My First Ever Book Trailer: The Stag and Hen Weekend

Here's my first ever book trailer produced by the team at Hodder. I think it's genius. It makes me want to read the book and I wrote it!

Enjoy!

Mike

New book for 2012: ONE COUPLE. TWO WEEKENDS. AND YOU'RE INVITED TO BOTH.

I know I've been quiet for a while but finally I've got something to talk about! Here's the cover for my next novel: The Stag and Hen Weekend (out 2ND FEB 2012). As you can see there's a new twist for the book jacket to go along with the new twist for the book because The Stag and Hen Weekend isn't just one novel but two.

Here's the jacket copy to explain:

The Stag and Hen Weekend is the story of Phil and Helen, a couple in their thirties about to commit their lives to one another . . . that is of course if they can just manage to get through their respective stag and hen weekends (his: Amsterdam; hers: a country house and day spa in the Peak District) without falling apart. Told in the unique form of two separate stories that have common characters as well as themes and conclusion, The Stag and Hen Weekend can be read from front to back or from back to front putting the reader in the driver's seat as to which story they wish to read first. Feisty, fun and thought provoking.

So there you go: a perfect His 'n' Hers novel if ever there was one!

The Stag and Hen Weekend is available to pre-order from all book retailers including:

Amazon

Waterstones

Play



Happy reading

Mike Gayle

What's got two thumbs and is the 89th best thing about Birmingham?

A mate emailed this list to me a while ago and I was reminded of it last night. It's a list compiled by the Birmingham Evening Mail back in May 2011 of the 100 best things about Birmingham. Please note I am thrilled to be more popular than the Birmingham Outer Circle Bus route.

