Tag Archives: Autobiography

Stairs For Breakfast is on Amazon!

Five years ago I was still working in my IT corporate job and was just getting into property. The idea of writing a book hasn’t occurred to me yet.

The 400 pre-ordered books were sent out over a week ago. Thank you for all the 5 star reviews on Amazon and Facebook comments. I feel very proud.

I’ve made a new video and updated the front page of my website.

Thank you Jayne Owen for reviewing Stairs For Breakfast and making it Book Of The Month on Property Tribes.

I feel my Cerebral Palsy is a gift for me to make a difference in the world and I knew writing Stairs For Breakfast was a good idea. I wrote the book to help and inspire people – and it’s the best thing I’ve done so far in life.

Thank you to my flatmate John and his daughter Lucy (who’s very bright and diligent for her age) helping me send out the pre-orders. Here’s John with sacks and boxes of books.

flatmate john

I have a few copies left over from my print-run and you can buy the book for £15 here http://stairsforbreakfast.com/buy-now

Thank you to all of the people who have helped and inspired me over the last five years. Inspiration works both ways.

I’m looking forward to Glenn Armstrong’s Mastermind day this Saturday for guidance with my marketing plan.

Stairs For Breakfast is now at the printers

I’m delighted to say that Stairs For Breakfast is now fully published.

CPI Books are printing the pre-orders, which will take 2 to 3 weeks. When I receive the books I will send yours to you. I think CPI might stand for Cerebral Palsy Interactive!

Thank you to everyone who has helped me have my book published; from people who have pre-ordered to the guys at CPI (including Stephanie Hale and Roy Stannard).

I will be printing the address labels next week. Hence, until then, you can still pre-order copies of the book HERE for the discounted price of £15.

I’m very pleased and proud of Stairs For Breakfast. It’s going to help me inspire people and make a difference in the world.

Stairs For Breakfast is now technically published

Yes, Stairs For Breakfast has been published! I’ve ordered a proof copy of the book and will approve its publication once I’ve physically checked it over. It’s an exciting time!

I started writing Stairs For Breakfast two years ago – and have spent the last six months going through the editing and publishing processes. All in all it has been a lot of work – and well worth it! The 400 pre-orders have covered all of the publishing costs. Thank you to all of you who have pre-ordered and for helping me to have the book published. Your books will be printed in the next few weeks and I’ll send them to you as soon as they arrive.

Thank you for all of your help Stephanie Hale, you are a joy to work with.

This version of the cover needs a couple of corrections – including the term ‘life-limiting condition’, which Cerebral Palsy isn’t.

Stairs For Breakfast book cover

If you haven’t already, NOW is a great time to order YOUR copy of Stairs For Breakfast because the book price will be increased soon.

The publishing process

The final draft of my manuscript has been sent to the typesetter and I should receive the typeset (book page) version of Stairs For Breakfast by the end of this week.

Barring any changes to it (eg photos, font size, book cover), it will be uploaded onto Lulu.com for the book to be published. Once Stairs For Breakfast has been published, it will be for sale on Lulu (and after a few weeks, it will be on Amazon.com and co.uk – as well as some other websites)

Also once published, I’ll receive a galley proof of the book – and an ISBN – which will enable me to have copies of the book printed. I’ve contacted 2 book printers, however until I get the typeset version of my book I won’t know how many pages will be in the book! At which point I’ll be able to an accurate quote – and your pre-ordered books will be printed.

I’ve got an idea as to the postage and packing costs – but again, it depends on the number of pages in the book!

I’ve worked so hard to get to this point – and now am excited because Stairs For Breakfast should be out in February. I’ve raised £6,2K (so far).

There is still time to pre-order Stairs For Breakfast. I’m currently selling it at £15 (including P&P). Once the book is published the price will be increased.

I’ve updated my THANK YOU page. It humbles me to have sold close to 400 pre-orders. Thank you also to the handful of people who have invested in me, by giving me a small amount of crowdfunding money.

I would also like to thank my libel lawyer Alex Wade for his advice – and for giving me a big discount on his initial quote. He says he has never read a book like Stairs For Breakfast and would like to help me on my way to success.

