MY BOOKS: INFO & REVIEWS
Marching Through Madness
A bible for the British Patriot The aim of this book is to boost Britain's spirit, to keep speaking the truth, to communicate our ideas and convictions without wavering, to keep resisting anti-British sentiment, and to demonstrate that our spirit is as strong as ever, if not more so, as can be witnessed in recent patriot’s marches. My original intention in writing this book was to give enough red meat to the British lads and lasses who go to football on a Saturday afternoon, enjoy a few drinks before the game and put the world to rights. People with a keen sense of justice and, equally, a keen sense of humour. Except it’s no longer just about the football lads, is it? Regular people in this country are getting angry, and in this book, we analyse their viewpoints. Each time a new individual, wakes up to just how sinister and threatening this country is becoming, the whole of humanity springs up a notch. Great Britain is stirring. Attending recent parades, rallies and marches (St George’s Day and the rally organised by Tommy Robinson in Trafalgar Square etc.) I've stood with patriots with no trouble whatsoever, no riots, no smashing things up, no tipping police vehicles over, no attacking police officers, no setting fire to buses, no machete attacks, no stabbings ..... just British patriots, a lot of them regular middle-class people with their families, enjoying the day out. Imagine that! A peaceful patriot’s rally without violence or riots. Just concerned people who love their country – people of all skin colours may I add – standing peacefully and listening to speeches about the state of our nation, about uncontrolled immigration and about the level of recent crime on our streets. And for that they called us right-wing, a pseudo-phrase that makes no sense whatsoever, but is being used to divide us. So we march peacefully. Everyone I speak to agrees with that. Nothing has ever been gained from rioting. If anyone expects this book to be a bloodthirsty call to arms, then I suggest you look elsewhere for reading material. The Democratic Football Lads Alliance always stressed no racism, no frenzied destructiveness, and those positions haven’t changed. Lawless rebellion isn’t for me, brother. I’ll give you that as a caveat. We promise you a really interesting read as we look at the situations that are troubling us now, plus the letter that was delivered to Theresa May, Cressida Dick and Sadiq Khan During the course of writing this book I was hoping to find the answer to one specific question, and unfortunately, I’ve failed. You see the one thing I can’t work out is why have the ‘authorities’ (the government, the last successive prime ministers, the mayor of London, the police, and the media) turned against the people of their own country in favour of extremely violent and dangerous immigrants? Why do the ‘authorities’ hate us so much when for the most part we drag our sorry arses out of bed, go to work, put in a shift, pay our taxes, contribute, raise decent kids, drink a little, laugh too loudly, march peacefully, carry no weapons, and state our concerns clearly and concisely? Agreed, we’re not perfect, nobody is, but why has the media and the government turned against their own people? I still haven’t discovered the answer to that question. Is it possible to write in good faith for decent hard-working men & women, for the steel erector, the scaffolder, the waitress, the bus driver, the bricklayer, the quantity surveyor, the bar maid, the cab driver, the burlesque dancer, the café owner, the secretary? I believe so. So my intention, throughout the course of writing this book, has changed. My goal now is just to leave the door open a crack ….. before it’s too late. We didn’t come this far to only come this far.
Searching For Your Tribe: Wrong Planet People
The most unexpected and revealing book of our time. A rallying cry for the elusive spirit of these time. A cry for those who want to change the world! Karl Wiggins has a powerful and potent knack for expression which has completely escaped restraint and self-control. Too much writing nowadays is watered-down garbage. The world is looking for something new, and in this book, Wiggins has created many ‘worth-pondering-over’ ideas! We are experiencing the same intensity of energy in diminished and more concise time periods, which is why more and more Wrong Planet tribes are gathering Karl Wiggins informed me, when I agreed to write the forward for this book, that his goal was for those he calls Carefree Scamps to finish the book slightly punch-drunk. And I admit that with me he’s managed it remarkably. If you don’t believe that a limited number of astute, dedicated human beings can change the world, or simply just call attention to its imperfections and vulnerabilities, this book is going to change your mind. But before you get there, in the first third of the book Karl introduces us to a number of famous eccentrics who just didn’t (or don’t) ‘fit in’ He discusses the erratic, the bizarre and the downright kooky. People such as David Bowie, Marilyn Monroe, Janice Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Moon, Arthur Rimbaud, François Villon (the Medieval Beatnik), Bessie Stringfield, Sixteen-String Jack Rann, Anne Bonny & Mary Read (the Lesbian Pirates), Frida Kahlo, the Beat Generation poets and a whole host of dropouts, misfits, pranksters, bohemians, court jesters, comedians, crackpots and Gypsies. The reader will love reading about these swashbuckling daredevils, headcases and artists who changed their world, and even more so when Wiggins goes on to blend some of them with those from his own tribe. He identifies Wrong Planet people clearly, drops hints on how we can spot them, and finally instructs us in how to discover our own ‘tribe’ if we haven’t already found them This book will shake your perceptions ….. and it’s lovely! Harpie
Cabbie With A Dangerous Mind
