A quick note to let you know that those of you who pre-ordered my latest travel diary from Amazon should receive it on your Kindle tomorrow (24th). If you’ve bought it elsewhere, such as Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Smashwords, then you should receive it on Monday, 28th. This is a month earlier than my original release date of 24th December, which I’m very happy about.
I would like to thank each and every one of you for your support over the last few years, either as readers of my blog, diaries, or full-length travel book Seven Steps from Snowdon to Everest. I’ve come a long way since I stuck my first diary on Amazon in 2011 (you can read more about this journey as a writer in another recent post). Thanks to those of you who have read my other books, I can be confident I’m not publishing into a void. The book will be read by many people right away, and some of you will even post nice reviews.
I can’t emphasise this last point enough. I hope you enjoy reading it, and if you do then the best Christmas present you can give me is to post a review on Amazon or the site where you bought it. Lots of books get bought over the Christmas period, and with all those extra people browsing Amazon to spend their Amazon vouchers, a few helpful reviews for The Everest Politics Show could make all the difference. As an indie author I don’t get entered for awards by my publisher (there are many I’m not even eligible for), and I don’t get reviewed by the traditional media or outdoor press. You, my readers, are my only advocates, so I need all the word-of-mouth publicity I can get.
If you’ve not bought it yet, and are still considering, then you can of course download a sample to your Kindle in the usual way. But the book is only £1 (or a $1 or €1 depending on your currency — they’re all more or less the same these days, anyway), so why not splash out. My next task will be to start working on the paperback version, and when that comes out I will be putting up the price of the ebook as well, so why not just download it now while you remember. You can also join my mailing list to get notified when the paperback is available.
The book is about my expedition to Lhotse in 2014, the mountain next door to Everest, when I became caught up in the events surrounding the Everest avalanche and ensuing Sherpa strike. A lot has been written about this controversial episode in Everest’s history by people who weren’t there, and a lot less by a handful of people who were.
As far as I’m aware (and I’m happy to be corrected if you know of any) this is the first book to be published which concentrates solely on the events of those few days, by someone who was an eyewitness to them. This is my diary, written at the time, when the emotions were still raw, and the events absolutely fresh in my memory. Back in 2014 I used to scribble the diary on paper. I did not read any of it until I came to start typing it up a few months ago, and this meant that I learned much that I’d completely forgotten about, and have therefore never written about before. If you enjoyed reading the blog posts I wrote at the time, then I’m sure you will enjoy reading this too.
The book is dedicated to the sixteen who lost their lives that season, and also to the Sherpas in our team who remained our friends during difficult days when others sought to divide us. There was much at the time that I did not understand, and still don’t fully, but I hope this book will bring you a little closer to the truth.
Thank you for your support. The journey begins in the Khumbu, where the scenery remains forever peerless.
The book is ordered and I’m very much looking forward to reading it.
Yay! Thanks very much, Robert. I hope you enjoy it. I tried not to make the whole thing about you 😉
I enjoyed The Everest Politics Show a great deal. The questions regarding how ineffectual and how corrupt the Nepalese Government are remain unanswered. As always your books end way to quickly!
Haha, that’s a pair of backhanded compliments if ever there were. But thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it. 😉
Cant wait to read on the plane to Asia next month. I have read most of marks short books when flying. Time goes faster
Just finished reading your new book. Thanks for sharing your experience! I’ve read all your other books and enjoyed them as well! Keep writing… I will keep reading!
Mark, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and reliving our shared experiences. I learned a fair amount of things that I wasn’t aware of and it reminded me of many more that I’d forgotten. You’re an insightful writer with a keen eye for the easy to miss details. Thank you.
Thanks, Robert. Glad you enjoy it. That means a lot. Most of all, thanks for your company!