Mike Buchanan – författare

Author's note: this book was updated in September 2011 to cover the issue of formatting books into ebook editions and distributing them to major e-readers: Kindle, iPad, Reader, Nook, Kobo...'Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents and everyone is writing a book.' Cicero 106-43 BC Roman orator and statesman Self-publishing can be more rewarding than being published - creatively, financially, and in other respects - if you go about it the right way. You could well be confused, as many self-publishers are, by the multiplicity of options available to you. The good news is that you can now make your books visible and available to book buyers around the world at minimal cost. This book was made available worldwide as a paperback for a one-off payment of just GBP42.00 and as an ebook (Kindle, iPad, Reader, Nook, Kobo...) for a one-off payment of GBP95.00. As a self-publisher, what are your options for new books? Should you choose an offset lithography print run, a digital print run, or maybe print-on-demand (POD)? Hardback or paperback, or other formats? Possibly an ebook too?And, crucially, how will you get your books distributed cost-effectively to buyers around the world?This book will take you through the options and explain their relative advantages and disadvantages. It provides guidance on selecting book topics with strong sales potential; writing distinctively; obtaining a professional critique of your work; writing content-rich non-fiction; writing in a number of genres; choosing between hardback and paperback and other formats; choosing the optimal printing method; book content formatting; book specifications; colour plate section options; distribution; print-on-demand ('POD'); order fulfilment; dealing with Amazon, Lightning Source, Nielsen, and Bowker; printers; copy editors and proofreaders; typesetters; cover designers; photographers; pricing; marketing your books - and a whole lot more besides. Mike Buchanan, a British writer and former business consultant, is the author of six books. He's been published internationally by a major publisher (in English and Chinese editions), and he's self-published. He much prefers self-publishing, for a variety of reasons.In January 2010, at the age of 52, he took early retirement and now writes and self-publishes full-time.He developed the model of 'professional self-publishing' outlined in this book. The model has been designed to help self-publishers enjoy their writing more, increase their output of strong titles, and maximise their profits.

A small band of radical feminists has been exercising considerable influence over the British public policy agenda for years, and the Conservative-led coalition led by David Cameron, the prime minister, is enacting The Equality Act 2010: the brainchild of a radical feminist MP from the previous left-wing administration, Harriet Harman ('Goliatha'). The author, who worked for the Conservative party over 2006-2008, employs the full force of his man logic to examine not only gender issues in the workplace - such as the 'gender pay gap' and 'gender balance in the boardroom' - but also other big issues in the modern era. What are women interested in? Why are fat women fat, and why are British taxpayers funding their celebrations of fatness? Why does Fairtrade coffee always taste like mud? And why aren't men revolting?

Women need to start recognising the implications of a simple reality: individuals are promoted to senior positions, not groups. So why are many women seeking to progress collectively through gender equality initiatives rather than through their individual merits? Talented women who reach the boardroom find such initiatives patronising. Some widely-held assertions about the genders in the workplace: - women's progression into the upper levels of organisations has long been hampered by overt and covert discrimination against women exercised by the men (and sometimes the women) already holding senior positions - the 'glass ceiling' - men aren't more likely than women to have qualities which make them fit for senior positions. Women, conversely, are more likely than men to have such qualities, including higher emotional intelligence, consensual decision-making styles...- more women would seek advancement if they felt inspired by more role models (but who will be the role models' role models?)A former business executive with over 30 years' experience in major corporations and business consultancy critiques 30 assertions about men and women generally and in the workplace - including 'the glass ceiling' - and finds them all to be variously conspiracy theories, fantasies, lies, delusions or myths. He reveals the real reasons why more women don't reach senior positions. More gender equality will result when more hardworking talented women recognise that to progress they will have to do so individually, not collectively. How hard can that be? Harder than beating the drum for gender equality initiatives, certainly, but possibly more effective too? Corporations pursuing gender equality initiatives are engaging in a social engineering experiment which could prove ruinous both for them and for society at large. Militant feminists - a small but vocal band of angry women embracing a Marxist ideology, as the book explains - are behind campaigns for gender balance among senior executives. Why are corporations trying to placate a small band of angry left-wing people?The book reviews the state of gender equality legislation in the United Kingdom where David Cameron, a Conservative prime minister and head of a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats, has enacted 90% of The Equality Bill (2010).The Bill was the crowning glory of the career of Harriet Harman, a militant feminist Labour politician.

