News and Reviews
Newsletter
JULY - 2025
Hi There
An earlier and shorter (did I hear a cheer?) newsletter, as I am heading north tomorrow (Tuesday).
I've had another great month for book signings and I have to say a big thank you to my good friends in the Costa coffee shop in the main Tesco in Bury. Ash, Simon, Janet, Aiden and Hannah look after me so well and I'm making a lot of friends among the regular customers there. It's more of a treat than a working day.
The only problem being that I'm right next to the bacon baps, lemon drizzle muffins and millionaires shortbread and I put on two or three pounds every time. So I have to limit my appearances as I seem unable to resist the food list.
The weekend of the 19th and 20th I spent in WHSmith in the Trafford Centre. Another couple of successful days and many thanks to Nik, Claudia, Ryan and staff for letting me loose again among their customers! I'm really thrilled with how my latest book has been received. Much due, of course, to its setting in Bury, Greater Manchester, with people really interested in reading about places they know.
On Saturday 12th I gave a talk to a group at the Textile museum in Helmshore. If you've read the book, you'll know that Helmshore features a lot in the story, so I was aware that my audience on that occasion were more knowledgeable about the location than I was. Anyway, they were a great crowd and treated me gently. The museum itself is a fantastic place with a number of exhibition rooms and working machinery still spinning and weaving. The shop floor staff comprises mainly mannequins, some of which are a bit scary - and very real. I almost asked one of them the way to the toilet! It's well worth a visit, and sincere thanks to Lauren and Louise for inviting me.
One spin-off from the reaction to my new novel has been a revival of interest in my earlier work - the four books of the Hotel St Kilda series. If you are tempted to check them out, the best source for the paperbacks is through my website www.michaelknaggs.co.uk The books are less expensive than through other sources and there is no P&P on any mailing. There is also an offer of 3-for-the-price-of-2 for the original trilogy of Catalyst, Heaven's Door and Lost Souls.
Interested, then go to the website and click on the BOOKS tab. In addition, all five novels are available as ebooks
Anyway, I must get back to my packing. Stay safe and well.
Best regards
Michael
Recent NEWS AND Reviews
Article which appeared in the Manchester Evening News, Hull Daily Mail, and East Riding News.
‘I really enjoyed reading this debut novel from Mike. I was captured immediately & found the book to have a thought-provoking theme. It kept me interested throughout, so much so that I spent a whole day around the pool on holiday with my head immersed in the book! (Only surfacing for a cool beer.) Now I am looking forward to a sequel...or there will be a riot!’ - Amazon Reviewer
'I've just finished your first book, Catalyst, and can't wait to get hold of the next book. Very difficult to put down. I'm an avid reader of murder mystery novels but found this one so different. The balance of story, dialogue and description is brilliant. Well done you for a super novel!' - Sheelagh Taaffe
