My Debut Novel - In A Mouse's Night

Buy the Ebook 'In A Mouse's Night'
It 's been a while in the making but now my first book will be released this Friday, the 13th of November on Amazon. The eBook is already out there but I thought it would be a good idea to tie in the release of the paper back with a traditionally disruptive, unlucky and mysterious day and number. This is an unusual and unique story as Ben ventures into a different world with his father Theo. They are in search of food for the family. The rest of the article will give you a tiny insight into this intriguing story and hopefully draw you into a tale you just won't want to miss. One night. One family. One desperate fight to survive. When the sun goes down and the humans retreat to their beds, another world comes alive beneath their feet. For Ben and his family, tonight should have been just another night. Hungry and in search of food, Ben and his father Theo venture into the mysterious hidden spaces of a suburban home. But what begins as a routine expedition soon turns into a terrifying struggle for survival. Separated from his family and trapped inside a secret cage, Theo discovers that he is not alone. Other mice have been held captive by a mysterious and disturbed young man, and escape seems

almost impossible. Meanwhile Ben is determined to find his father and bring him home.

As the night unfolds, Ben and his family face danger at every turn. Cats stalk the shadows, a formidable rat lurks nearby, and even humans become a deadly threat. With the help of some unexpected friends, the mice must summon every ounce of courage, ingenuity and determination they possess.

But time is running out.

Can Ben rescue his father and reunite his family before the night is over?

Enter a hidden world where courage knows no size, danger lurks around every corner, and one

extraordinary night will change everything.

Buy 'In A Mouse's Night'

 

Taken from the new album coming soon

  

Run On This Land began life as a simple piano riff and eventually became the opening instrumental on my album *Still Life*. At the time, I’d written the melody, chords and lyrics for a full song, but the band I was in split up before it could be recorded properly. With no singer available — and trust me, you really don’t want to hear my dulcet tones — it became an instrumental instead, complete with a guitar solo that was my not-so-successful attempt to channel my inner David Gilmour.

Fast forward to now, and I’ve revisited the track, rewriting and (hopefully) improving both the melody and the lyrics, and finally bringing the song to life in the way I originally imagined.

On a more serious note, Run On This Land has always been about what we’re doing to our planet. Climate change, greed, and short-term thinking are pushing us towards the brink. We’re watching our own Eden burn — rainforests torn down, oceans and air polluted, and mass extinction wiping out the incredible wildlife we share this world with. If we don’t change our ways, there will be no planet left to run on.

So… who’s the singer? She’s AI-generated.
As a songwriter who doesn’t sing, getting songs across exactly as I hear them in my head has always been a challenge — especially without a top-class producer or the budget of a Taylor Swift recording session (or any budget at all, really). AI is here to stay, and used creatively, it’s an incredible production tool. It doesn’t replace ideas or emotion — you still need the song writing — but it allows songs like this to exist.

That’s it for now. You can buy the track here, or just press play and hopefully enjoy it.
The new album will be ready in March... 

New Album - The River of Change - available now on Bandcamp

It's been a while, but here goes...This collection of songs has been reimagined, remixed and remastered from recordings that go back… well, let’s just say some of them have seen things. A few were written over 20 years ago, back when I still thought I’d definitely remember every setting on every piece of gear forever. (Spoiler: I didn't.)

I’m genuinely proud of how these tracks have come out in their new forms. They’ve had fresh life breathed into them, a bit of polish, and in some cases a complete rethink. Hopefully you’ll hear something familiar, something new, and maybe even something that makes you go, “Huh, didn’t expect that.”

Feel free to share these songs with friends, strangers, colleagues, sworn enemies, or that one person who insists they have “eclectic taste” but still only listens to the same five albums. Every listen counts, and I appreciate them all.

Thanks for sticking with me. I know it’s been a while — but good news: new music is happening, and a brand new track will be out before too long. Promise.

Hope you enjoy the revamped versions.

Chris.

Stream or Download 'The River of Change' Here

credits

released October 28, 2025

Isolation Day 10 - Diary 5

Well I had a day off yesterday from blogging, probably as I'm running out of things to say about my Covid issues, thankfully I appear to have gotten off lightly. As far as symptoms go I do feel a bit weaker but getting stronger every day and unfortunately the taste and smell senses are still non-existent.

I see Greater Manchester and Lancashire has missed the highest level of restrictions but I feel very sorry for those in Liverpool and the surrounding districts. I live within a mile of the Merseyside border and those businesses that are on the wrong side are going to suffer terribly having to close for at least 4 weeks. I don't think the level of support announced is anywhere close to being adequate, but if we're heading for a national lockdown or a "circuit break" then surely it should have been done 3 weeks ago when the scientists first recommended it.

Personally I think we will need to learn to live with the virus until a vaccine comes along, socially distanced of course, hand-washing and mask wearing but that can't happen until track and trace comes up to speed. To be honest track and trace have called almost everyday and my experience has been positive. In fact I've just had a call to tell me I'm out of isolation tomorrow having done 10 days since my first symptoms. It'll be good to get out and about again. Yippee!!

We are still participating in the Office for National Statistics survey which means another Covid test for all of us today. They did ring me to say one of my tests was positive but it was the same day as my NHS test so I already knew and they've asked me to give blood as part of the antibody testing which I've agreed to, hopefully it may help someone.

Fingers crossed our level of football (North West Counties) is on this weekend as Ashton Athletic are away to Liversedge (Yorkshire) in the FA Vase but who knows what will happen in the days to come.

