New Spider Shepherd Cover

Hodder have just sent me the proposed cover for the new Dan Shepherd book, which will probably be called Rough Justice, though Jack Higgins did use the title recently. I like Rough Justice and hope that gets used, though I do have Dark Justice as a fallback position. The book should be on the shelves in July next year.

Ham Sandwiches Can Kill You!

Just read a report from a leading cancer charity warning parents not to giver their kids ham sandwiches. What annoys me is that the idiots who sent out the press release are paid for out of charitable donations.

Trust me, I'm a (former) biochemist - ham sandwiches will not give you cancer. Nor will bacon butties.

I for one won't be giving any of my money to the WCRF, they are obviously more concerned about pushing us towards a nanny state and less concerned about looking for a cure for cancer. Nothing in moderation - that includes ham sandwiches, cigarettes and alcohol, and probably most recreational drugs - will kill you. My daughter eats ham, and bacon, and ice cream, and she's as fit as a butcher's dog.

Anyway, here's the story -


Parents should not give their children ham sandwiches in their packed lunches, a charity has warned.

Youngsters need to get into the habit of avoiding processed meats like ham, salami, hot dogs and bacon, it said.

According to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), there is "convincing evidence" that eating processed meat increases the risk of bowel cancer.

While there is no specific research on eating the meats in childhood, the charity said the evidence in adults was too strong to ignore.

Children should therefore adopt a healthy eating pattern from the age of five and avoid processed meat, it said.

Marni Craze, children's education manager for the WCRF, added: "If children have processed meat in their lunch every day then over the course of a school year they will be eating quite a lot of it.

"It is better if children learn to view processed meat as an occasional treat if it is eaten at all."

The WCRF is also urging parents to avoid lunchbox fillers that are high in fat and calories.

Foods such as sugary drinks can cause weight gain, and obesity in adulthood is linked to cancer, it said.

The charity warned that parents may be misled by packaging or where a product appears on a supermarket shelf or website.

My New Girlfriend

You Couldn't Make It Up!

Just finished going through the edits of Nightingale, which will be published in January next year. All good, though Hodder still can't decide on a title. They've yet to improve on just Nightingale, so we'll see what else they can come up with.

I'm really keen to see what Hodder does for a cover. I bet it will involve a single figure walking away, which is a theme I see in lots of covers these days. The last time I did a book tour something like a third of the books in the Top 20 fiction list had a single (male) figure on the front, walking away. It's become a cliche so I hope I get something better for Nightingale!

Have almost got to 140,000 words on the new Dan Shepherd book, which will be published next summer. That's much longer than I thought it was going to be, but it's all good stuff! There are three seperate plot threads which is why it's so long and with hindsight I think two would have been enough!

The theme of Dark Justice is police vigilantes and I touch on corruption, so I was fasinated to read this today. An amnesty for Scotland Yard cops who have been misusing their corporate credit cards. Seems the cops are to busy to do a full investigation so pretty much everyone involved has been let off! I just shake my head in amazement....

Anyway, here's the story...

Scotland Yard chiefs have agreed a secret amnesty for more than 1,000 officers and staff who misused corporate credit cards, it has been revealed.

An internal audit discovered 1,183 Metropolitan Police employees broke rules governing the use of American Express charge cards.

Senior officers were so overwhelmed by the number of cases they decided the card holders would not be punished - deciding instead that the staff, the vast majority of whom worked in counter terrorism and other specialist crime inquiries, would be given "training and guidance".

More than 300 people were initially referred to anti-corruption detectives when evidence emerged their claims were potentially fraudulent.

Of these cases, 50 were passed to independent investigators. Three officers have since been convicted of criminal offences and two more await trial.

Jenny Jones, of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said training and guidance is "not enough" and some disciplinary action should be taken. She said: "I find it unacceptable that the police have just let these officers go with guidance. They must have known what they were doing was wrong."

Members of the MPA, the force watchdog, have been told privately how an initial sift of accounts exposed the scale of the problem.

Internal auditors decided 1,183 people who used a card, but did not break the law, should be put to one side and labelled "category B". These cases included those who purchased personal items and later repaid the money or bought equipment that should have been purchased by other means.

Meanwhile, claims found to be "potentially unacceptable", including cases of suspected fraud, were labelled "category A" and passed to anti-corruption detectives. Inquiries into abuse of the credit card system by officers are expected to continue until next March, two and a half years after they first began.

A total of 3,533 officers and staff were issued with the cards and at one point £3.7 million of public money was unaccounted for. The majority of this money has been paid back, but legal action is expected against two officers who owe £82,000 and £1,100.

Shortest Scam Letter Ever?

