Hello and welcome to the third (no, I can’t believe it either!) Mike Gayle newsletter and here is all the Mike Gayle related news I’ve got: 

1. The Life and Soul of the Party is now officially out in paperback (the small kind that fits perfectly in suitcases) so please if you haven’t already got it go out and get it now because even though I say so myself it’s a great read.

You can buy it from the following:

1. Tesco

2. Amazon

3. Play.com

2. For those of you who aren’t on Facebook or Twitter here’s a bit of news for you: I‘ve finally finished book 10! It was initially going to be called The Bachelors but that’s now changed to The Importance of Being a Bachelor (which may or may not end up being the actual title). It’s about three brothers and their various relationship problems and the word from my editor who has only just this second read it is that it’s “completely and utterly unputdownable.” All being well it should be available to buy (April 2010).

3. Those completists of you out there might like to know that I’ve contributed a short story to a book called Paint a Vulgar Picture: Fiction Inspired by the Smiths: Fiction Inspired by the "Smiths." My story is entitled This Charming Man and is about an author who betrays his friends. Other contributors to the anthology include Kate Pullinger, Catherine O’Flynn, Helen Walsh, Mil Millington, Alison MacLeod, Matt Beaumont, Scarlett Thomas and Jeff Noon. 

4. I’m absolutely thrilled that so many of you have enjoyed The To Do List so much and that so many of you have started lists of your own. I keep thinking that I ought to set up some kind of website for To Do Listers to congregate and encourage each other with their own lists but I never seem to be able to find the time. Maybe I ought to add it to a To Do List! 

5. No news on the film front with regard to MLG I’m afraid although recently someone did come sniffing around His ‘n’ Hers, which I think, would be a great one to see on the screen.

6. Talking of His ‘n’ Hers I only recently discovered that the abridged audiobook version was co-read by none other than David Tennant, the UK’s current favourite actor and star of Dr Who! You see? I’ve always been ahead of my time! It’s currently out of print but I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to pick up second-hand copies on eBay if you’re a Tennant fan.

7. As I’ve already mentioned as well as being on Myspace and Facebook (by the way I’m absolutely fine if you want to add me or feel free to join the group “We love Mike Gayle” if you feel so inclined) I'm now also on Twitter. Now, if you were on Twitter too you would be able to discover what I was doing a few Sundays ago at around 11.45 pm (arm wrestling a Rugby playing Tongan) and you’d also be able to see which of the six hats that the nice people at Kangol sent (it’s a long story) looks best on my head. Alternatively you may prefer to watch paint dry.

Myspace: www.myspace/mikegayle

www.twitter.com/mikegayle

Facebook group: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2422702591&ref=ts

8. And finally…now that book 10 is done I’ve got to start thinking about book 11 and for the very first time in my writing career I’m giving some serious thought to writing a sequel! Which book is it going to be? Well before you start guessing let me just say why I’m thinking of doing this:

i) Because pretty soon it will have been ten years since this particular book was published.

ii) Of all my books this one was always felt as though there was a lot of unfinished business between the main characters.

iii) I’ve got a feeling that it will be a lot of fun to write. 

So to put you out of your misery the book I’m thinking about writing a sequel to is (cue drum roll): Turning Thirty.

So that’s pretty much it. Any comments, observations on the Turning Thirty news or anything else in this email please feel free to drop me a line at the usual address mike.gayle@gmail.com

Have a great day

Cheers

Mike Gayle

Author of: My Legendary Girlfriend, Mr. Commitment, Turning Thirty, Dinner for Two, His 'n' Hers, Brand New Friend, Wish You Were Here, The Life & Soul of The Party and The To Do List.