This book is entitled ‘Cabbie with a Dangerous Mind’ for a reason, mainly because it’s the story of Billy, an East London cab driver who’s been diagnosed with Bipolar and who suffers manic episodes while driving his cab around London. Billy has elevated mood swings and uncontrollable depression, and because his manic states often turn into psychotic episodes, he begins to suspect that the label ‘bipolar’ is just a cop-out from the medical fraternity because they don’t know what to do with him. He realises he’s possibly a psychotic depressive or even a schizophrenic, and yet he has no one to turn to. His one love is Jelly, a drug addict, although neither of them realise how much they’ve come to rely on each other. Billy and Jelly are two lost souls in the mad landscape of East London, but if Billy can get her off the gear then life will flow easier for both of them, for Jelly, in her own unique way, has a calming effect on Billy's psyche Billy’s life is unravelling fast. He’s prone to violent rages, and his distortion can change whilst driving as time slows down and speeds up again and buildings starts to move. Billy views his life with intelligence, and the advice that you really shouldn’t be getting in his cab is sound. Billy has suicidal thoughts whilst driving. The book is peppered with characters; oddballs, weirdoes, comedians, eccentrics, head cases, prima donnas and hard cases …… and they’re just the drivers! ‘ Cabbie with a Dangerous Mind’ will make you laugh, cry and hopefully raise awareness of Mental Health issues in the community. That it’s more common than we realise, and it’s okay not to be okay. It’s okay to talk about it, and it’s okay not to talk about it. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental
White Boy In Watts
The world of the Cab Driver is uncertain and dangerous, but no more so than when you're a white English guy working Watts, Compton and Inglewood, home to the infamous Bloods and Crips. In this very short book I’ve intended to paint an ominous picture of a community destroyed by drugs, guns and violence. You’ll almost smell the omnipresent whiff of cheap wine and feel the dirty lino under your feet. Read the true-life adventures of an English lad as I struggled to make a living amongst ‘gangstas’ who are arguably the most violent in the United States. You’ll be able to hear my characters, see them and, in some instances, actually smell them. They’ll leave their stain on you. It’ll be the thugs with guns and no soul who will unsettle you. I want you to be scared of them. Come and have a look at the world through my eyes in the 1980's, and, like me, marvel that I got out of there alive. If you enjoy True Gangsta Books, or books about the Bloods or Crips, then take a chance on this one This is a very short book, 50 pages or so, that's all, but these are stories that need to be told. Scroll up and click on the cover of the book to ‘Look inside’
The Truth About Woke
We hear much about the wokerati nowadays, how easily offended they are, how they want to fill an already overburdened country with migrants at taxpayers’ expense, how they believe footballers ‘taking the knee’ for six seconds before a match is the answer to all our racial issues, how they believe in 56 or more different genders, how they want to stop the whole world from using oil, how they believe in ancestral guilt for slavery and how simple words can cause so much offence that they need to go and have a group hug and blubber their eyes out to their lefty vegetarian unwashed mates. I grew up in an age when most things were acceptable. You called a bird a bird, had the crack with your black mates about their skin colour, drank with the old tranny in the pub who'd often turn up in a dress and a wig but forgetting to shave ….. and who used the men's bogs. You fought people at bus stops, and you laughed at just about everyone and everything. Yes, you got into fights in pubs or at football, but you always put your glass down before going into a fight. You would never dream of glassing anyone, let alone stabbing them! What is wrong with the world nowadays! You danced to Young Gifted and Black by Bob and Marcia, even though you're now accused of being a racist for hating terrorism And now, thanks to the blubbering, self-righteous twatty woke brigade you can't do any of this anymore without being dragged in front of HR or being 'cancelled' (there's a word for you) or being thrown in Facebook Jail or having some woke mummy's boy burst into tears because you've misgendered him. What is the world coming to? Why should you and I stop using words we've used for 50 years or more just because all of a sudden it offends someone fragile snowflake? Where has it all gone wrong? Does any of it make any sense? Will the woke one day take over the world? Or is it just a load of nonsense stemming from the politically correct mob of the ‘70s? I’m well aware that in this book I may well be bringing fresh notions or concepts that will cause many people to think of me as a bit odd, but I’m okay with that, because maybe I’m just conscious and alive in a batty old world. That said, it doesn’t mean everyone will ‘get’ me, there are a million zings and zaps and tangs and wallops in the world. We all have a different piquancy. What it does mean, however, is that my Tribe can find me In this book I don’t simply discuss the wokerati, but also touch on FGM, Ukraine, the cashless society, Automatic Intelligence, the Democratic Football Lads Alliance (DFLA), and even 1984 …. To name a few. When all’s said and done, I’ve only written what most people are thinking, including the woke mob, even if they won’t admit it to themselves. Using a metaphor from the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from the book of Revelations I finish by articulating exactly what the wokerati are trying to say, at least the eco-warriors, because most people actually agree with them but not their way of going about things. And not only do the lefty woke fail to express their point in meaningful terms, but they can never be honest with themselves about it. This book is for those who can be honest with themselves and is written in the language of the bloke who has a few pints before the game on a Saturday afternoon, a few more pints and a curry afterwards, and enjoys having the crack with his mates, but who is also concerned about the direction the world is heading.
