Derek’s Revenge by Mac Black

Derek's RevengeDerek’s Revenge by Mac Black

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Derek Toozlethwaite is a journalist in Newingsworth who is trying to write a book. So far he has failed to find a suitable subject for his book, instead his research has got him into trouble. He’s also been thinking about his past, he’s never known his Mum, Granny and Grandad Smith raised him and there has never been any talk about his Mum.

Fans of Derek know that his life if full of crazy adventures and comical characters and to this end we find Derek quickly in trouble stuck sideways inside a caravan in a ditch with Hammy. With the help of the local fire brigade the rusty relic finally finds its way into Derek’s garden.

Café owner Anton, provides Derek with an idea for his book when he reminisces about a local rock band, who once used the café as their meeting place. They later found fame in America calling themselves Rabid Revenge. Derek decides he’ll write up the story behind the band and sets out to hunt down the band members.

There’s a surprising romance for Hammy, another falling out between Derek and wife Sally and Grandad is accused of stalking a lovely young American lady in Bisko’s supermarket. Will Derek get the story he needs? And finally write his book Rabid Revenge Revisited?

Another greatly entertaining book in the Derek series written by Scottish author Mac Black, with his distinctive style of comedy.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

View all my reviews on Goodreads.

Reflections on the April 2014 A-Z Tour

The 2014 April A to Z Challenge, had over 2000 bloggers taking part this year it was an awesome tour to get involved in. If you’ve not heard about it, nip over to the April AtoZ Challenge website after you’ve read this post.

Firstly I want to thank Arlee Bird for continuing to organise the annual tour. Secondly A REALLY BIG THANK-YOU to all the authors who let me use their books for my challenge, without you and all your support sharing the posts it just wouldn’t be the same.

So how has it all gone? For me it’s all about planning. I began my journey at the end of January, I knew it would takes weeks to gather all the authors and the information I would need for the tour. I contacted friends and fellow authors and I sent out Tweets about my tour offering FREE advertising of work for authors. I even ended up stalking authors and inviting them to take part.

So what did we all get from the tour? Well hopefully readers were introduced to new books and new authors, TBR piles are now groaning under the weight of all the books on readers bookshelves. I’m hoping that the authors got some new sales and I, made some new blogging friends and supporters. At the bottom of this post I’ve highlighted bloggers that I’ve been particularly impressed by with their own tour. If you’ve not visited their blogs yet do take a moment if you can. I’ve been all over the world visiting bloggers taking part in the challenge. Each day I made a point of promoting up to 5 bloggers from the sign up sheet, some days I found they were no longer able to do the challenge, but people seemed to have had great fun. There really are some amazing bloggers out there.

On April 16th, this day in the tour also coincided with the end of a year long challenge which began this time last year. During last years challenge I set about reading a book called “A Year of Doing Good” by Judith O’Reilly. This wonderful lady spent a whole year doing good deeds. I decided to try it for myself. An enormous challenge I began with tiny steps, if I could make it to the end of April, then I would carry on. My deeds may not have been as great as Judith’s but I have made it, I’ve collected my small change, donated money, given books and clothes to charity, I volunteer at a local school, I pick up litter, bake cakes, send gifts and thank-you notes and letters to friends plus I’ve done a whole host of other deeds. AND I’m going to do it all again! YES I’ve decided to carry on, you can follow my challenge on Sunday’s when I blog about my latest weeks.

My own April A-Z tour was set around the theme of books, here are a list of books and authors who featured on this tour.

Top posts during the tour which had everyone talking were letter B – Boot Camp Bride by Lizzie Lamb, letter G – The Georgie Connelly series by E.L.Lindley, letter N – Nobody’s Fault by Terry Tyler and letter T The 20’s Girl, the Ghost and All That Jazz by June Kearns.

