Get ‘Dating’ For Less Than A Quid

This weekend, those charming folks at ebook soda are featuring my latest book, How To Start Dating And Stop Waiting, and in return for sending a few new readers my way (‘Hello’ to all new readers) we’ve temporarily dropped the price of the UK & US kindle edition to a mere 99 pence (or cents, depending on the coins in your pocket).

I’m enormously proud of this book. It’s crammed with dating advice for the man or woman who really doesn’t ‘do’ dating.

The paperback’s well over three hundred pages. The audio is eight hours long! And if you’re part of the kindle generation it can be yours for less than the price of a cheap cup of coffee (that was the best analogy I could come up with – hey, it’s early as I write this!)

To download the book and start reading, click here and hop on over to amazon.

Haven’t got a Kindle? Why on earth not? Download the FREE kindle app for your computer, smart phone or tablet from amazon (.co.uk | .com)

Free Talk

Wednesday 15th January 2014 – 7:30pm (sharp)

I’m delighted to announce I’ll be giving a *FREE* one hour talk at the Therapy Life Centre in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, January 15th next year.

I’ll be chatting about how and why I came to write How To Do Everything and Be Happy, briefly discussion some of the ideas in the book, as well an answering any questions you might have.

Bring your book if you’d like it signed, or better still, give the one you have to a friend and buy a brand new copy from me on the day! 😀

No need to book – just turn up. Talk starts at 7:30pm sharp as there are other free talks scheduled in that evening – see the Therapy Life Centre website for more details, nearer the time.

Where is the Therapy Life Centre?

We meet at The Therapy Life Centre, in Southend On Sea, Essex. (the old driving test centre) – there is reasonable parking.

The address is 11 Prittlewell Chase, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 0RX
The nearest station is Prittlewell (just fifteen minutes walk away) which is on the Liverpool Street – Southend Victoria line.

Map

View Larger Map

Any questions?

Drop me a line via the contact page if you have any questions. Operators are standing by.

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Visit the Therapy Life Centre’s website
More about the Therapy Life Centre

And now available in paperback…

Peter says…

I’m delighted to announce that as promised the paperback edition of How To Eat Loads And Stay Slim is now available from amazon – or from your favourite bookstore (get them to order it in; ISBN: 978-1490318844).

The paperback has a number of advantages over it’s ebook and audio cousins. Here’s just a few…

1. Unlike the audio and ebook, you can’t ‘switch it off’. It sits there as a constant reminder of the promise you made yourself on the first action point, and the smart-eating principals within.
2. You can write in it! Which means you can jot down notes as you go along, check off the action points you’ve done, and on page 180 put a ‘tick’ next to the stars you’ve earned.
3. You can spill food and drink on it and it still works (useful if you’re propping it up on the kitchen worktop whilst trying out a recipe).
4. It’s sand proof (good for the beach).
5. And bath proof. Sort of.
6. You can use it to temporarily prop up wonky table legs in restaurants.
7. And once you’re gorgeously slender and no longer need it you can sell it, give it to your friends, or donate it to charity – all without a lot of technical messing about or worrying about ‘DRM’ (digital rights management – like you wanted to know that)

 

Available 25th of May 2013

Peter says

As I sit here now, the door to my balcony wide open, the gentle sounds of my cat terrorising the local wild life wafting in from the outside, there’s a definite sense that summer is on the way.

Well about time too! I love summer! It’s my favourite time of year – but just as the slightest hint of a blue sky will persuade half of my neighbours to dig out their hedge trimmers and lawn mowers, whilst the other half open their windows and turn up their radios, all in an effort to drown out the noise of council workers who have chosen this day to dig up the road, and the local motorcycle club who’ve elected to ride down my street on the way to the seafront, publishers up and down the country will seize the opportunity to release another round of diet-books.

Yet more ways to deprive ourselves of the things we really want to eat, all in an effort to lose the pounds that stand between us and being able to don a pair of shorts and lie in the garden without worrying what the neighbours might think. Assuming we can actually squeeze into those shorts in the first place. Hmmmm. I don’t remember these being so tight when I bought them.

Well just stop. Stop that right now. Put down that fad/celebrity/crash-diet tome, and step away from the checkout – er – button. How would you like to dispense with diets once and for all? Quit your calorie counting and maintain a slender figure whilst at the same time being able to eat pretty much anything you want? How would that sound? It’s possible. Completely possible. And it’s not difficult to do either.

