Pete Minall ~ Writer
"Clunk" ~ Book Review
from the USA
Hi Pete,
I just finished Clunk and honestly, I don’t know whether to applaud you or send you an invoice for emotional whiplash. 😄 Between heart attacks, forklifts, and caped crusaders, I feel like I’ve lived an entire backstage career without earning a single paycheck or bruised shin.
You’ve somehow managed to write a memoir that feels like a cross between a comedy sketch, a survival manual, and a therapy session for anyone who’s ever worked behind the scenes. I laughed, winced, and briefly considered buying gaffer tape, you know, just in case life falls apart and I need to fix it with “hope” like you did.
But here’s the thing: your storytelling works because it’s so unapologetically human. You don’t hide behind big names or flashy anecdotes, you make the chaos relatable. It’s like reading a love letter to the unpredictable, caffeine-fueled world of creative madness, and I’m absolutely sold.
Madison Carter
Ma
USA
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Received via e-mail October 2025
Double Book Launch ~ October 10th 2025
The Books have been launched into the world!
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My two actors, Rory Wilton and Emma Spurgin-Hussey, did a marvellous job holding my invited guests spellbound with their readings from "Clunk" and "Buffalo Bill and the Beast of Bodmin."
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Also pictured are James Inglis and Calum Oliver, who performed "The Ballad of Pasco Wenn" from "Buffalo Bill and the Beast of Bodmin."
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Some guests are also shown along with me busy signing copies of "Clunk."
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​This is an early review from one of my readers from the theatre regarding Clunk
“I am thrilled to have been lucky enough to have a sneaky read of “Clunk” before its release.
Pete ( Chief, as he is affectionately known), has created a fascinating, entertaining and rather moving walk through time with well-known actors and celebrities making cameo appearances. There are wonderful theatrical, political and historical facts scattered throughout. I have cried a few times as the Chief describes moments that were very personal to him or others. Perhaps it’s because I know him, perhaps it’s just the way it is written, but all of it is glorious. The Chief is a legend in his own right in my eyes, and this book celebrates that in a very understated way.
So impressed.”
Samantha Bell
September 2025
The double book launch has been reported in states across the USA including Utah, Texas, Washington, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. It was also covered in Jamaica, India and Poland and of course in Cornwall!
This is primarily due to Rob Phillimore my PR guru.
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All the books printed for the double launch date sold out and there is now a healthy waiting list for the reprints. These orders will be fulfilled soon.
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Thank you to all my guests who came, there were people from Theatre, Film and TV, The National Trust, Authors, Publishers, as well as friends and family.
CLUNK
My memoirs of a life spent loitering near fame in theatre, tv, rock and roll and film
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Buy the ebook from Smashwords.com for just £3.99 or the paperback from any good online store like Waterstones, Barnes and Noble, Amazon or directly from me.
Buffalo Bill and the Beast of Bodmin
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Buy the ebook from Smashwords.com for just £3.99 or the paperback from any good online store like Waterstones, Barnes and Noble, Amazon or directly from me.
Clunk is getting closer!
"Clunk" is a book of my memoirs, tales, stories and anecdotes from over fifty years working in rock and roll photography, theatre, film and TV.
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It is due out on October 10th and will be launched along with "Buffalo Bill and the Beast of Bodmin in the Cornish town of Bodmin itself.
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I am excited!
Hello from Dozmary Pool
I took a treacherous walk across Bodmin Moor to the eerie Dozmary Pool, hoping to capture a glimpse of its beauty for you. Unfortunately, the weather was a tempestuous mix of rain, wind, and bone-chilling cold, a fitting backdrop for a haunted place. It was here that the notorious madman, Pasco Wenn, committed gruesome murder, amidst the desolate landscape. This is not a place to wander alone under the cloak of night... Delve into the dark tale of what transpired and discover the fate of those involved within the pages of "Buffalo Bill and the Beast of Bodmin."
September 15th 2025
My birthday!
Linda from Southampton, still hot on the trail of the world famous cowboy and showman, Buffalo Bill along with Tommy Agar-Robartes from Lanhydrock House. Their joint search party is scouring Bodmin Moor, looking for the cruel hearted, mass murderer, Pascoe Wenn.
This is after his daring escape from Bodmin Jail where he was awaiting execution for the Capital offence of murder!