A – A World Apart by Camelia Miron Skiba http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yA

B –  Boot Camp Bride by Lizzie Lanb http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yy

C – Coronado’s Treasure by Randy Mixter http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yw

D – Derek’s Revenge and the Derek series by Mac Black http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yq

E – Everlasting by Candace Knoebel. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yn

F – Finding the Right Time by Stephanie Hurt http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yl

G – The Georgie Connelly Series by E.L. Lindley http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yi

H – Hidden Heart by Camelia Miron Skiba http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yg

I – The Imdaland Series by Rebecca Etherington http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4ye

J – Jaded by Kristy Feltenberger Gillespie http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yb

K – The Bench by Sue Koenig http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4xb

L – Legends of Windemere – Family of the Tri – Rune by Charles E Yallowitz http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4×9

M – My GLR by John W Howell http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4×6

N – Nobody’s Fault by Terry Tyler http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4×4

O – The Orphan and The Thief by M. L. LeGette http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4×2

P – The Potter’s Daughter by Daniel A Smith http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4×0

Q – Quentins by Maeve Binchy http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wY

R- Red Clay and Roses by S. K. Nicholls http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wW

S – Silk, Spice and Furry Dice by Andy N Robinson http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wU

T – The 20’s Girl, The Ghost and All That Jazz by June Kearns http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wS

U – Unforgiven by Barbara J Hancock http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wQ

V – Victoria by Stephanie Hurt http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wO

W – What it Takes by Terry Tyler http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wM

X – X by Jack Croxall http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wK

Y – Over Odyssey – Yellow by Tony Carnival http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wH

Z – Zen Master Next Door by Edward Kardos http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wF

During the tour I met so many great bloggers, here are some of the blogs which really impressed me.

Susan Scott at The Garden of Eden blog http://www.gardenofedenblog.com/

Vikki Thompson at The View Outside http://the-view-outside.com/

Hilary Melton-Butcher at Positive letters  Hilary  http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/

Co-host Damyanti at Daily (w)rite http://damyantiwrites.wordpress.com/

So it’s with a little sadness that I wave Goodbye to another year of the A -Z, but not without thanking, once more, all the hard working hosts and co-hosts who helped make it all happen.

CONGRATULATIONS!

 

All through the tour we’re asking readers to leave as many comments as possible on blogs, all supportive comments are much appreciated, thank you.

AtoZ Banner [2014]

April A-Z Tour Round up of letters A-W

Well we are nearly at the end, over 2000 bloggers signed up and started out on the month long challenge, here is a round-up of all my posts so far.

April 1st – A world Apart by Camelia Miron Skiba http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yA

April 2nd – Boot Camp Bride by Lizzie Lamb http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yy

April 3rd – Coronado’s Treasure by Randy Mixter http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yw

April 4th – Derek’s Revenge (The Derek Series) by Mac Black http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yq

April 5th – Everlasting by Candace Knoebel http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yn

April 6th -Round up of the tour so far http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-50X

April 7th – Finding the Right Time by Stephanie Hurt http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yl

April 8th – The Georgie Connelly series by E. L Lindley http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yi

April 9th – Hidden Heart by Camelia Miron Skiba http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yg

April 10th – The Imdaland series by Rebecca Ethington http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4ye

April 11th – Jaded by Kristy Feltenberger Gillespie http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yb

April 12th – The Bench by Sue Koenig http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4xb

April 13th -Round up of the tour so far http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-516

April 14th – Legends of Windemere series – Family of the Tri-Rune by Charles E Yallowitz http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4×9

April 15th – My GRL by John W Howell http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4×6

April 16th – Nobody’s Fault by Terry Tyler http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4×4

April 17th – The Orphan and the Thief by M L LeGette http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4×2

April 18th – The Potter’s Daughter by Daniel A Smith http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4×0

April 19th – Quentins by Maeve Binchy http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wY

April 20th -Round up of the tour so far http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-51f

April 21st – Red Clay and Roses by S. K. Nicholls http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wW

April 22nd – Silk, Spice and Furry Dice by Andy N Robinson http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wU

April 23rd – The 20’s Girl, The Ghost and All That Jazz by June Kearns http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wS

April 24th – Unforgiven by Barbara J Hancock http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wQ

April 25th – Victoria by Stephanie Hurt http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wO

April 26th – What it Takes by Terry Tyler http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wM

All through the tour we’re asking readers to leave as many comments as possible on blogs, all supportive comments are much appreciated, thank you.

AtoZ Banner [2014]

April A to Z Challenge Round up letters A – Q

The 2014 April A to Z Challenge, has now been going for three weeks, with well over 2000 bloggers taking part this year it is an awesome tour to get involved in. If you’ve not heard about it or want to know who’s taking part, nip over to the April AtoZ Challenge website after you’ve read this post.

My own tour is set around the theme of books, here are a list of books and authors who have featured so far on this tour.

