“Hope” and “Lines” Now Available in Paperback!

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Keith Houghton

Something disconcerting happened to me this week (and I don’t mean the usual) …

Quite by chance, I found a Seller retailing print versions of “Killing Hope” on all of the Amazon sites worldwide – and without my permission. Not just one copy, but as many as your bank balance would allow – on a Print-On-Demand basis through Amazon’s CreateSpace in-house publishing service for Indie Authors.

As you can imagine, I was horrified to discover this unauthorized activity.

“Hope” has only ever been available in e-book format for the Kindle. Never in print. So this wasn’t simply a matter of a Seller selling on a used print copy they’d bought. Oh no. To use Amazon’s CreateSpace Print-On-Demand, they would have had to download a digital copy to their Kindle or Kindle App, ripped it to their computer and then uploaded it as a Word Doc to CreateSpace through their own Amazon Seller account. Then, 5-7 days later, it appeared as a paperback version across the globe. No cross-checking to see if it was my account selling it, and no royalties for Mr. Houghton, thank you very much.

This Seller hadn’t sought my permission to retail my work. Their actions were infringing international copyright laws and violating Amazon’s own T&C on Sellers retailing copyright protected material. In other words, their activity was despicable and immoral.

What was even worse was the fact they’d copied-and-pasted the Book Description without keeping the layout – which meant it was all in one messy paragraph across the Book Page. My book image had been copied too, with an inferior dpi version on show. But worst of all was the book’s interior. The Seller had uploaded the ripped Word Doc still in the Kindle format – which happens to be nothing like a print book! The result was a two-inch column of continuous text running down the extreme left of each book page. Urgh! It looked like an amateurish disaster … and it had me as the credited author!

After picking myself up off the floor, I immediately contacted Amazon and underwent the long and arduous process of submitting ‘Copyright Infringement’ forms, one for each of the countries in which Amazon was retailing the unauthorized print book. That meant translating French, Spanish and Italian sites, and then submitting the forms and the required ‘account of why I felt my copyright was being breached’ in each respective language. It was a nightmare and took the best part of a day to complete. Finally, a week later, most of the Amazon marketplaces have either made the book ‘Currently Unavailable’ or removed the offending Page altogether.

To prevent this happening again, I have had no alternative but to upload my own print versions of “Hope” and “Lines” to Amazon using their CreateSpace POD service. This has involved completely reformatting both books and designing book jackets from scratch. It has taken me away from writing Book #3 for a full week – and all because somebody in India (yes, the Seller was located somewhere in the subcontinent) had the gall to rip off my hard work for their own financial gain.

Now I know how all those struggling music artists feel when they have their music ripped by so-called ‘fans’ using internet file-sharing sites!

The good news is, both “Killing Hope” and “Crossing Lines” are now available in print editions from Amazon. Both books are in a 5″ x 8″ paperback format and are retailing at the lowest price possible to allow me to make a very small profit after CreateSpace have taken their princely printing costs.

So … if you’re a major Gabe Quinn junkie and you’d love a pair of big fancy bookends for your mantelpiece, now’s your chance! … because you never know, if I get picked up by a publisher in the future (and their editors are let loose), these First Editions may just become collectables and maybe even worth slightly more than you paid for them!

Killing Hope on Amazon US  |  Crossing Lines on Amazon US

Killing Hope on Amazon UK  |  Crossing Lines on Amazon UK

Thanks for reading! … and should you ever come across any of my books being sold en masse without being linked directly to my Seller Account … CALL ME!!!

All Best Until Next Time!

Keith :-)

 

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Your Name as a Character in Gabe Quinn #3 …

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Keith Houghton

Coming up with character names can be a little tricky. Sometimes it can stop me in my writing tracks, while I debate the pros and cons of certain name combinations. Several factors must be entered into the equation before I settle on one:

Does the name feel right for the part?
Does the name have gravitas?
Is the surname indigenous to the location?
Does the first name reflect their character?
Does it flow off the tongue?

I may not always get it right, but a lot of thought goes into even this small detail.

And this is where you can help.