How To Eat Loads and Stay Slim is the latest book from author Della Galton and myself. Based on our joint experiences of struggling to find the holy grail of personal weight management, it’s  a mixture of hard science (eg. how hunger really works), quick ‘cheats’ (eg. how to make zero fat chips), psychological techniques (eg. why focusing on your food as you eat is really important), ingenious strategies (eg. how to cut down on sugar without going cold turkey), and easy peasy recipes (eg. Peter’s roast potato & egg smashup breakfast or Della’s apple ginger clafouti) – all wrapped up in an easy-to-digest, humourous read from authors who’ve been where you are now.

Each of our thought provoking, scientifically-provable, ideas has a STAR RATING. There are fifty four stars available. You get one just for buying the book! Collect enough and you’ll steadily increase your chances of being able to eat loads AND stay slim. Collect enough stars (thirty or more would be a good target to have) and we personally guarantee that a slim figure, coupled with a healthy but satiated appetite, are yours for the taking. No dieting required.

How To Eat Loads and Stay Slim will be available from Saturday the 25th May 2013, in audio and as an ebook, from your local amazon & audible (.co.uk / .com) stores. Right in time for the UK bank holiday weekend. If you haven’t already, use the subscribe box (it’s free!) in the top right hand corner of this website to be reminded nearer the time.

Bring on the summer!

I’m all Starry Eyed! (Cover for ‘How To Eat Loads and Stay Slim’ unveiled)

“Please do not adjust your sets. There is nothing wrong with your computer screen.”

Peter says

Ta daaa! It is with great pleasure that Della and I can finally show you the cover for How To Eat Loads And Stay Slim!

If you’re a long time reader of my other book (How To Do Everything and Be Happy) this might seem oddly familiar. And so it should. The original book jacket for ‘Happy’ was very similar – different colours, different silhouette, but the same basic layout and iconic star burst background. It proved a popular cover, but when we came to think about this book there was another very good reason why it was time to dust off the old design and give it a new lease of life.

Stars!

Just like it’s predecessor, throughout the new book you’ll come across various ‘Action Points’. The idea is that you stop, address the action, and then continue. But where ‘Slim’ differs is that each of the Action Points has a ‘star rating’.

You earn one star just for buying the book (did you spot that line of blue text along the bottom?), and with every additional star you acquire you will steadily increase your chances of being able to eat loads AND stay slim. Collect enough stars (thirty or more would be a good target to have) and Della and I personally guarantee that a slim figure, coupled with a healthy but satiated appetite, are yours for the taking. And all you have to do to earn a star is complete an action point.

Back to the cover though. Della and I can’t really take any credit for what you see before you. Both covers were designed by my good friend Ellen – who having taken our suggestions into consideration, ignored them completely and blew our socks off with the colourful creation you see today.

Ellen is an extremely talented young woman. Together with her business partner and fellow wordsmith Dan (hello Dan), they work for an advertising agency that’s going places. As well as the rather funky clothing company extragged.com

To finish up I thought I’d share with you the following video that Ellen helped create for Sir Paul McCartney (to be played behind him and the band during the American leg of his world tour)! It basically involved locking Ellen in a room for two weeks with a huge blackboard and getting her to draw whatever came to mind to the song Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, with occasional input on the phone from Sir Paul himself. The result is pretty stunning. Like I said, talented young woman.

If you’re reading this in your email or you can’t see the video – click here

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If you like Ellen’s work and you have a minute or two to spare, why not pop over to the ‘Don’t Panic’ website and vote on Ellen’s entry in their Subterfuge competition before 26th April 2013. She’ll love you forever.

Paperback Coming to America

I know what you’re thinking. There’s something different about the website. Something that you just can’t put your finger on.

Whilst you’re trying to figure out what’s changed let me just say that…

From June 4th, How To Do Everything and Be Happy will finally be available in selected Bricks and Mortar Bookshops all over the United States, and from your favourite online booksellers.

Of course it’s been available in the US as an ebook, and in audio, for a while – but now you’ll finally be able to get a paper copy without having to order one from overseas.