A – A World Apart by Camelia Miron Skiba http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yA

B –  Boot Camp Bride by Lizzie Lanb http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yy

C – Coronado’s Treasure by Randy Mixter http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yw

D – Derek’s Revenge and the Derek series by Mac Black http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yq

E – Everlasting by Candace Knoebel. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yn

F – Finding the Right Time by Stephanie Hurt http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yl

G – The Georgie Connelly Series by E.L. Lindley http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yi

H – Hidden Heart by Camelia Miron Skiba http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yg

I – The Imdaland Series by Rebecca Etherington http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4ye

J – Jaded by Kristy Feltenberger Gillespie http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yb

K – The Bench by Sue Koenig http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4xb

L – Legends of Windemere – Family of the Tri – Rune by Charles E Yallowitz http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4×9

M – My GRL by John W Howell http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4×6

N – Nobody’s Fault by Terry Tyler http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4×4

O – The Orphan and The Thief by M. L. LeGette http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4×2

P – The Potter’s Daughter by Daniel A Smith http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4×0

Q – Quentins by Maeve Binchy http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4wY

All through the tour we’re asking readers to leave as many comments as possible on blogs, all supportive comments are much appreciated, thank you.

AtoZ Banner [2014]

April A to Z Challenge Round up of letters A – K

The 2014 April A to Z Challenge, has now been going for two weeks, with well over 2000 bloggers taking part this year it is an awesome tour to get involved in. If you’ve not heard about it or want to know who’s taking part, nip over to the April AtoZ Challenge website after you’ve read this post.

My own tour is set around the theme of books, here are a list of books and authors who have featured so far on this tour.

A – A World Apart by Camelia Miron Skiba http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yA

B –  Boot Camp Bride by Lizzie Lanb http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yy

C – Coronado’s Treasure by Randy Mixter http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yw

D – Derek’s Revenge and the Derek series by Mac Black http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yq

E – Everlasting by Candace Knoebel. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yn

F – Finding the Right Time by Stephanie Hurt http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yl

G – The Georgie Connelly Series by E.L. Lindley http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yi

H – Hidden Heart by Camelia Miron Skiba http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yg

I – The Imdaland Series by Rebecca Etherington http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4ye

J – Jaded by Kristy Feltenberger Gillespie http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yb

K – The Bench by Sue Koenig http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4xb

All through the tour we’re asking readers to leave as many comments as possible on blogs, all supportive comments are much appreciated, thank you.

AtoZ Banner [2014]

Good Deeds Week March 30th – April 5th

Welcome to my weekly roundup of my year long challenge to do one Good deed a day for a year. This challenge began back in April 2013 and is still going strong, I’m now entering my final few weeks. My inspiration came from reading “A Year of Doing Good” by Judith O’Reilly. Here is what I’ve been up to this week.

Good deeds

March 30th – Last night we changed our clocks in line with British Summertime, so I’m a bit late this morning. It’s also Mother’s Day, so I’ve been giving and receiving gifts as all Mothers should.

March 31st – A really busy day today. I’ve just done my morning at school. Now the April Issue of Fleet Life has just dropped through my door, so I’ve written a draft ready to coincide with the online version. http://www.fleetlife.org.uk click on the online directory and fins me on page 18. This months books are;

Please Call Me Derek by Mac Black

The Medea Complex by Rachel Florence Roberts

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Calculated by R.S. Novelle

Spirit Warriors by D.E.L Connor

It’s also my first month writing book reviews for Fleet Life’s sister magazine The Elvetham Heath Directory. http://www.ehd.org.uk, again click on the online directory and find me on page. This months featured books are different to Fleet Life although I will mix and match on occasions.

The Dating Game by Susan Buchanan

Greening of a Heart by Stepheny Houghtlin

Red Clay and Roses by S.K. Nicholls

The Griffin’s Boy by Julia Hughes

The Black Hours by Alison Williams.

With my A to Z Challenge starting tomorrow too, I’m sending out reminders to authors whose books are featuring in the first week. I want it to be a good give and take, I promote their books and they promote me.

April 1st – It’s here the first Day of the April A to Z blogging challenge with well over 1900 bloggers signed up this year it’s going to be huge. I’ve been all over the place visiting blogs and writing comments. My own challenge started with A World Apart by Camelia Miron Skiba. Catch up with posts in my Challenge round-up post, or from the A to Z page at the top of this blog.  The sun has finally burnt off the morning fog so now I’m off out in to the garden for a bit of one on one with nature after all my computing.

