How Leeds Changed the World [Paperback]

I like the idea of taking one of the major, industrial northern citys and documenting some of its achievements. Naturally I chose Leeds, it's my city, I love the city, I know the city or so I thought as I set out on this journey. I knew nowt.

It obviously can't be comprehensive, that would be a lifetime's work and you could even argue that I'd have to include every last person living in Leeds because that's the essence of Leeds, its people. Anyway, it's my decision and I've decided not to do an entry on everyone in Leeds, past and present, that'd be daft....it'd take me weeks. There will be some glaring omissions. I have, for example, completely forgotten to mention the time when Houdini nearly died here repeating a trick he'd performed hundreds of times. His almost fatal mistake? The cask he needed to escape from was filled with Tetley's bitter instead of the usual water. Harry was overcome by alcoholic fumes and the great man had to be rescued. I'm interested in stuff that'll make you go, `Eh? Y'kidding?' If you find yourself thinking I can't believe he didn't include.... (such as Marks and Spencer's Penny Bazaar) then I reckon it'll probably be quite well known, although I would appreciate an email about it. The book could go on forever, it's my piece of string and I have to stop and publish at some point. If I didn't now I never would. I know me, I'd constantly be ruminating, `Ooh, I'll just do what-is-it, who-j-m-bob....ey, thingy-m-jig is interesting.'

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

BOYS IN MAKE-UP - PUNK - FOOTBALL - CHILDHOOD - BOWIE - MAD NUNS - GIRLS - LIFE - HOT WHEELS - LEEDS - CROSS COUNTRY - VIOLENCE - SEX - THE '70s - DISAPPEARING GIRL - ADOLESCENCE - MY DEATH.

His second was Nailed: Digital Stalking In Leeds, Yorkshire, England stating with the true story of him and his wife being arrested by Leeds CID due to a SIM card she gave away 5 years previously - a story taken up by Radio 4 and Metro and full of intrigue. He then weaves the true story through a fictional tale giving us a manic faction, a thriller of breathless pace, tied up in the electronic and physical surveillance issues of the 21st Century.

How many SIM cards have you ever had? And your family, how many?

Have you cancelled all the old SIM cards?

Perhaps you should.

You wouldn't want to get Nailed.

IDENTITY THEFT * ROAD-RAGE * FOUCAULT * EMAILS *
SURVEILLANCE * PANOPTICONS * LEEDS * CELEBRITY *
DIGITAL ASSUALT * 10111001 * STALKERS * JUSTICE *
FORUMS * CONSPIRACY * DATA-SNATCH * CHAOS