Thank you to Stephanie Hale, who, like Alex, is easy and a joy to work with.

I’ll keep you posted on the publication of Stairs For Breakfast.

Another quick Stairs For Breakfast update

On Tuesday afternoon I emailed the manuscript back to Stephanie Hale and my liable lawyer. It took me 3 solid weeks to read through the book and make the required changes. I also wrote a closing chapter to the book which I’m really pleased with.

I think the process now is, the changes I’ve made need to be reviewed by the editor, before the book is published and printed.

I would like to get Stairs For Breakfast out ASAP – hopefully by the end of January. I’ll keep you posted.

Stairs For Breakfast news

As you may have noticed it’s been a few days since my last blog update!

I’ll hopefully get the manuscript back from Alex (libel lawyer) at the end of this week. I’ll then be able to read through it.

Last week I did Glenn Armstrong’s course in Milton Keynes. Needless to say it was good. I met Stephanie Hale (who did the course as well), who’s a nice lady. I also did the course to create a 12 month plan – which is good.

Ever since I got into property investment 4 years ago, I’ve wanted to find a recursive strategy of making a passive income, which suits me. I spent the first 1.5 years viewing a load of properties, trying to find a strategy that I liked – during which time I bought 2 flats.

Then Glenn came to my aid. After doing his courses in 2012 he asked me “Why are you trying to do property when you don’t enjoy it?” It’s true, I like property as a way of making passive income but I don’t enjoy viewing properties, dealing with tenants or maintenance issues!

By that point, I had already started to learn internet marketing, before writing my book.

The other reason why I’ve taken a break from blogging/emailing my list every day is because I’m not increasing my list. I was just emailing the same people, asking them to pre-order my book. Consequently the number of daily book orders I was receiving ground to a halt last week.

I still got some internet marketing learning to do on how to build a list. I am looking a lead-generating system and also at what Andrew Reynolds does.

However my primary focus at the mo is on getting enough pre-orders to publish my book.

I feel in an odd situation at the mo because, until I get the manuscript back from Alex, I’m not certain how much his bill is going to be. Also I won’t know for sure how much the printing cost for the pre-ordered books will be until the final draft is done.

Currently I have 374 pre-orders and estimate that I going to need at least 500 to cover all of the costs. You can pre-order Stairs For Breakfast at http://stairsforbreakfast.com/buy-now

People are telling me that I’m going to become well known. I would like to make a difference in the world.

Do you remember the first word(s) you ever said?

Current number of pre-orders: 367
Required pre-orders to have Stairs For Breakfast published: 493

Here’s another extract from my book:

When I was about four, I had a small fish tank and a goldfish in my bedroom. The rectangular tank was on a shelf at the head of my bed. I used to watch the fish when I went to bed. One night, while I was feeling warm and cosy under my duvet, I suddenly felt sorry for my goldfish; there I was in my warm bed and there the fish was in cold water. I though ‘It must be cold.’ So I put my hand in the tank and scooped out the fish – and laid the fish on the right side of my pillow, and pulled up my duvet over it to keep the fish warm! I remember the fish flapping around for a bit before it went to sleep. When I woke up in the morning I learned a lesson about fish!
goldfish
My family knew I was intelligent before I started to speak at the age of four. One of the very first words I said was “Fire!”
Dad had a cream coloured three door Range Rover. Weirdly it had two fuel tanks – a petrol one and a diesel one. There was a switch down by the gear sticks to determine which fuel you wanted to use, before starting the engine.
One day, while my grandparents were staying and were at home with Clare, I was out with my parents and we were on our way home in the Range Rover (dad was driving, mum was in the passenger seat and I was sitting in the middle of the back seat. Playing on the radio was “Fire” by The Pointer Sisters. All of a sudden and in time with the song I said “Fire”. My parents were very surprised and pleased with me.
From that point on I started to talk regularly.

Please help me to get Stairs For Breakfast published by pre-ordering the book. You can buy it here

Buy Now Button

Http://stairsforbreakfast.com/buy-now

Exciting news – book publishing update

Patrick in bath

On Friday I spoke to my libel lawyer Alex Wade (and emailed him my edited manuscript). Alex said it should take one day’s work for him to read my 97,000 word book – andto write a report of recommended changes. However it could take ~Alex a day and half, depending on how many potential issues he finds.