April 2nd – Online versions of both local magazines made it up on the internet today, so posted my pieces about them and let all the authors know. Having an absolute blast with the A to Z challenge, I can’t believe how many people are coming to my blog it is fantastic. Today’s book was Boot Camp Bride by Lizzie Lamb, Lizzie helped promote the post with her Facebook group of friends which I really appreciated. My slideshow on the sidebar is getting plenty of attention and good comments which is great to hear, have been helping a couple of people out with setting up their own gallery.

April 3rd – Met a friend for coffee in town and caught up with all her news. Went out this evening with more friends and took a birthday present with me for one of them whose birthday is in the next few days. Today’s book on the A to Z Challenge was Coronado’s Treasure by Randy Mixter. I’m thrilled to see lots of re-tweeting going on from other authors who will be taking part in my challenge and from followers of my blog, thanks everyone it means a lot.

April 4th – It’s a Derek Day today on the A to Z with Derek’s Revenge by Mac Black and a plug for the whole series. Went to the local market this morning, met a friend who has offered to pick us up in a few weeks time to attend a party. My Good deeds are mainly internet bound this week, visiting lots of blogs and leaving comments, tweeting and sharing posts. Finished reading Chill Factor by Rachel Caine and left a review on Goodreads.

April 5th – Everlasting by Candace Knoebel is the book for letter E in the A to Z today. Went for a quick walk this afternoon and picked up some litter. Am reading the second book in the Wardstone Chronicles, The Spook’s Curse, by Joseph Delaney, finished it late last evening and posted my review on Goodreads.

April A to Z Challenge Round-up of Letters A-E

The 2014 April A to Z Challenge, got off to a flying start on Tuesday, with well over 2000 bloggers taking part this year it is an awesome tour to get involved in. If you’ve not heard about it or want to know who’s taking part, nip over to the April AtoZ Challenge website after you’ve read this post.

My own tour is set around the theme of books, here are a list of books and authors who have featured so far on this tour. Oh My Goodness! What a week I’ve had, on Tuesday I blew away my best ever number of views for a post in less than 11 hours of the post going live, the authors taking part have been superb, helping promote the post and sharing it around. I’ve met lots of wonderful new bloggers who are calling in each day from the A to Z tour and I’ve got virtual jet lag from all the places I’ve been around the world visiting bloggers myself. So while I have a calm moment to breath, you can catch up on any posts you might have missed. If you are a visitor or a participant let us know what you’ve thought of the tour so far.

A – A World Apart by Camelia Miron Skiba http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yA

B –  Boot Camp Bride by Lizzie Lanb http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yy

C – Coronado’s Treasure by Randy Mixter http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yw

D – Derek’s Revenge and the Derek series by Mac Black http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yq

E – Everlasting by Candace Knoebel. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4yn

All through the tour we’re asking readers to leave as many comments as possible on blogs, all supportive comments are much appreciated, thank you.

AtoZ Banner [2014]

Letter D on the A to Z April Challenge

Today is letter D on the A to Z Challenge. My book today is “Derek’s Revenge” by Mac Black, Third book in the Derek Series. Genre: Adult Humour

Let’s meet Derek, he currently works as a newspaper reporter, but his life’s ambition is to write a best selling book.

Name: Derek Toozlethwaite.

Objective: To write a factual best seller.

At long last a great idea for the book – about a rock band that made the big-time in the USA.Dereks' revenge

RABID REVENGE – and they came from Newingsworth UK – his town!

In the USA they made their name,

Top gee-tar-ists in the ‘Hall of Fame’

Wow, they’re celebs – from Derek’s town.

Trust TOOZLETHWAITE

He’ll track them down.

They’ve had their glory

Their time at the top

They’re older now,

They’ve had to stop.

Rabid Revenge – rockers, acting tough

But they’ve made their money,

They’ve had enough.

Will he let them settle? He will not!

There’s a book to be written!

And DEREK’S …hot!

Read about his escapades, if you dare, and become a ‘Derek’ fan…

Mac Blacks books

Derek Toozlethwaite’ series:

Please…Call me Derek. Derek travels from child to confused adult, from reporter for the local paper to any job available, doing everything he thinks he should, but doing it his way. Pursuing life and employment leads Derek to fling himself into the sort of sticky situations he won’t want to have to explain to his friends or his family. With determination, gritting his teeth, doing everything for the best, how could anything go wrong.