Gabe Quinn #3 will be out in 2013. It’s my plan to use one of my subscriber’s real names as a character in the next instalment. Of course, the fictional character won’t bear any resemblance to the real one! They could be a goodie, a baddie or someone who just gets in Quinn’s way. Would you like to take part?

One lucky (or unlucky) name will be drawn at random from my list of subscribers. All you need to do is let me know if you want to opt out of the draw – by sending me a quick email to contact@keithhoughton.com with the word ‘no‘ in the subject line – otherwise your name will be entered automatically. The winner will be notified by email sometime in the New Year and then, if they’re good to go, I’ll be using their name in the next Gabe Quinn Thriller, with a thank you in the book’s Acknowledgements.

In the meantime, don’t forget to pick up “Crossing Lines” – the second Gabe Quinn instalment, if you haven’t already done so.

All the Best to you and yours for the Holiday Season!

Keith =)

 

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“Crossing Lines” the NEW Gabe Quinn Thriller OUT NOW!

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Keith Houghton

It’s here!

I am pleased to announce that “Crossing Lines” – the long-awaited Gabe Quinn Thriller #2 – is now available to download on Kindle and Kindle Apps for smart phones and tablets:

From Amazon.com – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AAMO9UU

From Amazon.co.uk – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AAMO9UU

Once read, I’d be grateful for your feedback (both good and bad) so that I can work towards improving Gabe Quinn Thriller #3.

Email your thoughts to contact@keithhoughton.com

In the meantime, Thanks for all your support and Happy Reading !!!!

 

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“Crossing Lines” – Gabe Quinn Thriller #2 – The Lowdown

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Keith Houghton

It’s been a long, hard slog penning the sequel to ‘Killing Hope’ – after the first book burst onto the scene back in January – but I’m happy to report that the toil is almost over. The new book – “Crossing Lines” – is in its final stages (in other words, I’m close to finishing the first draft) and, all being well, it should be available on Kindle in the next month or two, depending on a million variables, including writer’s cramp!

“Crossing Lines” – Q & A

‘Killing Hope’ opened with a homicide investigation already in full flow, effectively throwing us in at the deep end. What’s the score this time round?

“Crossing Lines” continues Gabe’s story in the aftermath of the first book, following his tumultuous life in the wake of the devastating events played out at the close of ‘Killing Hope’. As with the first book, it opens with a bizarre murder and poses questions right from the start.

‘Killing Hope’ was based a year after the murder of Gabe’s wife. Emotionally, he was still raw and it showed. When is the sequel set?

“Crossing Lines” catches up with the dogged detective seven months later. In the interim, Gabe has shored up his emotional defenses and removed himself from the fray. In many ways he’s patched up his old wounds and is physically in better shape than he has been for years. Mentally, however, he’s battened down the hatches while he continues his personal crusade to catch or kill the two serial killers responsible for wrecking his life: The Maestro and The Undertaker.

‘Killing Hope’ was divided between California and Nevada. Where is this one set?

“Crossing Lines” features two main locations: Florida and California, and is split equally between the two. As with the first book, there are lots of juicy locations, described in Technicolor detail.

‘Killing Hope’ had a plethora of characters. Will we see the return of some old favorites?

“Crossing Lines” has a solid crew, containing some old faces and some new. The book introduces two new major characters, backed by a strong supporting cast, which help flesh out Gabe’s reality.

‘Killing Hope’ focused in the main on the pursuit of the psychic serial killer known as The Undertaker. Who is the main baddie in the new book?

“Crossing Lines” sees Gabe cast into the lion’s den as he does battle with his nemesis, The Maestro. It promises to be the showdown of all time.

‘Killing Hope’ was as much an emotional roller-coaster ride as it was a zigzagging hunt for a killer. Is the sequel set up the same way?

“Crossing Lines” contains just as many twists and turns as the original. To some extent (given that Gabe has learned to bottle his emotions better), it is more action-driven than emotionally-led. This gives the sequel another dimension and makes for an edge-of-the-seat thrill ride that is, in some ways, an improvement on the original.

As the author, how do you feel about penning Gabe Quinn part two?