Extracts from Erin Pizzey's Foreword: 'Mike Buchanan is a very brave man. I've known other men who've tried to draw the public's attention to the damage done by the radical feminist movement. Many lost their jobs and none of them were able to find a publisher for their books. Men have been thrown out of their own houses and unjustly accused of domestic violence towards their partners, and some of sexually abusing their children. The legitimate interests of men in Western society are being systematically assaulted by radical feminists and this book goes a long way to providing the evidence. Men are starting to campaign more effectively for their interests, though they have a long way to go before they halt the tide of radical feminist influence, let alone start to reverse it. Feminists can also expect more challenging from another quarter. An increasing number of women are summoning up the courage to openly criticise them. This shouldn't surprise us, given that the vast majority of women don't share the radical feminists' political ideology.With every year that passes more women become aware of the damage man-hating and family-hating radical feminists wreak on society in general, and women's interests in particular.These women are becoming more vocal, and their number is on the rise - How much more damage will feminists be allowed to wreak before they're more widely recognised as the evil women they are?' This book provides long-awaited answers to over 50 of the most challenging questions in the modern era including: 1. Are you a misogynist if you only hate feminists? 2. What is feminism in the modern era? 3. How do radical feminists view the world? 4. Are feminists less intelligent than normal women? 5. Are feminists less attractive than normal women? 6. Do feminists suffer from PPS (Permanent Premenstrual Syndrome)? 7. Why do feminists deny the different natures of men and women? 9. What are the big feminist fantasies, lies, delusions and myths? 10. Is the pope a Catholic? Do bears crap in woods? Are feminists delusional? 11. How are feminists killing men and women? 12. Are some feminists (e.g. Tracey Emin) a pain in the arts? The book contains a lengthy appendix of quotations.

Mike Buchanan is a Bedford-based author who interviewed eight well-known local guitarists, and wrote accounts of their colourful lives:- Finger Pickin' Good Paul Bonas- Hollerin' Bob Foley- Amazin' Max Milligan- Blindin' Dave King- Lightnin' Hands Pete Rose - Mumblin' Cliff Hanson - Thunderin' Paul Carrington (star of the author's travelogue Two Men in a Car: a businessman, a chauffeur, and their holidays in France) - Laughin' John Verity