To mark this auspicious occasion, my publishers (Harper Collins) have decided to give the US-printed paperback a brand new, all-yellow cover, which in blind-taste-tests 8 out of 10 Americans said they preferred*, hence the subtle re-branding exercise here on the website, twitter and on facebook. What d’you think? Funky eh? There may have to be new badges.

Of course the inside of the book remains exactly the same – this isn’t a new edition – so there’s no need to rush out and buy a new copy of the book if you already have one. Not unless you really, really want to. Although I would certainly understand if that were the case. Just as – one imagines – there might be those amongst you who might see a market for importing the US branded copy of the book, and selling it here in the UK as a collectors edition. I’m just saying is all.

Here’s to World Domination and a new tranche of American Readers. Please feel free to drop by and say “Howdy“.

*I may have made the bit about blind-taste-testing up.

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In related news the paperback is also available from selected Australian outlets &  online booksellers as well as India too!

PS. I’m giving away a signed copy of the UK paperback on Twitter. Follow @doitallbehappy and tweet “I’m going to make my life happier with @doitallbehappy http://ow.ly/jsmjB ” Ends 9pm 7th Apr

March 20: International Day of Happiness

This year sees the first International Day of Happiness – as adopted by all 193 member states of the United Nations, in a bid to give ‘Happiness’ greater priority in the world.

As part of the festivities here in the UK, Olympic and community heroes will be honoured by Lord Richard Layard in a gold medal ceremony at the House of Lords. And when they’re done, those recipients will give away their medals to their own Happy Heroes.

In fact nominating ‘Happy Heroes’ is central theme of what’s being dubbed ‘Happy Day’ (#happyday on twitter), and the organisers are encouraging you and I to ‘tweet‘ about anyone who puts a smile on our collective faces with the hash tag #happyheroes.

Well you don’t have to ask me twice. There have been so many people who’ve made a difference to my life and the success of the book over the past two years that tomorrow I fully intend to mention as many as possible, whilst simultaneously trying to avoid bringing the twitter-servers to a grinding halt.

You can follow me on twitter @doitallbehappy if you’re not already doing so, and feel free to share your #happyheroes with me and I’ll retweet them.

Happy ‘Happy Day’ people. Let’s change the world.

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Find out more about the day on the official website: dayofhappiness.net

Book Signing 10th Feb! Help me celebrate the launch of the new paperback!

So, the new paperback has been out for a good couple of weeks now and if you missed the flurry of activity on facebook, twitter, various radio stations up and down the country and, oddly, Spain – where have you been!??!

Needless to say, I’m pleased as punch, and for the first time in my short writing career I suddenly feel the need to celebrate with all those people who helped me get to this point. In other words, YOU. How does the afternoon of Sunday the 10th of February sound? From 1pm. Here in sunny Southend on Sea, at Waterstones Bookshop. Put that in your diary. You do have a diary, don’t you?

There’s no need to feel compelled to buy a new copy of the book if you’re an existing reader – I’ll sign whatever copy you have – but most of all I’d like to shake you firmly by the hand and thank you for your support.

As well as handshakes I can say with reasonable certainty that there’ll be FREE pens, badges, lollies, and glasses of fizz! Possibly with alcohol in them! And if none of that’s enough to entice you then there’s always the official How To Do Everything and Be Happy Balloon Hat! With his big smiley face and out-stretched arms, your smiley-balloon-hat will either communicate love for your fellow man, or stand in for you should you be feeling a little light in the love-giving department. And when you’re finished with him, just pop with a pin and pretend like it never happened. Definitely recommended for kids of all ages.

Obviously feel free to just ‘rock up’ if you find yourself walking past the store that Sunday afternoon – though it would be mildly useful to get a feel for the number of people likely to show. You know, just so that I have enough bottles of fizz. Use the comments below or click here to let me know on facebook. Oh, and bring your friends.

Waterstones Southend is opposite Marks & Spencers at 49-51 High Street, SS1 1HZ. Map below.

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Kick Start 2013

Happy New Year!

So how’s it going so far? Is it all lovely and exciting? Or is it pretty much like last year? Perhaps even a little bit dull? Would you say that, aside from joining hands with friends and family on the stroke of midnight and mumbling the words to a song you only sing once a year, it’s actually quite difficult to know where 2012 came to an end, and 2013 began?