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The book, "Buffalo Bill and the Beast of Bodmin" is out on October 10th and will be available as an e-book for just £3.99 from Smashwords.com
It can also be bought as a paperback from all the usual online shops, like Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Amazon etc.
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The book involves many locations around Bodmin and the Moor, from Cardinham Woods, Blisland, Jamaica Inn, Lanhydrock House, Bodmin Jail, Dozmary Pool and Horsebridge.
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A truly local book from a local author who lives in Bodmin!
September 2025
A surprised visitor having coffee in the sun at Bodmin Jail reads a thrilling section in "Buffalo Bill and the Beast of Bodmin!"
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e-book and paperback out on October 10th!
Bodmin Jail
Buffalo Bill and the Beast of Bodmin
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Here I am outside the main entrance to Bodmin Jail.
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Within the shadows of Bodmin Jail, a sense of foreboding lingers as Pasco Wenn waits, shackled by fate and the watchful eyes of the guards. The air is thick with tension; his mind races, plotting an audacious escape from the prison that looms around him. With every passing moment, the desire for freedom intensifies, overshadowing the grim reality of his impending execution. Will he seize the chance to break free before the trap door swings open, sealing his fate forever?
Clunk
This is the second book I will be launching in October. It is a book of my memories and anecdotes from well over fifty years working in Rock and Roll, Film, TV and Theatre.
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Hopefully, you will find some of my stories amusing interesting and maybe they might give you a small insight into the lives of a few of the famous people I have bumped into across the decades.
I’ve spent my career behind cameras and lighting rigs, accidentally working with Led Zeppelin, The Who, Emma Thompson, Derek Jacobi, Gene Wilder, Joan Collins, Tom Conti, and Charlton Heston (who once invited me to lunch — I didn’t go; I was on the wrong continent!). In TV and film, I’ve worked on Doc Martin, His Dark Materials, Beyond Paradise, and even appeared in Fisherman’s Friends (briefly, and tunelessly).
These weren’t celebrity encounters - just colleagues in the same bedlam.
Fame fades under stage lights. What lasts is camaraderie, caffeine, and the quiet triumph of making things work before someone yells “places please.”
Double book launch
A few words about Buffalo Bill and the Beast of Bodmin.
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This latest novel will be out in October in a double book launch with my other new release called Clunk.
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Watch out here for more details on dates etc.
Buffalo Bill and the Beast of Bodmin
At last, The Authors proof copies of my latest book,
Buffalo Bill and the Beast of Bodmin have arrived.
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Super excited.
Cant wait to take a peek inside the boxes and see what the book looks like as a paperback!
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I hope the cover prints out as I imagined. It is my first attempt at completely designing and originating the design from scratch. Another first for me!
July 2025
Free e-book! ~ Yes, FREE!
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Hello, Readers!
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I’m excited to announce that my ebook, Doyle and Wells, will be available as part of a promotion on Smashwords for the month of July as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale!
This is a chance to get my book, along with books from many other great authors, at a discount so you can get right to reading.
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You will find the promo here starting on July 1, so save the link:
https://www.smashwords.com/shelves/promos/
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Please share this promo with friends and family. You can even forward this email to the avid readers in your life!
Thank you for your help and support!
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A full description of the book can be found elsewhere on this site.
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Happy reading!
June 2025
St Austell Library
Today I went to St Austell Library and met the delightful Rebecca O'Doherty who kindly took delivery of my first four novels for their collection to add to their shelves.
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It is always a thrill to have your work added to public spaces.
May 2025
Bodmin Library
Today I went down to the lovely, light and airy Bodmin Library, pictured on the right, to see that Cornwall Library Service has generously given over a shelf to display some of my books. See photo below.
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Such a lovely feeling to know that people in your own community have free access to your writing.
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Thanks to the staff and in particular to Helen for supporting local writers with such enthusiasm and warmth. Chy Trevail is also a great place to hang out and have coffee alone or with friends.
May 2025
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
I recently found myself in the New Forest in Hampshire and noticed I was only a few miles away from the charming village of Minstead.
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I knew this was where my all time hero Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was buried, so I visited a florist and bought a few flowers and headed for All Saints Church in the village.