All things considered, I’m happy with the way in which “Crossing Lines” has shaped up. At first it was a struggle, getting to grips with Gabe anew, but now that I’ve given him a new lease of life, I feel it’s turned out better than expected. The sequel is an altogether different read than the first, but just as punchy and just as ‘page-turnable’. It gave me the chance to explore certain settings and to see what would happen if I pushed characters to cross lines – hence the title. Do I think it’s better than ‘Killing Hope’? Well, that’s like asking a father who of his two children he loves the most!

Watch out for “Crossing Lines” coming to a Kindle near you soon!

 

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Introducing – Author Interviews

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Keith Houghton

Some time ago, I set about adding Author Interviews to the keithhoughton.com website – partly to give new and emerging Indie Authors a voice for their fans, but mostly to introduce them to you, my own readership.

Although there are just a handful at the moment, I’m hoping that the number of participating authors will contrinue to grow over the coming months and years, as new voices enter the stage.

In the meantime, please check out their interviews when you have a moment. You never know, you may learn something interesting about one of your favourite Indie Authors.

You can read all the interviews here >>>

If you know of any aspiring authors who would like to participate, please ask them to drop me a line to contact@keithhoughton.com

Thanks … and happy reading!

 

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An Englishman in Cebu

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Keith Houghton

On returning from a typhoon trip to the Philippines to visit family I am struck with the deafening realisation that England has become deathly quiet in my absence. The streets are empty, the pavements spacious and the verges clutter-free. A warm sun shines happily from a perfect Spring sky. There could be a zombie uprising round the corner, but I’m too jetlagged to go take a look. This is not the England I left behind just a few weeks ago. That England was hectic, with traffic-crammed roads and a pace of life so fast it made Usain Bolt look pedestrian.

Where are all the jostling jeepneys, the manic motorbikes and the hoots of horns? Where are the mango trees, the crispy dogs and all the smiling people?

Blink twice and take a deep breath. This is not the Philippines. Jetlag plays havoc with the senses. My consciousness is stretched around half the planet while my circadian system is wondering why I’m eating an evening meal at two in the morning. The only thing worse about travelling 7000 miles one-way, crossing 19 countries and passing through 8 time zones is the wearying flights. I am not one of those people who can cheerfully sleep on board a plane, curled like a baby around the armrest, with those fashionable eye masks and matching flight socks making me look like a Halloween reject. 48 hours without sleep is still a bad movie.

Blink. Blink again. And breathe.

Two weeks back, heading for Cebu at the heart of the Philippines, I didn’t know what to expect. In fact, I make a point of not expecting – that way I am rarely disappointed. Until my daughter had moved out there a year ago with my twin granddaughters, the Philippines had never really factored in my everyday life. I knew where it was – out in Asia on the Ring of Fire, teetering on the Pacific rim. Knew there were over 100 million Filipinos and Filipinas in a country whose dominant religion was Catholic. Knew that English was widely spoken and that I had to grin and bear umpteen vaccinations before being given the green light to go.

What I didn’t know was how much I didn’t know.

The cultural diversity smacked me in the face like a custard pie. From the moment we touched down at Mactan airport to the second we took off on a bustling ride through the busy Mandaue streets and on into heaving Cebu City. No hiding it. No trying to. Five-star hotels sitting shoulder to shoulder with shanty dwellings. Americanised shopping malls with more eateries than you could shake a French stick at, while homeless children begged for food outside. Flash sports cars being overtaken by rusty pedal cabs.

But after a few hours, the eye-battering, brain-numbing culture shock begins to ebb. You start getting used to the jumble of clashing styles. The westernised veil is drawn back. You start to see a societal structure supporting the shambolic surface. One that seems utterly alien, but somehow works.

