Short stories/politics/creative non-fiction/childrens
Brian The Barrington Bear – on sale now! You can now buy directly from me by hitting one of the above buttons :) Just email your contact details to m.dh.blackburn@talk21.com and Brian will be speeding his way to you, postage free.
Today my children’s book Brian the Barrington Bear which is beautifully illustrated by Alice Jowitt goes on sale in hardback, soft cover and online – you can buy the books here: Amazon.co.uk : brian the barrington bear
(though please note these people don’t hold stock, they wait for you to order!)
I’ve also seen it’s for sale at Barnes & Noble if you’re in the States! If you’re local to me, some of our shops will be selling it too – e.g. Hambridge Village Stores. If you have an outlet where you could sell some, do please tell me! Also, please let me know if you find it selling anywhere else so I can pass that on. And do please review it on the retailer website if you buy it! I’m learning on the job so any feedback gratefully received.
Some reactions to it below. The target market is probably around 7 years old!
Brian the Barrington Bear Abdolutely delightful, beautifully written, lovely illustrations – Gill, Somerset * The story is lovely. Very timeless, charming and touching – Helena, Children’s Author * Fabulous story, loved it. The illustrations are simple, but beautiful, too – Gayle, Northumberland * Lexi (6) loved the story and so did I! She said it’s her favourite new book – Mandy, Nice, France * I enjoyed your wonderful story immensely and the illustrations are gorgeous – Sabita, Gallery Owner * This is wonderful! I can’t wait to read it to the children! – Kerry, Somerset * Callie loved, loved, loved the story and has called her Harrods bear Brian – Domenica, Washington VA, USA
Mark was born in 1958 and grew up in Berkshire. He went to school at Bradfield College, near Reading, and then studied for a degree in Economics at the London School of Economics.
Mark’s career was in retail, working for small and large companies, before he opened his own chain of shoe shops, which he sold in 2007. Aside from politics, Mark likes to keep fit with running, cycling and trekking. He has run several marathons, completed the Coast to Coast Walk and the Two Moors Way in Devon for charity, and cycled from Bangkok to Angkor Wat for the Cambodian Red Cross. He is a member and supporter of the National Trust. He also has an addiction to older Lancia cars, but is trying to keep the miles down!
Mark is married and lives in the Westminster North constituency, in St John’s Wood. He is an active member of the Friends of Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill and a patron of London Zoo. He is also a member of the St John’s Wood Society, and regularly attends Westminster council's St John’s Wood Forum. Mark supports a north London football team - he is a Tottenham Hotspur supporter, but gave up his season ticket last year as it was becoming too painful!
Before moving to St John’s Wood four years ago, Mark lived in Camden, where he rejoined the Liberal Democrats after a long gap since his LSE days. While in Camden, Mark was instrumental in the campaign to save the area around Camden Town Tube station from the developers, helping to stop the destruction of Trinity Church in Buck Street, the Electric Ballroom and part of the market. These would have been replaced by a 16-storey office block.
Since moving to Westminster he has been Treasurer and is now Chair of the local Liberal Democrats. He fought the Abbey Road council by-election as the LibDem candidate in May 2007. He was very involved in the campaign to stop sixty mature trees being cut down and meadowland being concreted over in Regent’s Park to provide Astroturf football pitches.
He was selected as the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate in January 2009.
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