Twas The Year 2020
I first published this book in August 2020, and I was speaking about these issues long before that – at bar-b-ques, dinner parties and in the pub – and although most agreed with my point of view, some called me a Conspiracy Theorist, which pleased me because it proves I’m freethinker, and it proves they’ve got no further argument Looking back on 2020, I now feel I should have begun all my conversations with a warning, ‘SPOILER ALERT! What I’m about to say will come true in the very near future ….. they’ll find ways to make vaccination mandatory’ etc. The interesting thing, however, is that despite just about everything I’ve written here being proved correct, not a single one of those people has come back to me and said, ‘Well, I owe you an apology, you were right all along,’ which is human nature, I guess. They’re more frustrated at me for being right than they are at themselves for being wrong. Funny old world, isn’t it? I didn’t intend to write this book. I wrote a piece on the hypocricy of the Black Lives Matter movement for my blog, found there were a few more points concerning the way the planet’s spinning at this moment in time, so decided to finish up with a second piece. 75,000 words later I discovered I’d written a book covering BLM, slavery, Antifa, COVID, pensions, President Trump, Marxism, China, masks & vaccines, Forever Family, population control, cashless society, and a possible New World Order The word TWAS, of course, is an acronym for Together we are Stronger I’ve always been ready to stand up and be counted because I know that if I allow my emotions to be stilled, then a kind of blue funk settles in, and I have no intention of apologising for being me In this book, I’m sure to rattle a few cages, but my intention isn’t to be quarrelsome, it’s just to offer enough ‘Wow!’ moments to give the reader something to ponder over. I make every effort to stay away from Conspiracy Theories, not because I don’t believe in them, but more because I find it a rather dismissive term, allowing others to reject the freethinker’s point of view. I’m an overthinker, I know, and if sh*t doesn’t make sense, I think about it over and over until it does make sense, and right now none of this makes sense …. But it’s starting to. People are getting angry, and in this book I analyse these views and justify them in the words of the bloke who goes to football on a Saturday afternoon, enjoys a few pints with his mates before the game and puts the world to right. I’ve no doubt there will be people who disagree with my reflections, and that’s okay. We’re not all supposed to agree. But there are issues right now that need addressing. We read about them in the papers, we listen to radio hosts discuss them on phone-in programmes and we talk about them to our pals at work and in the pub. I haven’t watered down my writing at all, or bent over backwards to suit the woke brigade, I promise you that. I’m strong-willed, a bit outspoken and I write exactly what I’m thinking. I’m not to everyone’s taste, but this is a book you can dip in and out of whenever the mood takes you. I hope you enjoy!
The Pendulum Has Swung Too Far
2020 was a nasty year, a muddy, polluted, oily, smoky and rank year. A ratbag of a year. A year of easy virtue, if ever there was such a thing. A number of people, mainly politicians, large pharmaceutical companies and the exceedingly wealthy showed us their true colours, leaving us with the inescapable conclusion that we’re being lied to all the time. Are we on the brink of a new kind of totalitarianism, as predicted by Aldous Huxley and George Orwell? Has the pendulum really swung too far? Well, in this book, as well as a variety of other topics I take a good look at 1984 and Brave New World and give a brief overview of those two books. So if you’re hearing a lot about them, but can’t be bothered to read the books, then I’m the boy for you because I have read them, and I summarise them briefly and clearly. And then take a very serious look at Lockdown, the vaccine and the government’s attitude to the whole pandemic. I’ve been called a Conspiracy Theorist more times than I can remember. Something I take as a compliment because it indicates I’m a Freethinker. And most people who were called a Conspiracy Theorist in 2020, myself included, are still waiting to be proved wrong. Its just a term people use when they’ve run out of arguments and have no answer to your own line of reasoning, ‘Oh, I don’t hold with all these conspiracy theories,’ often said in a pompous tone. But if I were looking for a pet name to call myself, apart from Freethinker, I think I’d choose the term Apocaloptimist, a word meaning someone who knows it's all going to sh*t, but still thinks it will turn out okay. Apocaloptimism is a brand-new word that is yet to be recognised by respectable dictionaries, but I choose it here because in this book I’ve made every effort to finish on a positive note, and that may surprise some, but although the pendulum has definitely now swung too far, a pendulum will always return to its equilibrium. And I see big changes ahead for humanity as long as we don’t buy into the fear. We’re living in a totalitarian state, but don’t realise it. The government told us when we are allowed to be outside, where we are allowed to go, when we were allowed to work, if we were permitted to go on holiday, what parts of the country we could visit, and how many of us could sit in a pub. Doesn’t sound believable now, does it? You see, I’m not particularly fond of people who fly to meetings in private jets to discuss how to take billions of pounds of taxpayer’s money for a vaccine that doesn’t work, and billions more of taxpayer’s money to give to countries with their own space programme, and then billions more to house illegal immigrants and drug lords whilst the poor and the elderly starve and freeze, and ex-servicemen and women sleep on the streets, and then invite Russian Oligarchs to ‘invest’ in our country and use it to launder their money whilst turning a blind eye if they start killing each other …..but maybe that’s just me I’ve been called a fascist by fascists, and a racist by racists, and a right-wing football thug just because I don’t like to see statues of war heroes destroyed by thugs. Hey, call me a Conspiracy Theorist, if you like, but first of all make sure you understand what exactly that means. Freethinkers, you see, are those who have evolved beyond other people’s comfort zones. And Apocaloptimists believe the glass is both half full and half empty. People are getting angry, and in this book I analyse these views and justify them in the words of the bloke who goes to football on a Saturday afternoon, enjoys a few pints with his mates before the game and puts the world to right. These are, you see, issues that need addressing. I haven’t watered down my writing at all, or bent over backwards to suit the do-gooders, I promise you that.