The human rights of men and boys in the United Kingdom have been increasingly assaulted by the state's actions and inactions for over 30 years, as they have across much of the developed world. Justice for men & boys (and the women who love them) is the only political party in the English-speaking world campaigning for the human rights of men and boys, including the right of all children to enjoy good access to both parents following family breakdowns, and the restoration of fatherhood and strong families.The British state has become ever more hostile towards men and boys, although the state is largely funded by men, through income tax receipts. Men collectively pay 72%, and women 28%, of the income taxes collected by the state. In 2011/12 British men paid £68 billion - £68,000,000,000 - more income tax than women, yet the state disadvantages men and boys in many areas, usually to advantage women and girls.There are no areas in which the state disadvantages women and girls. A state which is hostile towards half its citizens also affects women who are mothers of boys, or who are men's partners, relatives, colleagues, friends or acquaintances. In the case of abortion, foetal alcohol syndrome, and fatherlessness, girls (including those yet unborn) are also assaulted by the actions and inactions of the state. The result is both inevitable and predictable - an ever more dysfunctional society, with increasing alienation of the sexes.In this manifesto we provide details of the state's disadvantaging of men and boys in 20 areas, and we make proposals in each of them. The areas are presented in a broadly chronological order:AbortionFoetal alcohol syndrome Genital mutilation Fatherlessness, restoring strong families Education Employment Access to children after family breakdowns Domestic violence Sexual abuse Armed Forces veterans' mental health issues HomelessnessSuicideCriminal justice systemPaternity fraudAnonymity for suspected sexual offendersDivorceHealthPolitical representationState interference in company director appointmentsExpectation of retirement yearsThe social engineering programmes which seek equality of gender outcomes are having an increasingly damaging impact on British society, and the Conservative-led coalition is no less keen on driving those programmes than the preceding Labour administrations. We have a vision of Britain as a nation that doesn't disadvantage half its citizens. A society in which men and women have equal opportunities but are able to make their own choices in life, without state intervention to advantage one sex over the other. It's said that under the 'first past the post' system, votes for parties other than the major parties are wasted, but voting is the only mechanism democracy affords citizens to seriously challenge politicians who embrace the all-pervading anti-male ideology which has dictated the state's policy directions for over 30 years.The major parties are institutionally committed to advantaging women and girls at the expense of men and boys, regardless of the consequences, as we recognized after engaging in parliamentary inquiries which demonstrated that the government simply doesn't respond to rational arguments against anti-male policy directions. The only choice for citizens concerned about the state's assaults on the human rights of men and boys is to vote - and to vote for J4MB.In the short to medium term, our challenge is to improve public understanding about the state's assaults on the human rights of men and boys. We do that in various ways, including the use of social media. Our television and radio appearances may be found on our YouTube channel. Our longer term strategy, however, is to develop our party to the point that we can field many candidates in general elections, in marginal constituencies, where the major parties are vulnerable. They will then have no choice but to take heed of the voices we represent, engage with us, and seek to appease them by modifying their policies, and their direction of travel. At the 2015 general election we'll be fielding three candidates in adjacent constituencies near Nottingham where, in 2010, MPs were elected with very slim majorities:- I'll be standing in Ashfield, where Gloria De Piero retained the seat for Labour with 192 more votes than a Liberal Democrat candidate. She's the Shadow Minister for Women & Equalities. - Ian Young, formerly a victim of domestic violence, will be standing against a Conservative, Mark Spencer, in Sherwood. Ian lives in the constituency, in Hucknall.- Ray Barry, leader of the campaign group Real Fathers for Justice, will be standing against another Conservative, Anna Soubry, in Broxtowe.I should like to take this opportunity to thank all the men and women who have supported J4MB since its launch in February 2013, including those who have contributed to this manifesto. We've gone to considerable lengths to ensure that all the information we present is factually correct. If you should find any mistakes, or you believe any of the content to be misleading, please draw this to our attention. If you feel able to support J4MB in any way, please contact us. I invite you to make a donation, which will support our campaigning. Nobody associated with J4MB has ever drawn any personal income from donations, and we don't expect that to change in the foreseeable future, if ever.Thank you for your support, and for seeking justice for men and boys (and the women who love them).

Extracts from Erin Pizzey's Foreword: 'Mike Buchanan is a very brave man. I've known other men who've tried to draw the public's attention to the damage done by the radical feminist movement. Many lost their jobs and none of them were able to find a publisher for their books. Men have been thrown out of their own houses and unjustly accused of domestic violence towards their partners, and some of sexually abusing their children. The legitimate interests of men in Western society are being systematically assaulted by radical feminists and this book goes a long way to providing the evidence. Men are starting to campaign more effectively for their interests, though they have a long way to go before they halt the tide of radical feminist influence, let alone start to reverse it. Feminists can also expect more challenging from another quarter. An increasing number of women are summoning up the courage to openly criticise them. This shouldn't surprise us, given that the vast majority of women don't share the radical feminists' political ideology.With every year that passes more women become aware of the damage man-hating and family-hating radical feminists wreak on society in general, and women's interests in particular. These women are becoming more vocal, and their number is on the rise... How much more damage will feminists be allowed to wreak before they're more widely recognised as the evil women they are?' This book provides long-awaited answers to over 50 of the most challenging questions in the modern era including: 1. Are you a misogynist if you only hate feminists? 2. What is feminism in the modern era? 3. How do radical feminists view the world? 4. Are feminists less intelligent than normal women? 5. Are feminists less attractive than normal women? 6. Do feminists suffer from PPS (Permanent Premenstrual Syndrome)? 7. Why do feminists deny the different natures of men and women? 8. Why must taxpayers stop financing Women's Studies and Gender Studies courses? 9. What are the big fat feminist fantasies, lies, delusions and myths? 10. Are feminists delusional? Is the pope a Catholic? Do bears crap in woods? 11. How are feminists killing men and women? 12. Are some feminists (e.g. Tracey Emin) a pain in the arts? The book contains an appendix of quotations and ends with a sample chapter titled 'Would you like to have sex with my wife?' from Mike Buchanan's international bestseller 'Two Men in a Car (a businessman, a chauffeur, and their holidays in France)'. It also contains the plate section from the book (16 photographs).