PAUL CRAMPTON BOOKS

Always a Tome!

Published Works

KENT AUTHOR’S FIRST NOVEL

Curiosity: Can You Resist or Ignore It?

Strangers in Focus

By Paul Crampton

Curiosity about an old black and white photograph provokes Helen Turner to find out more about her family history. Puzzled by finding a picture of himself as a baby in an old album he picks up at auction, Peter Milton also sets out on a quest to find out more. As these two strangers delve deeper, their pasts - and their future - become inextricably entwined until at last their quest becomes an urgent search to find each other.

Set in contemporary Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay, this compelling novel is both a detective and a love story. Delving into their family’s history, both Helen and Peter have to confront the simmering resentments and deep-rooted prejudices lurking just below the surface as the tales are told and truths unravelled.

Strangers in Focus is an enthralling and entertaining read.

See the “My Photos” page for an image of the book’s front cover.

Available both at bookshops, and online via www.paulcramptonbooks.co.uk or Abebooks.co.uk

Paul Crampton was born in October 1957 in Canterbury and has lived in the city most of his life. He worked for BT for 28 years, where his many and varied duties included debt collection and malicious call investigation; the latter often involving media appearances, and representing BT in court cases.

Paul has published 12 non-fiction books, and narrated 4 videos, but has been writing fiction since April 2002. In October 2003, he took early retirement in order to write full time.

His hobbies are varied: music, reading, photography, architecture and local history. He has combined some of these to produce his non-fiction books. Paul also loves nature, and Egyptology especially the New Kingdom period.

Another interest is religion, and the three great monotheist faiths (Judaism, Christianity & Islam), and he is inspired by the many factors they have in common, as opposed to the differences. The Dream Messiah is a forthcoming novel that will explore this concept.

‘This picture of Martin aunt; where would you like me to display it…the sideboard…or perhaps on the television?’

‘That’s not Martin!’ the old woman retorted; looking up at her as if she were a complete cretin.

Helen huffed, and shook her head incredulously. ‘Of course it’s Martin…who else would it be? …What other toddlers would you have a picture of?’ she reasoned, staring at the little curly haired child in the black and white photograph. ‘I know I was a bit of a tomboy back then, but it’s certainly not me!’

‘No sweetie, it’s not you…and it’s not Martin neither’, countered Louise, beginning to get a little irritated. ‘It’s Peter; that’s who it is!’

‘Who’s Peter?’ asked a mildly amused Helen, as she looked across pityingly at the familiar old lined face.

‘Peter is Peter!’ replied Louise emphatically, with an accompanying sigh. ‘He’s another little boy I used to know…I used to know his mother quite well too!’

Confused and frowning, Helen lowered herself into the other armchair, and studied the picture more closely.

******

Having had a long and lingering look at the picture of Peter on the last page, Louise shut the album, and then reached out both hands in the direction of the two young people. Just as she’d hoped, they each took one of her hands, which the old woman then gripped tightly.

Strangers in Focus by Paul Crampton

is published in paperback by Pen Press Publishers Ltd

ISBN 1-905203-48 -9 UK £7.99

Available from www.amazon.co.uk

www.waterstones.co.uk, www.tesco.com

And via all good bookshops.

Copies can also be obtained direct from Pen Press Publishers Ltd,

The Old School, 39 Chesham Road, Brighton, East Sussex BN2 1NB

www.penpress.co.uk

For further information, please contact Alexa on

Tel: 0845 108 0530 Email: alexa@penpress.co.uk

KENT AUTHOR’S SECOND NOVEL

Can history repeat itself, in families?

Ronnie Darwin Was My Uncle

By Paul Crampton

Dave Darwin discovers that his life, in 1991, is uncannily echoing the tragic events of 1969, as experienced by his late Uncle Ronnie. Is there some kind of spiritual link that is guiding events, including indiscretion, alcoholism, humiliation and finally death, or is poor Dave just the victim of an amazing series of coincidences?

Will he be able to cope with the deterioration of his marriage, as well as the decline in health of his beloved Grandad Darwin? Will he be able to hold down a job he hates, and cope with a best friend who is falling into alcoholism? And will he be able to resist the attraction he feels for his stepson’s 17 year-old girlfriend? Set in Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay and Sittingbourne, this family saga explores all those themes that both enliven and plague our lives today.

See the “My Photos” page for an image of the book’s front cover.

Available both at bookshops, and online via www.paulcramptonbooks.co.uk or Abebooks.co.uk

Paul has published 12 non-fiction books, and narrated 4 videos, but has been writing fiction since April 2002. In October 2003, he took early retirement in order to write full time. In 2005, his first novel Strangers In Focus was published by Pen Press to much acclaim.

Another interest is religion, and the three great monotheist faiths (Judaism, Christianity & Islam), and he is inspired by the many factors they have in common, as opposed to the differences. The Dream Messiah is a forthcoming novel that will explore this concept.

1991: Amanda-Jayne ran ahead and stood on one of the little drover’s bridges, before turning back to face him. The sun behind shone through the pink cheesecloth material of her full-length skirt and highlighted her tiny white panties. As she stood there, her legs apart in casual pose, she pulled the elasticated top of her gypsy blouse over her shoulders to reveal finely crafter collarbones.

‘Take my picture Dave,’ she earnestly pleaded.

1969: As his Uncle Ronnie got up to go, he paused to kiss Katie lingeringly on the lips. Young David noticed his uncle was caressing the exposed upper part of her legs as he did so.

1991: An indefinable period of whisky drinking passed by, but Dave now realised that it was a futile effort.

1969: Ronnie took another large mouthful of the whisky and then closed his eyes tightly again. He was clearly still in much pain, in spite of what he claimed.

‘That’s it nurse, his pulse is steady, thank God; you can stop the compression.’

‘He’s definitely coming round doctor…Mr Darwin…can you hear me?’

The patient blinked, slowly opened his eyes, and then tried to focus on the bright hospital light above him. However, for the moment, he just couldn’t speak.

Ronnie Darwin Was My Uncle by Paul Crampton