Just got this. Guy can't even be bothered to spin a reasonable story!


Dear Partner,

I am Barrister Fred Adams. I am reaching you in regard of handling an
investment portfolio.

I am soliciting your assistance in repatriating this funds and property
left behind by my late client before it is been confiscated by the
government and declared unserviceble by the bank where the huge deposit is
lodged. My Client died intestate and every attempt to trace any member of
his family has proved unsuccessful and abortive.

Do note that your identity or country of origin does not matter. I will
give you more information upon your response.

You should respond by sending the following;

1. Your full names
2. Tel & fax numbers
3. Complete Address
4.Your occupation

I humbly look forward to your soonest response.

Yours Faithfully,

Barrister Fred Adams Esq.
London, U.K.

Does God Talk To Archbishops?

I always figured that the really top religious figures actually do talk to God, and I really hoped that God talks to them. It would make me feel so much happier about the state of the world to know that lines of communication are open. But when the Archbishop of Westminster starts slagging off Facebook and Myspace, then I do start to think that perhaps he's winging it and speaking for himself rather than God. I think God has much more to worry about than social networking sites. Unless they're telling us what God wants us to hear I think religious figures would be better off keeping their mouths shut...

Anyway, here's the story...



It is claimed that social networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace could leave teenagers traumatised and even suicidal.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, has warned that the sites encourage youngsters to build "transient relationships"

He has told the The Sunday Telegraph: "They throw themselves into a friendship or network of friendships, then it collapses and they're desolate."

He continued: "It's an all or nothing syndrome that you have to have in an attempt to shore up an identity; a collection of friends about whom you can talk and even boast.

"But friendship is not a commodity, friendship is something that is hard work and enduring when it's right."

His comments follow the inquest into the death of 15-year-old Megan Gillan, a student at Macclesfield High School in Cheshire who took a fatal overdose of painkillers after being bullied on the social networking site Bebo.

Money From Christabel!

I started corresponding with another scam merchant recently, this one claiming to be in Tunisia!

Here’s how it started –

From Mrs. Christabel Brown,

Dear God's elect,

I am writing this mail to you with heavy tears In my eyes and great sorrow in my heart, My Name is Mrs Christabel Brown,, and I am contacting you from my country Tunisia. I want to tell you this because I don't have any other option than to tell you as I was touched to open up to you, I married to Mr. Brown Smith who worked with Tunisia embassy in Burkina Faso for nine years before he died in the year 2005.

We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only five days. Since his death I decided not to remarry, When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of US$ 8.5m (Eight Million Five hundred Thousand Dollars) in a bank in Ouagadougou the capital city of Burkina Faso in west Africa Presently this money is still in bank. He made this money available for exportation of Gold from Burkina Faso mining.

Recently, My Doctor told me that I would not last for the period of seven months due to cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to hand you over this money to take care of the less-privileged people, you will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want you to take 30 Percent of the total money for your personal use While 70% of the money will go to charity" people in the street and helping the orphanage. I grew up as an Orphan and I don't have anybody as my family member, just to endeavour that the house of God is maintained. Am doing this so that God will forgive my sins and accept my soul because these sicknesses have suffered me so much.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank in Burkina Faso and I will also instruct my lawyer to issue you an authority letter that will prove you the present beneficiary of the money in the bank that is if you assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein.

Hoping to receive your reply: (mrschristabelbrown@apnamultan.com)

From Mrs. Christabel Brown,


And I replied -

My dear beloved Mrs Brown.

What a mighty blow you have been dealt by life.

I truly hope that God is with you in your hour of need.

You have only seven months to live? That is terrible. Surely there is something that can be done, some treatment that can help you. I pray to our Lord Jesus that is so!

And in your hour of need you think only of the orphans. Truly you are a saint in the making. Of course I will help you. Whatever you need, I am here for you!

Stephen

The next day she wrote back to me -

Dear God's elect ,

I am glad reading your note my beloved thanks for your prayers my lawyer shall do every documents on behalf of you, I decided to hand you over this money, and you should know that my contact to you is By the special grace of God, please understand that you are not helping me rather you are working for God the creator of heaven and earth. so that the work of God is maintained, I hope you will utilize this money the way I instructed you herein.

The lawyer is aware of everything I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health, and because Of the presence of my husband's relatives around me always I don't want them to know about this as they are not aware of the deposit money.

Fill this form below and send back to me immediately to enable me forward it to my lawyer in Burkina Faso :

FULL NAME.....................
ADDRESS.......................
AGE:...................................
STATUS:..............................
STATE/COUNTRY................
TEL/NUMBERS......................
OCCUPATION.......................