For many, life here is without frills and even tough compared to my English homeland. But people seem happier here than back home. There is a stronger sense of community; something we have lost in the West in favour of wealth and status. This is how we used to live, before technology and Thatcherism blinkered us. Filipino families support each other. They invest their energies into their neighbourhoods. Strangers are generous with their smiles. They are genuinely happy to help. Suddenly, these pleasant people make my fellow Englishmen seem barbaric, shallow. People cook on the roadside, but it’s okay. Punters push Ray Ban fakes at the traffic lights, but it’s okay. There are block after block of street vendors feeding workers and commuters from corrugated iron facades, all across this crowded city, but it’s okay. Overflowing and garish tricabs transport locals, while air-conditioned taxis ferry tourists in fragranced cocoons, but it’s okay. It’s a mishmash of a place where the West crashes headlong into the East, and it’s all okay – from the toothless guys comparing cockerels outside McDonalds to the swanky Ford dealership rising amidst tin-roofed shacks, the Philippines is a reminder of how we used to be before everything went wrong, and what price we are still paying for our precious progress.

All at once, little Britain seems spacious, tidy. A big country on a small island, with structure and organisation. Where freedom is a liberty financially gifted by the State and poverty means having last year’s flat screen TV. But something is missing. Something we may never have again. It’s all very quiet. Too quiet. I think I can sense that zombie uprising just around the corner …

 

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How The Fonz and my Granddaughters Saved the Planet

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Keith Houghton

“By the time I realised my father was right, I had a son telling me I was wrong.”
Henry Winkler

Every generation thinks it knows better than the last.
We thought it ourselves.
And live to hear it echoed by our kids.

It’s an enduring perception; thinking we know better than those who raised us.
Hardwired into the brain from birth and a thousand ancestors who never got to make it to a ripe old age.

It’s not their fault.

Just like our parents before us, we can blame the decline in society, bad parenting and even the TV. But when every negative influence is stripped away, all that is left is their primeval programming.

Inherited from us.

When I was young, I knew The Fonz as the happy-go-lucky rebel in the TV show Happy Days. Week in week out, the leather-jacketed Fonzie found every cool way he could to buck the system and show those old fuddy-duddy grown-ups that youth was king. In many ways, The Fonz was the voice of a generation. A social hero. The epitome of the youth-knows-best attitude – characterised throughout the ages by one incarnation of The Fonz or another.

Every generation has its own Fonzie voice. But essentially they all speak the same words. They all know best and they all want to reach the winning line first, knowing that those who have already passed it are indeed past it.

Despite their recklessness, they believe in the future. Their future. Very likely not the future we had in mind. But they know best. The future is theirs, remember. Not ours.

It’s frightening, letting go.

But there is hope.

I have seen it sparkling in the inquisitive eyes of my granddaughters.

Today, The Fonz – otherwise known as Henry Winkler – is a founding member of The Children’s Action Network and a voice for children with learning disabilities, especially those with dyslexia. Henry is dyslexic. So, too, was The Fonz. But it stopped neither from believing they could make a difference. Henry works with kids because he knows they are our future. To paraphrase Linda Creed’s timeless words, he believes that if we teach them well they will lead the way.

I can’t help admiring the man. The Fonz has come of age.

Now that my own children have reached the point where they know best, it’s tempting to think that the arrogance of youth will bring about the end of the world. That all those indomitable Fonzies will scupper society and plunge us back into the Dark Ages.

But then I have to remember that I am victim of the age-old dichotomy between adult mind and child brain. That my parents thought exactly the same way at my age. And that the only thing lost is our own youth.

The Fonz and my granddaughters have shown me the way.

Of course our kids will make mistakes. We did. Of course they’ll damage the planet. We did. But hopefully they’ll learn from their lessons and become better Human Beings, who will pass on their own words of wisdom to their kids and so on and so forth, generation after generation, just like we did.

Ironically, they too will go unheard.

In my book ‘Killing Hope’ the future seems lost with the death of a child. And indeed it is. For children are our future. In every sense. They are the candles lighting the way into tomorrow. Just like Mr Winkler, we should protect those flames and nurture them into blazing fires.

So next time I draw a big sigh when my son or daughter corrects me, or points out ‘that’s not how it is these days’ I’ll make a point of picturing a grown-up Fonzie, surrounded by happy children, with his big thumbs turned skywards and that crazy confident ‘trust me, I know what I’m doing’ grin creasing his joyful face.

I trust the Fonzies and my granddaughters to do a good job.
To become responsible custodians of the planet.
Their future is ours.

