Talkie's New Trick

Show your support for John Lenahan's new book!

4 March, 2016

The mighty John Lenahan could reasonably be described as something of a renaissance man - already one of the most celebrated magician-comedians in the UK (and anyone who's ever seen him performing cabaret at the Dimension Jump conventions can attest to his brilliance), he also dipped his toes into acting by providing the voice of Talkie Toaster during the first series of Red Dwarf. But aside from all of that, John has a pretty good sideline career going as a novelist, with his YA readers Shadowmagic trilogy having been described as "A cross between Time Bandits and Thomas Covenant."

Talkie's New Trick

And now John's got a new book on the way, but he's turning to crowdfunding to help get it published. You might remember Unbound as the publishing initiative that helped Robert Llewellyn get his superb News From... trilogy off the ground, and now John is also signed up for the site, seeking pledges to get his novel That's No Lie into print. Here's what it's all about:

That's No Lie is a crime novel about Harry Cull, a polygrapher (lie detector operator), who is called in to help investigate a murder in a small town in north-eastern Pennsylvania.

When he gets there he finds a community grappling with the kind of upheaval that comes with the discovery of a huge natural gas deposit under their land. Fracking has commences and the fracking-induced earthquakes shake up more than just the ground...

...it has led to murder.

The first victim is a new mineral deposit millionaire, but it doesn't stop there. We've got shady lawyers, and strip club owners, rug dealers and environmental activists, not to mention pretty nurses and mob bosses. They've all got their secrets and there's nothing like a murder to unearth secrets and lies.

Luckily secrets and lies is Harry Cull's business.

If that sounds like it's up your street, you can back the book over at Unbound - and if it reaches enough pledges, then it'll go into print. Pledging at £10 will get you the eBook edition, while it's £15 for a paperback - and above that level you can get all kinds of extra rewards including a private magic show performed by John!

And what's more, the book comes with an unusual guarantee:

THAT'S NO LIE COMES WITH A MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE. IF YOU PLEDGE FOR THE BOOK AND DON'T ENJOY IT, YOU CAN EMAIL JOHN AND HE WILL REFUND THE COST OF THE BOOK.

... so you really have literally nothing to lose! Well, unless that's also a lie. But we don't think it is. It's so hard to tell with someone as tricksy as John...

Check out our Mr Flibble interview with John!

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