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Monday, May 25, 2015

A Change of Mind blog tour - character interview

I'm excited to welcome today the fantastic Nick Wilford and celebrate the release of his new collection, A Change of Mind and Other Stories. I've already had the privilege of reading his book and loved it. Here's my 5 star review.

And here's another reason to celebrate. For today only, Nick's awesome collection is only 99 cents!

Thanks for hosting me, Christine! Today, the MC of A Change of Mind, Reuben, is making a high-profile TV appearance on a show that aims to recognise underrated office workers. I’ll now hand you over to the host, William Fangleman.



Fangleman: Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to another edition of “Unsung Office Heroes of the Land” with me, William Fangleman. Today I’m pleased to be joined by Reuben Timsbury, a hardworking systems analyst with Harbinger Industries. Hello there, Reuben. I’m pleased to meet you.

Reuben: No one’s ever pleased to meet me.

Fangleman: Oh come now, I’m sure that’s not true. You seem like a very interesting chap. Why don’t you start by telling the audience a bit about yourself?

Reuben: What’s to tell? I work at a big office – you know, Corporate Central, fat cat boss – writing mind-numbing reports. I’m good at my job, not that I ever get recognition for it.

Fangleman: Well, let’s have a bit of recognition now. How about a big hand for Reuben and his report-writing skills!

(Audience goes wild)

Reuben: (goes bright red) Errr, thanks. I’m not used to being applauded. It was weird, but nice, I guess.

Fangleman: Now, what sort of people do you work alongside in this office? Do you get along well with them?

Reuben: (grimaces) Are you joking? They delight in making my life a living hell. This one big oaf, Borderman – he asks to borrow my stapler every day. And every day I never get it back, and I have to buy a new one. At £4.99 a day, that’s quite a big wodge out of my paycheque. 

Fangleman: Well, why don’t you just stop giving him staplers?

Reuben: Hmm... you know, that’s never occurred to me. When you’ve been pushed around by people your whole life, you do as you’re told. Second nature, I guess. And who’s to say what he could do to me with those staplers?

Fangleman: They’re pretty lethal weapons, I’ve heard. Now, just so our audience aren’t left in total doom and gloom... is there anyone at all you like in our office? Someone who could brighten your day just a tad?

Reuben: (shuffles feet) Weeelll... There’s Minerva, from accounts. She doesn’t even work on this floor, so I don’t see her that often. But she’s a radiant vision, a Greek goddess in name and in how she moves. But what are the chances of her noticing a schmuck like me? She doesn’t even know who I am.

Fangleman: Oh, don’t do yourself down. You’re a handsome chap, it sounds like you just need a dose of confidence. Well, that’s all we have time for on “Unsung Office Heroes of the Land”. Another big hand for Reuben Timsbury, folks!

(Applause) Reuben grins sheepishly while staring at the floor.

* * *

Title: A Change of Mind and Other Stories
Author: Nick Wilford
Genre: Speculative fiction
Format: Ebook only
Page/word count: 107 pages, approx. 32,000 words
Publisher: Superstar Peanut Publishing

Blurb:
A Change of Mind and Other Stories consists of a novella, four short stories and one flash fiction piece. This collection puts the extremes of human behaviour under the microscope with the help of lashings of dark humour, and includes four pieces previously published in Writer’s Muse magazine.
 
In A Change of Mind, Reuben is an office worker so meek and mild he puts up with daily bullying from his boorish male colleagues as if it’s just a normal part of his day. But when a stranger points him in the direction of a surgeon offering a revolutionary new procedure, he can’t pass up the chance to turn his life around. 

  But this isn’t your average surgeon. For a start, he operates alone in a small room above a mechanic’s. And he promises to alter his patients’ personality so they can be anything they want to be… 
 
In Marissa, a man who is determined to find evidence of his girlfriend’s infidelity ends up wondering if he should have left well alone.

The Dog God finds a chink in the armour of a man with a megalomaniacal desire to take over the world. 
 
In The Insomniac, a man who leads an obsessively regimented lifestyle on one hour’s sleep a night finds a disruption to his routine doesn’t work for him. 
 
Hole In One sees a dedicated golfer achieving a lifelong ambition. 

The Loner ends the collection on a note of hope as two family members try to rebuild their lives after they are torn apart by jealousy.


Purchase Links:

Meet the author:
Nick Wilford is a writer and stay-at-home dad. Once a journalist, he now makes use of those rare times when the house is quiet to explore the realms of fiction, with a little freelance editing and formatting thrown in. When not working he can usually be found spending time with his family or cleaning something. He has four short stories published in Writer’s Muse magazine. Nick is also the editor of Overcoming Adversity: An Anthology for Andrew. Visit him at his blog or connect with him on Twitter or Goodreads.


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21 comments:

  1. Thank you so much, Christine! :D

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  2. I'll add my applause for Reuben. Congrats on your new book, Nick!

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  3. Thank you, Natalie! I don't think Reuben did too bad.

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  4. Congrats to Nick!
    I think I can definitely relate to Reuben. Although I probably wouldn't put up with that stapler nonsense every day...

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  5. You're welcome, Nick! It's great to have you here today. :) And thank you to everyone for stopping in. Nick's book is awesome!

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  6. Sarah - Thanks! It's kind of become part of his routine, poor Rubes.

    Christine - It's lovely to be here!

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  7. Nick is having an awesome release day. Way to go, Nick! :D

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  8. I'd go staple that co-worker to a wall.
    Congratulations, Nick!

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  9. "Unsung Office Heroes of the Land" - :)
    Congratulations, Nick!

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  10. I like that interview. I'll have to see how it turns out.

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  11. Chrys - Thanks, I'm having fun!

    Alex - Good plan!

    Tyrean - I think there'd be many candidates for the show. Thanks!

    Susan - Thanks! Things do get interesting for Reuben.

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  12. The interview had me wanting more. Thanks for sharing this new book with us. And congratulations to Nick Wilford!

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  13. Congrats once again, Nick!

    I'm just thinking - turn the tables and Reuben could be the one to do some damage to that oaf with the stapler... but it's obviously not part of his personality...

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  14. Wonderful presentation of Nick's book - loved it! Great interview!

    Good luck Nick!

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  15. What a fun, unique take on a character interview!

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  16. Congrats Nick!! I hope it's a huge success for you.

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  17. Hi Christine and Nick,

    Delighted to note Nick's tour has arrived here on your excellent site, Christine.

    Well done to you, Nick. Hearty congrats and may you have much fulfilment.

    Gary :)

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  18. Karen - Thanks, glad to hear you enjoyed it!

    Michelle - It's going to take something else before he gets there...

    Yolanda - Thanks! I tried to be creative with the interviews.

    Caryn - I tried to make it fun!

    Lynda - Thank you!

    Gary - Thank you for the kind words. :)

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  19. Reuben is an interesting guy. Loved the interview. :-)

    Anna from Elements of Writing

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  20. Anna - Thanks. It took a lot for him to go through with the interview.

    Jay - Thanks!

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