FAQ
When was the book published?
The book was released as a paperback in the UK on 15 August 2011. The ebooks followed that September.
What’s the situation with the ebook?
The Jolly Pilgrim is available as an ebook on the Kindle, from the Apple iBookstore and from Waterstones.
How is the book be available?
The books is available direct from my publisher, from every major online retailer and at all good book shops. Click the orange button at the top right of the screen to be taken to a list of purchase options.
I am in the trade and looking to stock the book
The book is available from both major UK wholesalers (Bertrams and Gardners) or direct from my publisher (speak to Maia Waite on 01386 760 405.)
How long is the book ?
440 pages.
Who is you publisher?
The HotHive, an independent publishing house based in Worcestershire.
Are there be pictures?
Yes. The book has a central section printed on glossy, photo-style pages, containing 15 full-colour photos.
Are there be maps?
Yes. There are four black-and-white, full-page maps.
What have you got to say about religion?
During the adventure, I took it upon myself to read the holy scriptures of Islam, Christianity and Judaism. I also visited several of the world’s most celebrated religious sites.
Given the emotional nature of that subject, some of what I say is bound to offend some people. Nonetheless, I am optimistic that I have something productive to contribute to finding a way forward in this important area of human affairs.
Will there be another book?
If enough people buy this one, of course.
Has anyone else helped you?
From the moment I completed the first draft I was showing the latest material to a group of reviewers who were remarkably generous with their time. In addition, for the first year everything they were looking at was completely out of context. I had access to a limited number of people were willing and able to do that sort of thing. Those people were exceedingly selfless and offered much-needed support during during a complicated and emotionally taxing chapter in my life.
Has anyone else been reading this stuff?
Check out the testimonials section of this website.
Why didn’t you do a proper blog?
It has often been pointed out that if I had properly blogged and advertised the original diary, it would have made the task of turning it into a book easier; and that if I’d sought sponsorship for my pan-continental bicycle ride, the subsequent stages would have been more straightforward.
That’s probably true. It’s also true that, back then, I didn’t understand marketing, or how to harness the power of the internet. Until the final six months of the journey, I even had a strict policy of only adding people to my mail-out list if they independently found out about it and asked.
But that adventure wasn’t a career move. It’s true that I’m a bit of a show-off, but my goal isn’t the cheap thrill of internet fame or adding my voice to the latest fashionable debate. I certainly didn’t go on my pilgrimage in order to write a book.
This is me living my life. There are certain things I choose to do with it. One is to embark on epic odysseys of cosmic exploration in which I ponder the mysteries of reality.
When I got on that bicycle, I’d just reached the end of eight incredible, energising years in London. While still at the height of my physical and intellectual energies, I wanted to test myself against the wild blue yonder in a once-in-a-lifetime, all-in, high-octane, two-year immersion in planet Earth.
I did have that experience. It worked out far better than I’d hoped. Writing a book was a separate thing, in which I take you through that high-octane immersion. Sponsorship may have made the logistics easier, but doing it the way I did means the journey was pure and spontaneous in a way it could never have been had it been designed.
When you read about it, I hope you’ll see that you could never have made something like that up, you couldn’t have planned it, and it is not the sort of thing for which one might gain sponsorship.