The Pendulum Has Swung Too Far
Calico Jack in Your Garden
Embarrassingly, a number of the reviews for this book seem to involve people losing control of their bladder “Anyone who is a bit saucy, very fond of boobies and doesn't mind peeing slightly when they laugh too hard, this is the book for you!” “I have to admit that I wet myself twice while reading it but this may in part have been due to my age and a couple of bottles of a fine St. Emilion,” “Due to the laughter you owe my secretary one clean pair of knickers.” Two reviewers have even suggested I should tour as a stand-up comedian “I found myself laughing out-loud and even sharing segments with my spouse ….. I think Karl could tour as a stand-up comedian,” “Mr Wiggins has views on life that are expressed in a manner worthy of any stand-up comedian.” So my scribblings do seem to raise a smile and a chuckle, and either way you look at it, that has to be a good thing. “I got kicked out of bed TWICE for laughing so hard. This is, by far, one of the funniest books I've yet read” “I have never, ever read a book that caught me so unawares and made me laugh so much as Calico Jack. I laughed and laughed so much on the train home that I had to stop reading it. He is capable of making the reader cry with laughter” “There were times when I had to set the Kindle down and just laugh out loud. Some of Mr. Wiggins' thoughts are just hilarious” Whilst it’s evident that a number of people love my writing - I've even been told by some that they settle themselves with a cup of coffee before reading my blogs, Newspaper columns or Facebook posts - I'm very much aware that I have an inappropriate sense of humour that isn’t to everyone’s taste. In short, not everyone ‘gets’ me. Hardly any subject is taboo to the Englishman when he’s laughing, and this often seems insensitive to other cultures, but the bedrock of the British sense of humour is a strong sense of sarcasm and self-deprecation. The British can be very passionate – and if you doubt that try going to a football match - but that passion is often hidden deep in our humour so that other nationals fail to not only recognise the deadpan delivery but are never too sure if they’ve been involved in a serious conversation or just a little bit of friendly banter. Having said that my style of writing is now appealing more and more to the American market. This book is not a story, and if you’re looking for a book that is all sweetness and light, please give this one a miss. It’s not for you. I won’t be offended and I honestly wish you a great life. If everyone likes me, then I’m not being controversial enough. But if you really want to see just how funny the people who travel on the London Underground can be - even if it's mostly unintentional - and enter the weird and wonderful of construction for a few minutes, then take a chance on this book I’ve been told I write with an “easy-going style and a zest for living that is infectious.” I’m not so sure about that, but I have an opinion on a range of hot issues, although you don’t have to agree with all my views to enjoy the ride. Other comments on my writing style warn that I "talk to the reader with all the confidence of a man in touch with his own reality, in a voice which is seasoned with a hint of world weariness that is so telling of a writer who has written what he knows and written it with disarming fearlessness." And that I guess is true. I can be a handful at times and I know it. I’m strong-willed, a bit outspoken and I write exactly what I’m thinking. It’s not to everyone’s taste, but this is a book you can dip in and out of whenever the mood takes you. I hope you enjoy!
Bournemouth Boys and Boscombe Girls
We’re the oddballs, weirdoes, comedians, eccentrics, head cases and hard cases, and this book is for those who ‘get it’ In the lead-up to a recent reunion party, many of the old stories came out. We were seasonal workers during the late ‘70s and early ‘80s in Bournemouth. Many worked the deckchairs, some worked hotels, pubs, bars, or nightclubs, either as bar staff or bouncers. We lived off our wits and, yes, from time to time we were rogues, but we had each other’s backs, and we had some laughs. This book recalls those days and tells the story of bringing a special group of people back together again after almost 40 years. And do you know what, it was as if we hadn’t skipped a beat. There were even people who’d missed each other first time around, yet all of us have a very rare and exceptional connection. It’s pure magic. Now if you’re reading the above and are thinking this was some kind of school reunion with a bunch of old codgers on Zimmer fames, playing inflatable ball games and drinking Dandelion & Burdock, mate, you’ve got it all wrong! If you’ve worked holiday towns as a seasonal worker, either in the UK or abroad, then you’ll ‘get it’ or if you’re looking to work a season in Spain or Portugal or the South coast of England, then these are the tough but crazy times you can expect. I’ve always loved wild people and wild places, always been drawn to them, and here are some of the stories. Now, for the first time ever, I think I understand what was so special about those years. Yes, at times they were tough, but we stuck with each other through thick and thin, and especially afterwards when we travelled the globe together. We’re not crazy, none of us (well, those in prison and mental asylums might be), but none of us on the ‘out’ are, but we had lively, buoyant and animated fun. We were carefree at an age when you’re supposed to be carefree. The flip side of this, I’m well aware, is that at times it may make some of us feel as if we’re outsiders, a lone wolf so to speak. People occasionally talk about us in hushed tones, whispering that we’re a bit of a loose cannon. They don’t really want to say it to our faces because every now and again we can still be a little unpredictable. But they look at us with a strange curiosity, because in comparison – although they’re often very successful at ‘fitting in’ – they lead lives that are drab, dreary and monotonous. They’re not unruly like you and me. And it’s that unruliness which has kept us young. These are the stories, some told in very funny poetic format, of those years. Some of us, you see, weren’t meant to be tamed. We weren’t meant to be pacified or subdued. We were meant to run free until we discovered others just as wild to run with. And after all we’ve been through, we’re still standing and we’re still laughing out loud. And that bothers some people. Danny and I wish to dedicate this book to all who couldn’t be there on the night. Some are living abroad, some are in prison, others in mental institutions, and some have passed on. This isn’t anything morbid. We just want to remember the laughs they gave us.