When I first spoke to Stephanie Hale I mentioned that I wanted to get my book checked over by libel lawyer. She advised me that it may not be necessary (as she knows some libel law) and to let her read (and edit) my book first.

I find it comforting that Stephanie has come back with the edited manuscript and advised for it to be checked by a libel lawyer. It’s something I’m not willing to take any chances with.

I’m expecting to receive Alex’s report next week (week commencing 8th Dec). Stephanie/I will then implement Alexs’ recommendations.

Stephanie is optimistic that Stairs For Breakfast will be published by Christmas – and I’ll do my best to do so. However my book is something I’ve worked hard to write and I’m not going to take any unnecessary shortcuts with it – just to get my book out by Christmas.

I’ve mentioned to Stephanie that I would like to get Stairs For Breakfast published by the end of January at the latest.

My initial 267 target of pre-orders been surpassed but it didn’t include the cost of a libel lawyer. To have Stairs For Breakfast published I now need to reach a total of 493 pre-orders. I’m currently up to 364.

Thank you to all of you who have already pre-ordered my book. Without your support I wouldn’t be in the position of soon publishing an amazing book. Please share my website http://stairsforbreakfast.com with your friends and family.

Thank you also to my sister and my dad for sending me some childhood photos. In the above photo I’m aged about 4.

Please can you help me to get Stairs For Breakfast published by pre-ordering one or more copies of the book http://stairsforbreakfast.com/buy-now

Thank you very much.

Do you know which type of person you are?

Over the last 4 years I’ve leant so much about people and human behaviour. When I discovered this profiling technique it was a real eye-opener because it’s so simple and really beneficial to know.

It’s known as the VAKAD technique and has four profile types:

– Visual – visual people
– Auditory – sounds people
– Kinaesthetic – people persons
– Auditory Digital – analytical people

VAKAD types

The way to spot what profile(s) a person possess is by listening to the words and types of phrases they say (and write). The following table contains some common words and phrases.

Visual Auditory Kinaesthetic Auditory Digital
That looks great…

 My view is…

 I see what you’re saying…

 Picture the situation…

 Watch this…

 I like the look of it.

 My vision is…

 I like the sight of that.

 Show me…

That sounds great…Listen, …I hear what you’re saying.I heard that…

It rings a bell

It’s good to hear from you.

I’m listening…

I’m all ears.

That feels great…I feel…My instinct is…It’s comforting that you care about me.

I am very touched

I feel safe with you.

I’m a hands-on person.

I felt emotional…

How do you feel about…

That works well…I think…I understand what you’re saying…It makes sense…

It’s logical

Figure this out…

Prove it

It stacks up…

I can process it.

I’ll put it on the list…

My plan is…

 

You can pre-order Stairs For Breakfast HERE and NOW

  • It’s important to visual people how they appear and what clothes they wear.
  • Kinaesthetic people like human contact (eg hugs) and helping people. They are emotional people, who tend to become teary at the end of a romantic-comedy film.
  • Auditory Digital people tend to be geeky and they don’t have the best people-skills. They are process-driven people who tend not to be very emotional. Auditory Digital people are the opposite of Kinaesthetics.
  • Auditory Digital people are dominant people. However the other three profiles can also be dominant people.
  • A person might possess traits from all four profiles – but they will predominantly fall into one or two of the profiles.

You might be wondering what the point is of profiling people like this. Why is it important and useful?

Well, two people of the same profile (Visual, Auditory, Kinaesthetic) will get on well with each other. Apart from Auditory Digital (AD) people. Two ADs will clash – because two dominant people do not get on well with each other.

It is fairly rare for someone to be both a Kinaesthetic and an Auditory Digital person (because they are opposed profiles). However I am someone who’s both a Kinaesthetic and an AD person (albeit much more of a Kinaesthetic person).

Have you pre-ordered your copy of Stairs For Breakfast yet? You can do it HERE