Undoubtedly there are many people out there who are well versed in the demons to be found within the publishing world and their experience is probably vastly superior to any that I will ever have. For this first-timer, the expectation / dread of an independent analysis of my book has been a scary thought.

So when I found my first truly detailed and professional review I opened it with a great deal of trepidation, as if I were back at school bracing myself for another assassination by my consistent, if less than encouraging, English teacher. In short, I was expecting it to be slammed for grammatical errors and general ineptitude.

However, having read it and digested both the positives and negatives written by Alex Roddie at UKHillwalking, all I can say is….Bang On…. much appreciated Alex!“….this tremendously fun book about one man’s 5,000-mile trek around the British coastline……it’s a glossy coffee-table book, lavishly illustrated with dozens of photographs, including some really good double-page shots. ….. this is very much a book to dip in and out of as well as read cover to cover.”

On the negatives, he certainly hits the spot in sussing that I was struggling to edit the book and find a narrative beyond the original blog that worked. I really could have used his professional skills in identifying where I could trim out the excess prose and be a little more finite. However, if you know me, you will know that I can ramble on (‘scuse the pun) a bit and that maybe I needed to shrink the dull bits, even if I believed that they were just as important – if only to demonstrate the full flavour of the walk.

“……despite its many good qualities, the book does tend to become a little repetitive in places. Let’s face it, the day-to-day routine of walking around the coast isn’t that engaging to read about even if you’re the most committed outdoor enthusiast…..”

On the positives. All I can say is thank you Alex. It really is lovely to know that he saw through my facade to appreciate that I don’t like taking life or myself too seriously.

“The narrative is unfailingly positive and light-hearted, with a good sprinkling of humour and plenty of commentary on the landscapes he’s walking through…………The book has a cheerful sense of fun and I think it takes itself less seriously than many outdoor tomes.”

“……this book grew on me and I found myself enthralled by the gradual process of life on the trail supplanting normal life, becoming ordinary in itself, so that the inevitable return home became the next big adventure.” 

So genuinely – thanks again Alex. You can clearly express yourself far more succinctly than I ever could.

Read the full review here.