Top 100

100. Jamelia - R&B singer, model, TV presenter, actress.
99. The Bull - Tourist attraction standing at 2.2m and weighing six tonnes.
98. Carl Chinn MBE - Birmingham historian.
97. Birmingham Science Museum - Museum On Newhall Street from 1951 to 1997
96. King Kong - Statue in the 1970s
95. The Birmingham Outer Circle bus route - The number 11 bus. Hosts the BRMB 27-mile Walkathon.
94. Birmingham City University - began life in 1971 as Birmingham Polytechnic.
93. Steve Winwood - Musician in bands including Blind Faith, plus Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech.
92. Les Ross MBE - Local radio DJ.
91. Birmingham pubs - Brummies love their beer – fact.
90. John Salt - Artist who paints precision-perfect portraits of cars.
89. Mike Gayle - Novelist.
88. Snobs Nightclub - underground club on the corner of Paradise Circus and Queensway.
87. Ian Lavender - Actor who played Private Pike in Dad’s Army.
86. The Glee Club - Now a small chain of club across the country.
85. Thinktank - Birmingham’s new science museum.
84. Toyah Willcox - Singer, actress, writer and television presenter.
83. The Barber Institute of Fine Arts - Art gallery
82. Cat Deeley - TV presenter.
81. Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre - Hosts touring theatre, music and comedy.
80. Trevor Eve - Actor.
79. Birmingham clubs - Includes the former Rum Runner nightclub that is synonymous with Duran Duran.
78. Charlie Hall - Carpenter turned actor was born in 1899.
77. Library of Birmingham - Designed by Dutch architects Mecanoo.
76. Mike Skinner - Rapper from West Heath.
75. Judas Priest - Rock band
74. The Lickey Hills -Cover 524 acres and provide a rich habitat for wildlife.
73. China Town - Based around Hurst Street and Pershore Street.
72. Moseley Folk Festival - Mix of traditional, contemporary and experimental folk and acoustic music.
71. Martin Shaw - Actor.
70. BRMB Walkathon - A 26-mile sponsored walk for charity.
69. Birmingham Pride - A when the city's gay and lesbian community takes to the streets.
68. BSA - Small Arms Company that also produced motorbikes.
67. Bill Oddie - Comedian, actor and writer.
66. The Belfry - Golf course.
65. National Sea Life Centre - Boasts a million litre underwater tank, 4D cinema and over 1,000 creatures.
64. Birmingham Half Marathon - 13-mile race around the streets of Birmingham.
63. Alfred Bird / The Custard Factory - Inventor of egg-free custard in 1837.
62. Brindleyplace - 17 acre site home to shops, bars, restaurants and offices.
61. Sutton Park - 2,400 acres with a seven-mile perimeter.
60. The Chamberlain Family - Dynasty with businessman, politician, and statesman Joseph.
59. Glynn Purnell - Chef
58. Spaghetti Junction - Major motorway intersection, Birmingham’s is believed to be the first.
57. Ocean Colour Scene - Rock band.
56. The Rotunda - Cylindrical high rise landmark.
55. Electric Light Orchestra - Rock band.
54. The Ikon Gallery - Contemporary art gallery.
53. Birmingham Botanical Gardens - Offers more than ‘175 years of plants.
52. Birmingham Repertory Theatre - Theatre with 100 history.
51. The Iron Man - Public piece of art.
50. Pre-Raphaelite Collection at BM&AG - Art collection.
49. Benjamin Zephaniah - Poet.
48. Cannon Hill Park - A source of healthful recreation.
47. Murray Walker - Voice of motor racing for the best part of 50 years.
46. The Mailbox and The Cube - Shopping center.
45. The markets - 140 stalls, six million visitors a year.
44. Birchfield Harriers AC / Alexandra Stadium - Athletic venue.
43. The accent - makes Brummies unique.
42. TISWAS - 1970s children Saturday morning TV.
41. Pebble Mill - BBC Edgbaston studios.
40. James Brindley - Canal engineer.
39. Duran Duran - Resident band during the late 70s/Early 80s. Sold more than 80 million records worldwide.
38. Fort Dunlop - Former Dunlop Rubber tyre factory and main offices.
37. Aston University - Founded in 1895.
36. Aston Hall - Grade I listed Jacobean Mansion.
35. Edgbaston Cricket Ground / Warwickshire CCC - Cricket Club.
34. Birmingham Royal Ballet - Internationally recognised for classics such as The Sleeping Beauty.
33. Oscar Deutsch - Founded metals firm Deutsch and Brenner in Harford Street, Hockley.
32. Jasper Carrott OBE - Comedian.
31. The canals - At its peak the city canals totalled about 160 miles.
30. The Bullring - Shopping center.
29. MG cars - Car manufactures.
28. University of Birmingham - Founded in Edgbaston in 1900.
27. The Electric Cinema - Britain’s oldest working cinema.
26. The Archers - Radio show with more than five million fans.
25. JRR Tolkien - poet, author, philologist and university prof, writer of The Lord Of The Rings.
24. Birmingham Hippodrome - venue for touring shows.
23. West Bromwich Albion - Football Club.
22. HP Sauce - Sauce that remains an icon of the Great British dinner table.
21. The Spitfire - Second World War plane designed by RJ Mitchell.
20. The Golden Mile - Area of bars and nightclubs.
19. The Staffordshire Hoard - Largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork.
18. Matthew Bolton - Key figure in the Industrial Revolution.
17. Frankfurt Christmas Market - Market located in Chamberlain Square.
16. Tony Hancock - Actor, comedian.
15. Selfridges Birmingham - Landmark building.
14. The LG Arena at the N.E.C. - Host of concerts and sporting events.
13. CBSO / Symphony Hall - Renowned 90-piece ensemble.
12. Jaguar Land Rover - Car manufactures.
11. St. Patrick's Day Parade - 80,000 turn out to line the streets.
10. Town Hall - Modelled on the Temple of Castor.
09. Jewellery Quarter - Center for Jewellery.
08. UB40 - Pop group.
07. Birmingham City F.C. - Football Club.
06. The Mini - Motor car.
05. Aston Villa - Football Club.
04. Cadbury - Chocolate factory (place where Andy Wickett worked).
03. Ozzy Osbourne / Black Sabbath - Rock band.
02. The Balti - An Asian meal invented in Birmingham.
01. The People - The residents of Birmingham.

Got a spare five minutes and nothing to do with your ears?

Why not listen to me reading the first chapter of Men at Work! http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/quickreads/men_at_work.shtml

Me in Lithuania

This is me a couple of weeks ago in Lithuania on my way to a Lithuanian cinema to talking in English about writing and stuff to a Lithuanian TV crew and then dubbed into Lithuanian. I was only there for a couple of days but had a great time and met some lovely people and learned two words of Lithuanian none of which I can remember now.

World Book Night Event Sat 5th March 2011

Sat 5th March 2011 I'll be doing a World Book Night Event along with best selling crime novelist RJ Ellory and 2008 Costa Prize Winner Catherine O'Flynn 6.30pm (for 7.00pm start) @ Birmingham Library Theatre, Central Library, Birmingham. 

We'll be talking about our reading and writing lives and celebrating all things bookish.

Free tickets available from the
Box Office on (0121) 303 2323 Book tickets online via www.birmingham...boxoffice.com or in person at Central Library reception

Three signed copies of "Bachelor" to be won by midnight tonight!

To celebrate the publication of The Importance of Being a Bachelor in paperback I'm giving away three signed copies. To be in with a chance of winning you need to name the occupations of the following characters from my books:


1. Will Kelly
2. Dave Harding
3. Rob Brooks


Send your answers on an email to: mikegaylecompetition@gmail.com

Competition ends midnight 16/02/11