Anxiety
This book of prose and magnificent poetry is Danny’s story as he begins to notice the world around him start to shatter. Yet through all that he offers encouragement and inspiration to those millions of others who also experience anxiety and panic. There are many books on the market about anxiety, yet just a quick glance at these will demonstrate just how chintzy, patronising and condescending they really are. All these books give the impression that a few simple exercises can hold the terrors of tension, misery and dread at bay. If only it was that easy. But it’s not. Anxiety can cripple you! And there’s no easy cure, or magic words, or wrist band that is ever going to work We start the book as Danny takes stock of those around him, and as editor of the book, before we get into more serious matters, I’ve allowed Danny 15 quick-fire poems to introduce himself, his Gypsy lifestyle as a kid and where he finds himself at the moment. He begins to notice loss, although he never phrases it quite like that. But we see loss as children fly the nest, loss of his youthful good looks and energy, a possible loss of income and finally the loss of a friend of ours, Chalkie, who was brutally murdered. Our mate, Chalkie, was a great friend to Danny, and when he was savagely murdered it sent Danny into dark places in his mind that he had trouble escaping from. Danny was very much aware that he was in danger of turning corners in the labyrinth of his mind that he may not be able to find his way out of. Danny has become a student of the human condition, and in this book he does what he does best; write poems about the world around him, and he does this with passion. Even if poems aren’t your preferred treasure, even if they don’t normally grab you, if they’re not your ‘thing,’ I’d still ask that you bear with Danny as he tells his story in his own way, for this, some would say, is what happens when someone with anxiety digs deep down into his own soul, for the book looks into the nitty-gritty of mental health awareness as Danny tells his story in a unique way, as he learns to come to terms with the barbaric and vicious murder of his best mate. Although, of course, he never does come to terms with such a cruel act. You can’t. Sometimes Danny is, to use his own words, all lopsided in his head, which is why I’ve chosen to present the book in the current format, to expose how his thinking bounces around without rhyme or reason. So he discusses anxiety and depression and suicide and then out of the blue he writes a poem, but poetry is Danny’s way of clearing his head. What can I tell you about Danny? He has a ferocious spirit and vigour. He has high moods and an instinctive ability to perceive and understand the world around him. He has a fierce sense of loyalty, he’s romantic, quixotic and starry-eyed. He brings smiles to everyone he meets, a gift I truly believe comes from a higher source. However, there’s no denying that at times he can be restless, carrying the capacity for vastly darker moods, melancholy energies and occasional bouts of madness. Writers, poets, artists, musicians and circus clowns often suffer from boisterous and raucous dispositions. And it’s true they can get into trouble at times. They wear their moods as their ships of passage, and Danny is no different. He suffers from what Lord Byron would term a ‘fine madness.’ He throws out poems in a sparkle of energy. And he puts everything into the words. They just arrive on paper as though a higher being is working through him. I can’t explain this, but it’s how it happens I’ve known Danny for over 40 years, since we shared a room together at a seaside town in the South coast of England. So my opinion? He’s probably a bit of a mad genius, although he loves the world and everyone in it, and if this book can help just one person then Danny will sleep with a smile on his face tonight.
Shit My History Teacher Did Not Tell Me
If you’re a history or philosophy buff this book should be as irresistible as a kebab to a pisshead So what’s it all about then? History, that’s what. 'Errgghhh boring boring bollocks boring, I had enough of that crap when I was at school. History just went on and on and on and on and on ….. and on and on. Nothing different ever happened.' Well that’s where you’re wrong, because I’m going to bring it alive. Not all history books, or even books about teaching history, have to be tedious. I’ve looked under every rock, in every nook and cranny. I’ve searched all over the place and dug up some really interesting little titbits. Stuff not a lot of people know. So stay with me on this one. I’ve chosen to look at past events from the birth of the planet to the birth of Christ. That’s enough for one book, isn’t it? Well, not really, because I’ve gone off track a little bit from time to time, but I do tend to do that so don’t worry about it. If you’ve got a teenager who’s studying the history of this period, download a copy for them now because it’s all laid out nice and clear. But let me warn you, I have in the past been accused of having an inappropriate sense of humour, so if you want a little bit of a chuckle watching me make fun out of everyone I meet down the years, then this is the book for you - and if your offspring is in their early teens then it probably isn’t the book for them. As I say, I do tend to stray into the modern day from time to time to bring things into focus, but I promise you this book will surprise you, inform you, keep you interested and put a smile on your face from time to time. I discuss philosophers and philosophy a lot, including ancient Greek philosophers, Chinese beliefs and philosophy from around the world, but if you think it’s all Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, there’s a lot more here to be discovered. You’ll be surprised, for instance, at the similarities between the Celts and the Native Americans. The Rosicrucian's will fascinate you, as will some of the secrets held by Alexander the Great! 'Wiggins approaches his subjects with an eye for the ridiculous ….. before revealing his own thoughts on the matter with the poise and wit of a stand-up comedian delivering a killer punch-line' 'Karl has a knack of engaging the reader in the subject and then as an added bonus, making it funny. Loved reading this book' 'No history teacher ever mentioned such fun stuff like this to me in high school ….. an intellectually stimulating read.' 'Well worth five stars and recommended for anyone who wants a less serious view of life!' It’s high time we had some history books for adults!
You Really Are Full of Shit, Aren't You?
