Mark My Words – May 2026
Launchtime Review
Dear Friends, New and Old,
Well, the Final Approach hardback edition is now out there in the world. Lift-off was very gratifying – first we had the launch at Brendon Books in Taunton, where I was in conversation with local author Elizabeth Delo. A lovely spring evening saw a good crowd have a lively discussion about the book and the issues arising from it. A brief interlude at the Bournemouth Writing Festival, where my talk with novelist and artist Victoria L. Humphreys was well received, followed, and then it was up to the Society of Authors for the London celebration of Final Approach. Another large and lively crowd, another great evening!
Thank you to everyone who came to an event, bought a book or helped out in any way. It was a highly memorable week, and I’m so proud that the version of the book I always dreamed of has taken off! See the ‘And Finally’ paragraph below for details of how to get your copy.
Pen Farthing Event – without Pen Farthing (Operation Ark)!
I had a nasty surprise over the weekend. I had a message from Pen Farthing’s team informing me that he will be unavailable for our Dorchester Library talk next Saturday (May 16th) as he’s been detained in Ukraine where he’s trying to organise an emergency evacuation of domestic animals as the Russians push forward. (We’re not hearing enough about the worsening situation over there with the US/Israeli attack on Iran drawing all the media attention.) Obviously, my main concern is for Pen’s safety and that of the animals, but I still had to inform the library.
Slightly to my surprise, I was flattered by their response – they want me to go ahead with the event on my own. I’ll be flying solo with our ‘Flights to Freedom’ event. So please do come along if you’re anywhere near Dorchester, and/or tell any friends local to there! Here’s the link: Library events in Dorset – Dorset Council
Calendar of Events
EVENTS 2026
Sat 30th May
North Somerset Authors’ Event, Weston-super-Mare
Tues 2nd June
Word Kitchen, Exeter Phoenix
8pm Tues 9th June
Final Approach Hardback Online Event: In Conversation with Anna Caig (please message for joining link).
Weds 17th June
Word Kitchen Summer Party, Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary
Sat 20th June
Stroud Indie Book Fair
Sat 4th July
Frome Independent Publishing Fair
Mon 3rd Aug
The Unreliable Narrator, Read with Yeovil
Weds 23rd September
Final Approach Event Westlands Centre Yeovil
Thurs 22nd October
Wild Words at Sandridge Barton Vineyard
And Finally
SIGNED AND DEDICATED (or undedicated, if you prefer!) COPIES OF FINAL APPROACH ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM MY WEBSITE – see link below. With every order of this limited edition, I will give away a copy of the original Final Approach paperback or one of my Brian the Bear books. I will either send it to you when I post your hardback, or send it to any UK address, dedicated to whoever you like.
If you do buy or read one of my books, please consider leaving a review on Bookstore UK/Goodreads/Amazon or wherever you can – it makes a massive difference.
That’s all for now; you can view all my my work here.
markblackburn.co.uk 