I'm not sure there'll be much more from me on this subject as thankfully I appear to have come out the other side. Thanks again for all the well wishes and support it really mean a lot. Look after yourselves and your families.

Keep Safe and Support the NHS x

Photo by Ian Stauffer on Unsplash

Isolation Day 8 - Diary 4

Thanks again for the positive comments, I'll try and keep this going for a bit longer, gives me something to do at least.

Lets get the important stuff out of the way first. Last night (Sunday I think) I decided to check out my taste and smell senses via the medium of alcohol. Obviously 1 bottle of beer wouldn't yield enough data so I went for 7 or 8 and a glass of white wine but with the same result, I tasted f**k all. I did have a bit of a buzz on though so you still get pissed but just don't enjoy it the same. My sister in law reckons she had coronavirus back in March before proper testing and was quite ill for a week and reckons her taste and smell haven't come back properly yet. My son Josh thinks he had it around the same time and he is now ok so I'm hoping for the same.

This virus seems to be affecting people in very different ways, some don't even know they have it and some have actually lost their lives, others just get flu like symptoms which is the category I fall into, so far. In fact all I have today after 8 days is a bit of a muzzy head but you can probably guess why that is. Talking about symptoms I'll go through mine just so you know. I started with a bit of a temperature but wasn't burning up, my resting heart rate was up a bit, it's normally around 60 beats per minute but was in the mid 80's for a couple of days, nothing bad. My legs were aching down the backs for a few days and I developed a slight cough and runny nose but didn't feel breathless. I found deep breathing fresh air beneficial, there's a breathing technique on YouTube by a doctor from Queens in London that I did a few times and that seemed to help. If you search "Coronavirus breathing technique" it should come up first. Anyway I hope none of you will ever need it.

I have an old school friend who is extremely intelligent, well I have a couple actually, I won't name them as I don't want to embarrass them. They make me think of Tyrion Lannister from Game Of Thrones with the quote "I Drink And I Know Things" well this one doesn't drink but he knows a lot of stuff. He private messaged me with a list that may help with fighting Covid and I thought I'd share:

Zinc (good source pumpkin seeds), 

Selenium (good source is Brazil nuts), 

Vitamin D (high dose supplements),

Vitamin C (if you have viral symptoms take 1-2g 3 to 4 times per day)

Like I say hopefully you won't need them and we can get shut of this dammed virus sooner rather than later.

Track and Trace were on the phone again yesterday asking about contacts, thankfully because of isolating from my son's diagnosis I only have my close family. I did tell her about the funeral I went to but she reckoned that was before the contagion period. Thankfully the team I help out with at Ashton Athletic had their game called off the weekend I was infected due to bad weather or I could have spread it there. Jeez, scary stuff!

Well I guess we're all awaiting the Governments announcement today with bated breath, lets hope we can take something positive from it. I'm with Andy Burnham the Mayor of Manchester. If it's deemed we need a lockdown whether local or national then people need financial support, you can't just shut everything down again without it.

Anyway that's it for today, take care and Keep Safe x

Photo by John Cameron on Unsplash

Isolation Day 7 - Diary 3

Thanks for reading these posts, it's good to hear from so many people and the offers of help have been overwhelming.

Well my suspicions were correct. I received a text message this morning saying my coronavirus test was positive. It was pretty much nailed on when I lost my sense of taste and smell. I've had symptoms for a while but didn't get tested earlier as my wife Karen was ill the week before, had the test and it came back negative. I just thought I'd caught the same bug. Anyway myself and Lucas (21) are feeling loads better, our other son Josh (28) has no symptoms as we think he had the virus back in March, also losing his taste and smell senses.

You tend to speculate where have we caught it from but I guess we'll never know, it's so random and contagious all you can do is be careful, keep washing your hands, social distance and wear the masks if possible. One thing I would say which it says in the text message is "try not to worry", there's enough mental pressure with all the news bulletins being thrown at you constantly, try and eat healthily and do some exercise. Walking, deep breathing, stair climbing whatever you can.

As someone pointed out to me in the comments yesterday I think this kind of isolation is harder when you have the virus as you aren't allowed out at all, no going for walks, visiting shops and you're reliant on other people or getting home deliveries.

I really hope there isn't another national lockdown coming. People need to respect the rules and other people but we can't just let the virus run riot as some have suggested, we need to protect the NHS for those who will need it. I went to a funeral recently, an old agent friend who used to book our band and I knew he was ill but his health went downhill fast as his appointments for cancer treatment kept getting cancelled due to Covid. We really can't let that happen again.

I'm missing the football this weekend. I'm normally either stood on the touchline helping out with Ashton Athletic Development squad or manning the turn-style for 1st team home games. Unfortunately we've had to cease all football activities at the club as at least 3 players have tested positive. These grass roots clubs really need your support at the moment and I saw a wonderful tweet from one of our young 15 year old supporters regarding the Premier league charging fans £14-95 pay-per-view. His reply to BBC Sport was "£14-95 to watch a home game on your TV or £14-95 to watch a game in real life, get a drink, programme and something to eat. I know what I'd rather do @AshtonAthletic" We actually only charge £6 to get in and can I recommend the Tetley bitter, it's tremendous!

By the way drinking beer and wine without taste and smell is crap as I found out last night, of course I had a few in the interests of research but I can confirm it's not good. I might try again tonight to see if there's any improvement.

That's all for now, until next time. Keep Safe x