Rascal-Sage Karl Wiggins has done it again, only this time even better In America they’re called Advice Columnists, in England Agony Aunts. Well Karl Wiggins is an Agony Uncle who takes no crap Everyone has read these columns in the dentist waiting room, and I have to agree with Karl in that the majority of Agony Aunts or Advice Columnists are without exception patronising, condescending and pretentious, providing the same type of namby-pamby, wishy-washy band-aid solution for just about every dilemma; “I’m sorry to hear what you’re going through, but you know life is full of ups and downs, I’m sure if you give it time …….” In short, they are no help whatsoever. Not so Wiggins, for he has the Heaven-sent ability of being able to get right to the nitty-gritty in just a few sentences. His answers, however, are more often than not roll-on-the-floor hilarious. Karl makes it absolutely clear that he’s no marriage guidance counsellor, psychotherapist, priest or vegetarian, but his adequacy to hand out solid advice is confirmed as soon as you start reading this book. His advice is delivered in a humorous, occasionally impassioned and exasperated, yet always intuitive manner. Karl speaks from the heart and never, ever evades the issue. If you’re looking to read one of those family therapy books where the advisor hems and haws, and sits on the fence and tap-dances around the issue then stop right now. This is not the book for you. But if you’re searching for straight-talking guidance on dating, marriage, cohabitation, divorce, sensuality, lust, and sexual urges then look no further. This is the book you’re after Karl Wiggins does not tread warily around any issue whatsoever – racism, under-age sex, religious extremism, sexual violence. And he does not mince his words; Just the opposite in fact. I’ve known Karl for several years and I’ll tell you he dances towards trouble with a huge grin on his face, which is why I call him the Rascal-Sage. He is in truth a laughing, joking Shaman. The court jester but with all the respect of a sorcerer, for there’s always an element of danger lurking about beneath the surface of his smile, and when he’s angry he is truly a site to behold (Maybe that’s what attracts the reader). Karl, thank you for being you, for not judging me, for seeing me as I truly am and for allowing me the honour of writing the forward to this book for you. But remember I’ve read the book and you are so naughty …. I’m going to pray for you.
Gunpowder Soup
Although there are a lot of football stories in this book, it isn't all about visits to away grounds (Millwall, Arsenal, Tottenham, West Ham, Leicester, Liverpool etc.) and other football-related essays. I also talk about home games against Stoke, Chelsea and Man U for instance My diatribes in my blogs and newspaper columns are simply my way of spinning the balls, because sometimes I like to see what number they land on. That’s all. But although I’m known mostly as a raconteur - and most of my books can be described as coming from the humourist vein – in ‘Gunpowder Soup’ I also touch on some subjects that are surely going to upset a few people. I’ve never quite understood the politically correct brigade. Hardly any subject is taboo to the Englishman when he’s laughing. No longer simply a fad, blogging is now an important new literary innovation. This book is not a story, and if you’re looking for a book that is all sweetness and light, please give this one a miss. It’s not for you. I won’t be offended and I honestly wish you a great life. If everyone likes me, then I’m not being controversial enough – and trust me when I say that in this book I get controversial. Right now the planet is spinning in new and scary directions, and this needs to be addressed. So inside the covers of this book I take a look at some of the challenges we’re currently facing. And some of my opinions are going to rattle a few people. So why the title ‘Gunpowder Soup’? Well, although my last book was entitled ‘100 Common Sense Policies to make BRITAIN GREAT again’ the book before that, ‘Nobody Asked Me, But …’, showed a rabbit popping out of a tin of soup on the cover. ‘Rabbit & Pork,’ of course, is Cockney rhyming slang for Talk, and on more than one occasion I’ve been accused of rabbiting away excessively – mostly at parties, and generally by my wife. So why a tin of soup? And why in particular Gunpowder Soup? Well I tend to believe that everyone is born perfect. Nobody is born with an inherent capacity to hate. It has to be taught. All of our experiences – family, school, work, the books we read, the newspapers we peruse, the music we listen to, our friends, our social life, the opinions of those around us, religion, sports we play or watch, those we love and those who love us, those we desire and those who desire us, those we travel with, our hopes and dreams and ambitions and achievements, our triumphs and disasters - go into a metaphorical cooking pot that we carry with us throughout our lives. All these ‘ingredients’ make up our Soup of Life. Now, when making a soup, once you’ve added an ingredient, it’s forever blended in and you can’t take it out again. You add a sprinkling of finely chopped garnish; cumin or oregano, and you can never take that ingredient out again. Never, ever, ever. So say at the age of six you add black pepper or rosemary or hatred or love or comedy, from then onwards it’ll always be part and parcel of your ‘soup.’ And as you add more ingredients the ‘recipe’ of your life evolves, and before you know it you can’t taste the coriander or the love any more, but it’s still there at a deep subliminal level. Remember that. Some people may not add hatred until they’re in their twenties, and most of us never add it at all. And you can never entirely erase the flavour of a particular spice in soup. That’s the metaphorical significance of a tin of soup, but since writing ‘Nobody’ it’s becoming abundantly clear that we’re facing greater challenges, and if we’re not very, very careful the country as we know it - these ‘pleasant pastures green’ - are set to implode! What else can I say? I write like a finger up your bum. I’m either a pleasant surprise or I make everything awkward and uncomfortable. I’m strong-willed, a bit outspoken and I write exactly what I’m thinking. I’m not to everyone’s taste, but I have a good sense of humour, a dirty mind and an honest heart. I hope you enjoy
Dogshit Saved My Life