Don't forget to always pray for me because all my hope to survive is in God the creator who holds death and life...

Hoping to receive your reply.
Mrs.C.Brown


I wrote back to her -

My Dear Beloved Mrs Brown.

Of course I will help. I will do whatever I can to make your last days easier and to help the little orphan children. Certainly there is nothing the Lord Jesus appreciates more than a soul who helps his children, the only true innocents in this world. And you are a saint in the making for wanting to share the wealth with his children.

I want to pray for you, my angel. I have an altar in my room and on that altar I have pictures of the ones that I pray for. Please send me your picture so that I can add it to my altar so that I can pray to the Lord Jesus that he helps you in your hour of need. Who knows, maybe he will save you from the cancer? That would be my dearest wish. So please send your picture without delay.

My beloved, would it help if I send my details to your lawyer? Perhaps that would speed things up because the dear orphan children surely need help now.
I hope to hear from you soon, may God be with you,

Stephen


Then I thought I should perhaps add a little more, so I sent her a PS. -



My Dearest Christabel (I hope you do not mind me addressing you by your Christian name, but I know that you are a good Christian).

There is something I forget to tell you in my last email. I am an orphan, too. Yes, my parents died when I was very young so I know all about what it means to be an orphan and that is why I want to help you help the orphans in your country. By dearest beloved angel, please send me your picture so that I might pray for you.

Stephen


And bless her, the next day she got back to me, with a picture of her and her late husband! This is what she wrote, complete with spelling mistakes!


Dear Stephen,

Thanks for your paryers,

i attched here with my picture and i want you to send me yours picture too.
yes go head and contact my lawyer to enable him carry out the tarnsfer.

i wait urgent for your reply that you have contacted the lawyer.

here below is the information of the lawyer Barrister Maven Koko
Email address: mavenchambers@yahoo.com
Tel:+22675551963

i wait to read from you soon
mrs christabel brown


Excellent! I Googled Maven Koko and he is no stranger to the world of scamming. Check out http://forum.419eater.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=157802&highlight=maven+koko if you get the time. A guy spent two months winding up a group of scammers and Koko was involved! I can recommend www.419eater.com for anyone interested in these scammers!

Here is one of Koko’s emails to Cowboy Buck, who did a great job of leading them on!!

From: "Koko Law Firm Koko Law Firm" (maven_kokolawchambers@hotmail.com)
To: (Cowboy Buck)
Date: Thu Dec 18 2008 03:12
Subj: FROM BARR.MAVEN KOKO ESQ.

FROM:BARRISTER MAVEN KOKO.

(KOKOLAWCHAMBERS)

DEAR PROSPECTIVE CLIENT: WILLIAMS Jones.

I AM BARRISTER MAVEN KOKO.THE RESIDENT LAWYER OF BANK OF AFRICA OUAGADOUGOU
BURKINA FASO.YOUR INFORMATIONS WAS HANDED OVER TO ME BY THE FOREIGN REMITTANCE
DIRECTOR, MR.KABORE GEORGE,AND HE MENTIONED THAT YOU WILL MAKE SOME MONEY
AVAILABLE FOR THE REACTIVATION OF YOUR LATE ASSOCIATE ACCOUNT FOR FURTHER
TRANSFER HIS BALANCE INADDITION WITH THE REACTIVATION AMOUNT INTO YOUR
DESIGNATED BANK ACCOUNT AFTER REACTIVATION IS OVER.

THEREFORE, YOU ARE ADVISED TO SEND THE REACTIVATION AMOUNT AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE:THROUGH WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER AGENT OR MONEY GRAM:-TO MY
CHAMBERS ACCOUNTANT/SECRETARY,HIS NAME IS: MR.OPARA CHIMA ISAIAH.

AFTER THE PAYMENT YOU ARE ADVICED TO FILL THE RECIPIENT INFORMATIONS BELOW AND
SEND IT BACK TO ME VIA THIS EMAIL ADDRESS.

SENDERS NAME:
SENDERS CITY/COUNTRY:
AMOUNT SENT:
MTCN NUMBER :
SECRET QUESTION :
ANSWER :
RECIPIENT NAME: OPARA CHIMA ISAIAH.
CITY/COUNTRY OF THE RECIPIENT: OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO.

AS A LEGAL PRACTITIONER I WILL FOLLOW THE RULES AND GIVE YOU SATISFACTARY
REPRESENTATION. SO I EXPECT THE PAYMENT OF THE REACTIVATION AMOUNT SOONEST.

HON.BARRISTER MAVEN KOKO Esq.(SAB)LL.B(Hons BL.LLM.



Not sure what to do next because I really do have to finish Dark Justice!