You never know, they may do a better job of it than us!

“Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be.”
Linda Creed

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Master Of All Matter

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Keith Houghton

‘Master Of All Matter’ is a spec script for the BBC TV show ‘Doctor Who’

TV Spec Script | 52 Scenes | 1 Hour Running Time:  | English

Outline:

The Doctor returns to Gallifrey during its final moments before being vaporised at the end of the Time War – where he must answer to his apparent crimes against the Time Lords by a reincarnated Rassilon – the legendary founder of the Time Lord society.

Unbeknownst to The Doctor, Rassilon is actually his arch enemy, The Master, regenerated in an exact simulacrum of The Doctor’s own body.

Tricking The Doctor into submission, The Master steals the TARDIS, and with it access to the all-powerful Eye of Harmony, giving him control over Space and Time.

Returning to the eve of the Dalek creation on Skaro, The Master intends to steal a genetic code that will enslave every Dalek throughout the aeons.

With the help of a Dalek scientist and a makeshift Tardis, The Doctor faces a race against Time and Space to stop The Master gaining control over the Daleks and becoming the one and only true Master of all Matter ….

Setting: The Present, Future and Past (The TARDIS, Gallifrey and Skaro)

Please email for more information about ‘Master Of All Matter’ or to request TV Optioning Rights … contact@keithhoughton.com with the subject DrWho.

Copyright Note:
The Characters of Dr Who, The Master and Rassilon, together with all Dr Who references such as the Tardis and Gallifrey,
were created for and are copyright of the BBC and its respective creative partners.
Master Of All Matter is purely a non-commercial speculative script for demonstration purposes and in no way intends any breach of said copyrights whatsoever.

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Learn To Be Still

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Keith Houghton

Film Drama Script | 3 Acts | 2 Hours Running Time | English

‘After a life-changing accident, a hard-sell city exec learns his lessons from the other side of the tracks …’
Outline:

In the high-pressure world of stocks and shares, Daniel Hennessey is on a deadline. Working as Operations Manager for one of New York City’s biggest construction companies is demanding – both in the workplace and at home. Nothing can stand in the way of increasing company profit … not even people.

Sold to the notion of corporate America and loving every minute of the high-power prestige, Daniel is willing to trade everything he owns in order to win his coveted promotion to co-Director – even if that means sacrificing his marriage along the way.

It’s full steam ahead for the no-nonsense exec … until one fateful evening when he is involved in a hit-and-run accident, changing his life in a heartbeat.

Now, dropped from the top of the food chain, and faced with an uncertain future, Daniel must deal with the reality of his predicament in a world governed by greed, selfishness and ridicule – a world where once he was king – if he ever hopes to survive …

Setting: New York City and State

Please email for more information about Learn To Be Still or to request Movie Optioning Rights … contact@keithhoughton.com with the subject LTBS.

 

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Spare Ribs

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Keith Houghton

Genre: Comedy Stage Play | Acts: 2 | Scenes: 4 | Running Time: 2 Hours | Language: US English

Outline:

Much to God’s despair, He has produced what he believed to be his ultimate creation: Man, only to find that the joys of parenting aren’t quite joyous. Had He known beforehand He would definitely have stuck with the chimps … instead of landing himself with a prime chump called Adam …

On call 24 hours a day to Adam’s demands, God has all but lost patience with the complaining Human and is beginning to wonder if He should start again from scratch, concentrating on the sloth instead.

Or He could give in to the Human’s demands and conjure up a life partner for the infernal complainer. At least that might get Adam off His back.

Surely nothing could go wrong with that?

Praise for the hit stage comedy of the year …

‘Spare Ribs is a gem of a comedy; snappy, clever and stylish – very much in the vein of Neil Simon …’


‘You asked for my honest opinion you will get it … You should have charged more! All very accomplished actors and very professional. So did I enjoy the show? Well the proof of the pudding is in the eating, not only am I not asking for my money back, I’ll even book my tickets now for the next show!’

Speak Freely

Please email for more information about Spare Ribs or to request Performance Rights … contact@keithhoughton.com with the subject Spare Ribs.

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