My goal, my life’s ambition if you like, is to give direction to comedy, purpose to satire. And this is probably why I write the way I do, in order to use self-deprecating, piss-taking humour to bring to the fore situations that just don’t stack up. To demonstrate that serious issues can be approached with humour. Embarrassingly, a number of the reviews for my books seem to involve people losing control of their bladder “Anyone who is a bit saucy, very fond of boobies and doesn't mind peeing slightly when they laugh too hard, this is the book for you!” “I have to admit that I wet myself twice while reading it but this may in part have been due to my age and a couple of bottles of a fine St. Emilion,” “Due to the laughter you owe my secretary one clean pair of knickers.” Two reviewers have even suggested I should tour as a stand-up comedian “I found myself laughing out-loud and even sharing segments with my spouse ….. I think Karl could tour as a stand-up comedian,” “Mr Wiggins has views on life that are expressed in a manner worthy of any stand-up comedian.” So my scribblings do seem to raise a smile and a chuckle, and either way you look at it, that has to be a good thing. “I got kicked out of bed TWICE for laughing so hard. This is, by far, one of the funniest books I've yet read” “I have never, ever read a book that caught me so unawares and made me laugh so much. I laughed and laughed so much on the train home that I had to stop reading it. He is capable of making the reader cry with laughter” “There were times when I had to set the Kindle down and just laugh out loud. Some of Mr. Wiggins' thoughts are just hilarious” Hardly any subject is taboo to the Englishman when he’s laughing, and this often seems insensitive to other cultures, but the bedrock of the British sense of humour is a strong sense of sarcasm and self-deprecation. The British can be very passionate – and if you doubt that try going to a football match - but that passion is often hidden deep in our humour so that other nationals fail to not only recognise the deadpan delivery and are never too sure if they’ve been involved in a serious conversation or just a little bit of friendly banter. Having said that my style of writing is now appealing more and more to the American market. This book is not a novel, and if you’re looking for a book that is all sweetness and light, please give this one a miss. It’s not for you. I won’t be offended and I honestly wish you a great life. If everyone likes me, then I’m not being controversial enough. If you’re looking for a humorous book about life, or just some comedy writing then take a chance on this book I’ve been told I write with an “easy-going style and a zest for living that is infectious.” I’m not so sure about that, but I have an opinion on a range of hot issues, although you don’t have to agree with all my views to enjoy the ride. Other comments on my writing style warn that I "talk to the reader with all the confidence of a man in touch with his own reality, in a voice which is seasoned with a hint of world weariness that is so telling of a writer who has written what he knows and written it with disarming fearlessness." And that I guess is true. If a chapter doesn’t suit, just move on. ….. take what you can and leave the rest I can be a handful at times and I know it. I’m strong-willed, a bit outspoken and I write exactly what I’m thinking. It’s not to everyone’s taste, but this is a book you can dip in and out of whenever the mood takes you. I hope you enjoy!
Nobody Asked Me, But ...
Apart from breaking two of my mates' noses (one in the ring and one chasing a 'runner') I used to be known for my stories. And they were all true. I'd come back from distant shores and speak of my adventures. So much so in fact that people used to say, "You should write a book." My diatribes in my blogs and newspaper columns are simply my way of spinning the balls, because sometimes I like to see what number they land on. That’s all. But although I’m known mostly as a raconteur - and most of my books can be described as coming from the humourist vein – in ‘Nobody Asked Me’ I touch on some subjects that are surely going to upset a few people. I’ve never quite understood the politically correct brigade. Hardly any subject is taboo to the Englishman when he’s laughing. No longer simply a fad, blogging is now an important new literary innovation. This book is not a story, and if you’re looking for a book that is all sweetness and light, please give this one a miss. It’s not for you. I won’t be offended and I honestly wish you a great life. If everyone likes me, then I’m not being controversial enough – and trust me when I say that in this book I get controversial. Oh, don’t worry; the humour that my fans seem to enjoy so much is still there, but right now the planet’s spinning in new and scary directions, and this needs to be addressed. So inside the covers of this book I take a look at some of the challenges we’re currently facing. And some of my opinions are going to rattle a few people. So is a comedy writer honestly the best one to challenge some of the perceptions we’re facing nowadays? Well, I’ve always believed that if you can make people laugh then they tend to listen to what you say when you’re serious. And my goal, my life’s ambition if you like, is to give direction to comedy, purpose to satire. So why the rabbit popping out of a tin of soup on the cover. Well ‘Rabbit & Pork’ is Cockney rhyming slang for Talk, and on more than one occasion I’ve been accused of rabbiting away excessively – mostly at parties, and generally by my wife. But why a tin of soup? Well I tend to believe that everyone is born perfect. Nobody is born with an inherent capacity to hate. It has to be taught. All of our experiences – family, school, work, the books we read, the newspapers we peruse, the music we listen to, our friends, our social life, the opinions of those around us, religion, sports we play or watch, those we love and those who love us, those we desire and those who desire us, those we travel with, our hopes and dreams and ambitions and achievements, our triumphs and disasters - go into a metaphorical cooking pot that we carry with us throughout our lives. All these ‘ingredients’ make up our Soup of Life. Now, when making a soup, once you’ve added an ingredient, it’s forever blended in and you can’t take it out again. You add a sprinkling of finely chopped garnish; cumin or oregano, and you can never take that ingredient out again. Never, ever, ever. So say at the age of six you add black pepper or rosemary or hatred or love or comedy, from then onwards it’ll always be part and parcel of your ‘soup.’ And as you add more ingredients the ‘recipe’ of your life evolves, and before you know it you can’t taste the coriander or the love any more, but it’s still there at a deep subliminal level. Remember that. Some people may not add hatred until they’re in their twenties, and most of us never add it at all. And you can never entirely erase the flavour of a particular spice in soup. That’s the metaphorical significance of a rabbit popping out of a soup tin, and trust me when I say that in exploring these issues I’m going to rattle a few cages. I’m strong-willed, a bit outspoken and I write exactly what I’m thinking. I’m not to everyone’s taste, but this is a book you can dip in and out of whenever the mood takes you. I hope you enjoy