I know how you feel.

Which is why, in a few days time, I will be hosting the first of this years Happiness Clubs, here in Southend-on-Sea.

Happy Club – starts Thursday 24th January 2013

If you’re a long time visitor to this blog you’ll know that this year I’ve run numerous How To Do Everything And Be Happy workshops in various parts of Essex.

I think it’s safe to say that the workshops went down a storm, and I’m delighted to announce that using the invaluable feedback I received, Southend’s Therapy Life Centre and I will be running a series of monthly Happiness workshops – starting Thursday the 24th January – to coincide with the re-launch of the paperback.

What’s covered?

Each month we’ll spend the first hour looking at a different idea from the book How To Do Everything and Be Happy and how to implement it into your life, whether that be Boxing Day, Wish List, Now Lists, Focus, Trophy Boards, or Diaries. Then after a short tea-break (biscuits provided – probably, if I remember) we’re back, looking at your Goals, how far you’ve got with them and how you can take the next step towards achieving them.

Next Thursday we’ll be concentrating on how to eliminate unhappiness, and working out exactly what we want for the coming months. It’ll be fun! I can definitely promise you that. But I have a feeling it’s also going to be the start of something special.

Is it a workshop? Or a course? It’s a “club”.

Technically it’s a series of six stand-alone, related, repeating, workshops (when we get to workshop number six we’ll start afresh the following month). You can come along to just one, a series of six, or every month, it’s totally your choice.

The evening will have more of a club-feel to it making the whole experience less “rushed”, more intensive, and introducing a strong focus on helping you achieve your goals as the months roll by.

It’s a fun way to get motivated and fired up about making changes in your life, whilst being practical, realistic and keeping your feet firmly on the floor.

How much does it cost?

The cost is just £60 for six sessions (if you pay in advance – see below), or £12 per session if you pay on the night.

Where and when?

The club starts on Thursday January 24th 2013
Subsequent clubs are on the last Thursday of each month and last two hours (including a ten minute break around half time).
We start promptly at 8pm (so maybe get there about 7:45? Put that in your diary).

We meet at The Therapy Life Centre, in Southend On Sea, Essex. (the old driving test centre) – there is reasonable parking.
The address is 11 Prittlewell Chase, Southend-on-Sea, SS0 0RX
The nearest station is Prittlewell (just fifteen minutes walk away) which is on the Liverpool Street – Southend Victoria line.

Sign Up and Pay!

The cost is just £60 for six sessions (if you pay in advance), or £12 per session if you pay on the night.

There are three ways to pay in advance

1. In person at the Therapy Life Centre. Click here for opening hours. 
2. Over the phone with a credit or debit card. Call 01702 433959. Click here for opening hours. 
3. Pay here via credit / debit card and/or paypal!

Refunds & General Terms

• Workshop credits can be carried forward – you do not have to attend six concurrent workshops
• If you wish to transfer your credits to another person please let us know first
• Payments via the internet will appear as “soundhaven” on your statement
• Refunds will not be issued at a workshop and must be requested in the manner the original payment was made (ie. in person, over the phone, or via this website)
• We reserve the right to charge a £2 admin fee to cover the cost of processing refunds
• In the event that you cannot make six workshops we reserve the right to retain £12 per workshop you’ve attended, and refund the balance
• We require five working days notice (via the contact form on this website) process a paypal refund

Any questions?

Drop me a line via the contact page if you have any questions. Operators are standing by.

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Visit the Therapy Life Centre’s website
More about the Therapy Life Centre

Win Yourself a Signed Copy of The New Paperback!

The competition is now closed, and we’re just contacting the last of the winners. Thank you to everyone who took part.

And The Winners Are…

1. Tracy Hanson (@iansmic) from West Yorkshire – congratulations!
2. Judith Eddington (@hey_jude_67) from Cardiff- congratulations!
3. Sarah Walters (@sarahwalters99) from Cheshire – congratulations!
4. Cheryll Hastie (@pipersky1) from Peterborough – congratulations!
5. Midge Greentree (@wildwomanwithin) from Oregon – congratulations!
6. Greig Spencer (@greigo_uk) from Leicester – congratulations!

Your books will be dispatched to you sometime next week (so you might have them ahead of the official publication date)