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Was it really a year ago on 13 January 2020, that I, and some of my fellow authors, marched on the county hall in Winchester to protest against proposed library cuts! So much happened in 2020 soon after this event with the Covid-19 pandemic and the libraries were closed for another reason and nothing to do with financial budgets. With the easing of lock down over the summer of 2020 the libraries gradually re-opened only to be closed again for browsing with the autumn and winter restrictions.

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The Harley-Davidson riding, boat-dwelling, rugged and flawed detective, Inspector Andy Horton investigates complex cases in DEAD MAN'S WHARF (4) BLOOD ON THE SAND (5) and LETHAL WAVES (13) all set in January against the atmospheric backdrop of the sea on the south coast of England.

      

TV diving personality Nicholas Farnsworth's life is threatened...

A deranged elderly lady in a nursing home claims she's been attacked by an intruder...

A mother's conviction that her son's death on Christmas Eve was no accident...are the incidents related? Horton believes not but soon he's caught up in a complex investigation with far-reaching international implications

On this day 8 January 2014 I was at Monks Brook U3A talking to the audience about my DI Andy Horton crime novels, how I draw my inspiration from the area in which the novels are set (the Solent area on the South Coast of England) and my method for developing plot lines and creating characters.

Events like these stopped in March 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the banning of all social gatherings. It is so sad. I know many people are missing them and I am missing entertaining the lovely audiences. There are no talks for me booked this year, 2021, at the present although I have been asked if I might be available to speak later in 2021 and I would be delighted to. Can't wait in fact. I am sincerely hoping that we can soon resume these events. In the meantime I will be looking back at some I have conducted over the years.

Read more about my talk to Monks Brook U3A and see the photographs

This video was filmed at a talk I gave to a lovely audience at Sandhurst Library. It is one of my most watched videos on my You Tube Channel.  In this extract I am talking about the inspiration behind my DI Andy Horton crime novels set against the ever changing backdrop of the sea in Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight  and how I develop ideas into plot lines.

      

No, I haven't been given a Damehood, but I am honoured, and delighted to be featured on the Portsmouth Literary Map, designed and compiled by Dr Mark Frost, of the English Department at the University of Portsmouth. I'm honoured because I am in such great company of both past and present writers all with connections to the vibrant coastal City of Portsmouth, UK. The illustrious company of past literary connections include Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, H G Wells, Charles Dickens, Nevile Shute, James Riordan and Rudyard Kipling. Living literary figures include me, my fellow crime author, Graham Hurley, Neil Gaiman, and Michelle Magorian.

Read more and view the Portsmouth Literary Map