Woody, Notes and Heat Sneaking Up Fast
Danny Winter is a student of the human condition, and in this book, he does what he does best; write poems with passion and pizazz. The first dozen or so poems in 'Woody Notes' concern the current pandemic, and Danny has written poems about Coronavirus, COVID-19, the Chinese and the stresses of Lockdown, so this book is as current as it's possible to be What can I tell you about Danny? He has a ferocious spirit and vigour. He has high moods and an instinctive ability to perceive and understand the world around him. He has a fierce sense of loyalty, he’s romantic, quixotic and starry-eyed, all of which is a gift from his Gypsy heritage. These are all talents, of course, which have given Gypsies a lot of survival skills to match their really dark sense of humour. But Danny also brings smiles to everyone he meets, a gift I truly believe comes from a higher source. There is no denying, however, that at times he can be restless, carrying the capacity for vastly darker moods, melancholy energies and occasional bouts of madness. Writers, poets, artists, musicians and circus clowns often suffer from boisterous and raucous dispositions. And it’s true they can get into trouble at times. They wear their moods as their ships of passage, and Danny is no different. He suffers from what Lord Byron would term a “fine madness.” He throws out poems in a sparkle of energy. And he puts everything into the words. They just arrive on paper as though a higher being is working through him. I can’t explain this, but it’s how it happens I’ve known Danny for over 40 years, since we shared a room together at a seaside town in the South coast of England. So my opinion? He’s probably a bit of a mad genius, although he loves the world and everyone in it, and if just one person enjoys this book then Danny will sleep with a smile on his face tonight. Danny is a stargazer who tells fortunes with his poetry, As we publish this book we’re right in the middle of a pandemic, but we’ll get over it. It’s just another crisis. And Danny has written several poems on this subject, some of which are actually very funny. And in the book you’ll also find poems on a variety of subjects; England, football, religion, Alzheimer’s, alcoholism, drug abuse, homelessness, ageing, the love of pets, the military, boxers, kindness and, of course, Gypsies and Travellers. I'm also grateful to Danny for allowing me to contribute a few poems myself We hope you enjoy
Self-Publishing! In the Eye of the Storm!
A MUST BUY for all self-published authors, writers, scribblers, bloggers, song-writers and spin-doctors The moment you click ‘Save and Publish’ you’re no longer on your own. You are now connected to a huge network of hundreds of thousands of fellow writers, and that feels both scary and exciting. By definition writing is a solitary profession. Writers need peace and quiet to gather their thoughts, to research, to dig deep into their subconscious for ideas. Marketers on the other hand need people, and the majority of authors are pretty poor at marketing and have absolutely no interest in it So I’ve put this book together with the assistance of a number of fellow authors who’ve all contributed a piece or two. My objectives with this book are a) to demonstrate to those just about to publish their first book the amount of work they should expect to put in afterwards, b) to perhaps offer direction, to advise on what works and what doesn’t, and, I guess c) to establish for the reader just how hard authors have to graft to promote their work, which is why I’ve included pieces from various authors, who all deserve my recognition and gratitude for demonstrating their often contradictory points of view. What worked for some, bombed when fellow authors tried the same tack, so it’s crucial that I’m true to myself and present the Indie industry in a genuinely transparent form. Thanks to these fellow authors - who’ve contributed a full 28% between them - the reader will find a variety of opposing viewpoints, conflicting assessments and impressions of the industry, and differing outlooks and perspectives. The reader will also discover that a number of authors share identical points of experiences and viewpoints. Special thanks to all contributors, but especially Harpie for baring her soul in sharing excerpts from her wacky, psycho, screwball, demented diaries with us. You’ll be hearing a lot more from Harpie in the future. WARNING: Writers can often be a precious breed of born-again goody-goodies. Me? I never ask anyone to like me. I never pretend to be anything that I’m not. I’m a handful and I know it. I’m strong-willed, a bit outspoken and I write exactly what I’m thinking. If strong language offends or you have an aversion to self-deprecating, piss-taking humour then please DO NOT buy this book, because I use these methods of bringing to light situations that just don't stack up. I truly believe that serious issues can be approached with humour, but I understand not everyone feels the same. So what, or specifically who, is the Storm that the title refers to? I’ll tell you. The Storm refers to a group of people who have no issue whatsoever with an artist hiring out a gallery and displaying his paintings. They don’t mind if a chef opens a new restaurant by inviting local residents to an opening night special, or a beautician promotes her services with the use of posters and referral specials for nails, waxing or sun beds. They don’t even mind a scuba diving club offering come-and-try-it sessions. And they certainly don’t object to a local swing band or orchestra advertising an upcoming concert. They don’t even mind their friends trying out a recently acquired capacity for wine-making on them. BUT, if a hard-working author does similar, if he/she promotes the book they’ve slaved over for the last year, this relentless and insidious enemy of all honest scribblers will have that poor author in their crosshairs in a New York heartbeat. And if you’re the Storm, you’ll recognise yourself here
