaded with blanks" she said. "I had to beat him to death with the ******* chair."

More Money!

Someone else wants to give me money! It's my lucky year! It's an interesting one, too, not you run-of-the-mill Nigerian scam. Just enough information to get the sucker interested. And it's a Prince, too! Sadly I don't have time to get involved.... I've just hit 71,000 words on the new Spider Shepherd book. Still don't have a title and there are a few holes in the plot! It's moving along well though and there are some very topical plot threads. Dark Justice is my favourite title so far, but that means Light Something next year which isn't too hot....


Chairman Contract Tenders Board
National Electric Regulator

I am delighted to meet your aquiantance, as the chairman of the above board, I crave and solicit your indulgence (personaly or corporately) to be a partner in a transaction that would benefit us mutually, through an over-invoiced contract.

As you are aware the 2010 world cup is around the corner, and this board has awarded a huge contract to boost power/energy supply in South Africa ahead of the 2010 FIFA Cup.

If you desire to be a partner, then indicate such by responding to this private proposal to receive further details.

Regards,

Prince Nathan Mboweni
Tel: +27710780349
Fax: +27865711287

Financial Experts

I'm in an unusual position financially in that I'm based in Dublin but Hodder and Stoughton, my publisher, are in the UK. So my earnings are in sterling but my outgoings are mainly in Euros. For years it was an advantage to be paid in sterling, but the recent slump in the UK currency has hit me hard.... sterling has lost about a third in value against most currencies. (Don't worry, I'm still doing OK!)

As a result of the slump in the pound, I keep a close eye on currency movements. Plus I was a financial journalist for many years and I've maintained an interest in currency and share markets.

Anyway, this was reported by Bloomberg yesterday and it annoyed the heck out of me!

“The high amount of leverage will take several years to clear out,” said Hans-Guenter Redeker, global head of foreign- exchange strategy in London at BNP Paribas SA, France’s largest bank. “Sterling is going to come under pressure once again and current levels in euro-sterling are a buying opportunity.”

The pound will weaken to 96 pence per euro, according to Redeker, who said he will abandon the forecast if it strengthens to 88.6 pence.


This man claims to be an expert? Good grief. Just look at what he's saying. He predicts that the pound will weaken, unless it doesn't, in which case it won't! How much is this man paid by BNP Paribas? However much it is, it's far too much! These so-called experts created the present economic crisis, so why do they still have their jobs?

I'm working hard on the new book.... just hit 67,000 words and it's picking up speed. Thought Dark Justice might make a good title. Or True Justice. Real Justice? I don't know, but Hodder will want a title soon!