Derek’s in Trouble.  As funny as ever and as unlucky as always, Derek is going through another unexpected crisis in his life. A local reporter with the partner of his dreams, his life is all set to be perfect. So, how will he explain his foray out in his wife’s dress? Then, there’s the leggy lady intent on making a lasting impression …on top of that, there are everyone else’s problems to sort. Is his Gran, the secret Radio agony aunt, capable of helping anyone?

Derek’s Revenge. Derek has not had much success getting his first great novel started – in fact, the research it requires has nearly cost him his marriage and ruined several pairs of his wife’s tights. All he needs is a better topic, maybe he should be writing non-fiction, he is a journalist, after all… As is normal for Derek, things go pretty rapidly and hilariously downhill from there!

Derek’s Good Relations. Relations and Relationships – poor Derek has far too many of both – he has a book to write – a mother he has only just met – a wife about to give birth and a poodle who hates him. Life had been so different a year and a half ago. Back then it had been a life before ET and Mom and a heap of other people interfering with his good intentions.

Derek’s Secrets (out soon)

Available from:

Amazon.co.uk (paperback/kindle);

Amazon.com (paperback/kindle);

Waterstones (paperback)

Barnes and Noble (paperback);

Mac Black contacts:

Email: macblack.author

Facebook: facebook.com

Goodreads

Back in January, I reviewed the first book “Please Call Me Derek” http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4nZ and Mac was also my guest author for the day. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4oJ You can also read my review of “Derek’s in Trouble” here. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4Y1

Mac BlackHere are some randomly chosen links to blog from others taking up the challenge, please find a few moments to visit their sites too.

http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.co.uk/

http://rhymetime24.blogspot.ca/

http://multicoloreddiary.blogspot.co.uk/

http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.co.uk/

http://asoutherngypsy.com/#sthash.ql9BPF5C.dpbs

During the challenge we are asking visitors to leave comments on as many blogs as possible, all supportive comments are much appreciated, thank you.

AtoZ Banner [2014]

Good Deeds Week 16th – 22nd March

Welcome to my weekly roundup of my year long challenge to do one Good deed a day for a year. This challenge began back in April 2013 and is still going strong. My inspiration came from reading “A Year of Doing Good” by Judith O’Reilly. Here is what I’ve been up to this week.

Good deeds

March 16th – I’m reading books from the Shivers box set from HarlequinE books. Also finished another book The Wrath Inside by RR Gall and sent off the review to the author.

March 17th – A good morning helping out at school today.

March 18th – I have a friend coming over for coffee later, I’ve baked a tea bread for us to eat while she’s here. Good deeds received; my friend brought some delicious cookies as a gift for us.

March 19th – Phew! Had a hectic day, but finished by providing tea for friends. Received an ARC of Reborn by Cherie Reich which is due out on May 23rd, I am planning a book review and author interview for late May. Good Deeds received; had some great help tweaking details on some of my social network sites.

March 20th – Went out for a walk to hand deliver some overdue Thank you notes. Picked up litter along the way. Couldn’t decide between the next two books that are on my TBR list so began reading both. The Rubicon Effect by Roy Dimond on my Kindle and the paperback of Derek’s Revenge by Mac Black. After an evening spent doing paid employment in the form of bookkeeping I needed time to reflect and smooth my mind, so I picked up my copy of The Power is Within You by Louise Hay.

March 21st – A busy morning, it’s the A to Z April Challenge Theme Reveal day and I’ve been visiting other bloggers who have signed up for the Theme Reveal and leaving comments. Missed my post? Here is a link http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-502 Walked in to town and saw the advertising poster outside Costa Coffee for Fleet. Author John P Ford who is holding a book signing session on Saturday, for his book The Royal Descendant. It looked good, will drop him an email saying I saw it, have been invited along to the event on Saturday.

Went to one of my favourite shops for book bargains The Works and rummaged through boxes of books all for £1. Bought 2 books by Rachel Cain, Fade Out from her The Morganville Vampire series which I enjoyed a few years ago and another book by her, Chill factor. Stopped off at Help the Aged as I passed by and checked out their books, deciding on Heretic by Bernard Cornwell. My arms nearly dropped off with the books and all the other shopping that I’d done by the time I got home, so now I’m off to put my feet up and get on with some reading.

March 22nd – Went to Costa in Fleet this morning to support author John P Ford with his book signing event, sent out an early morning Tweet to @Love Fleet about the signing and they kindly re-tweeted. John had business cards made up and was offering books at a discounted price to readers who bought a copy today. I’m hoping to feature John’s book in the May issue of Fleet Life and the June issue of The Elvetham Heath Directory.