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Sir Arthur is buried near a large tree on the edge of the graveyard (reputedly because of his Spiritualist beliefs) beneath a carved stone cross and the memorial stone includes the words -
Steel true/Blade straight/Arthur Conan Doyle/Knight/Patriot, Physician and man of letters.
I was thrilled to see that on the grave monument were various objects left by visitors including a magnifying glass and a pipe. I left a copy of my own book "Doyle and Wells." I hope someone enjoys it. There are a number of benches near the grave to sit peacefully in the sun and reflect. It was a good day.
April 2025
The Reading Room ~ Bodmin
I would like to thank "The Reading Room" in Dennison Road, Bodmin for supporting local authors and for taking my books to add to their illustrious collection.
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The Reading Room is a great place to find books, sit and relax and have a chat with others over their wonderful coffee.
All proceeds from sales go to Cornwall Mind. A great institution which promotes wellness and well being.
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Pictured to the left is Fern accepting my novels.
March 2025 ~ The new novel!
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Work is well underway for my next novel.
With a prevailing wind I hope it will be published in the Autumn of 2025.
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As yet I have not decided on a title but two that are in the running at the moment are "The Helliers" and the much longer "Buffalo Bill and the Beast of Bodmin". I even have an idea for the artwork for the jacket.
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I cant say too much about it yet but it is set around Bodmin Moor in Cornwall in the year 1904.
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This was the year that the famous cowboy, "Buffalo Bill" Cody brought his famous travelling Wild West show to Cornwall and performed in Bodmin. An adventure plays out against this backdrop and it will feature the man himself!
Jan 2025 ~
A selection of my books
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Here is a photo of my books at present.
The four novels can be found on this site and snippets of "The Lost Negatives" and "Acting my Age" can also be found here, although these two books are as yet unpublished.
January 2015 ~ Orlando's Quest
This will be the last story in "The Trust" series. At the moment I am working on another draft and have decided to develop one of the characters a little more.
I have no idea at all about the jacket art work, but I'm sure inspiration will hit me!
February 2015 ~ Doyle and Wells
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Herbert George Wells have had their second rewrite and I have to admit to being pretty satisfied as to how the story has progressed and resolved itself.
I am torn between two stlyes for the book jacket, but I am leaning more towards one rather than the other. The two front leaders are showing Sir Arthur and HG Wells together, although only one photo exists of them and it is poor quality or a Victorian gas lamp type scene.. What do you think?
March 2015 ~ Matthew and the Kilderkin
This is the second book in "The Trust" series and it is presently undergoing re writes to ensure I am satisfied with the final draft.
The jacket has been going through many changes and I am beginning to get where I want to be with it after many false starts.
March 2015 ~ Visit to Worcester Cathedral
I have just found myself visiting family in Worcestershire and decided to take a small diversion to Worcester Cathedral. This was to take a look at the tomb of King John who as you know plays a pivotal role in the book "The Spy, The Dwarf and The Mongol." Well, this is also the 800th anniversary year of Magna Carta. The siting of the tomb before the high altar was magnificent and the sun streaming in through the stained glass windows perfectly illuminated the scene. It is well worth a visit, not only to see King John's tomb but also the many other fine brasses and medieval tombs which are housed in the wonderful Cathedral.
March 5th 2015 ~ Happy St Piran's Day!
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Happy St Piran's Day to everyone out there. Today is the Saints day for Cornwall, marked here with much merriment, parades and song.
St Piran is also the patron saint of tin miners.
Many legends proliferate about his life but I love the story as to how he ended up on a Cornish beach after being thrown into a raging sea from clifftops in Ireland. St Piran was "murdered" by being tied to a heavy miilstone and thrown into a stormy sea. As he hit the water all became calm and the millstone (with Piran attached) bobbed to the surface like a cork ~ A very unsucessful murder attempt. He then paddled all the way to Cornwall landing at Peranzabuloe on the North Cornish coast where he founded an Abbey.
The picture shows Cornish people crossing the sand dunes to the site of his original church. The Cornish flag (the white cross on the black background) can be seen in abundance proudly being carried by the marchers.
Kernow Bys Vicken
April 2015
Well this has been a very busy month for me.
Firstly the rewriting and editing is going well for "Matthew and the Kilderkin" the second book in the "Trust" series. With a prevailing wind, the end may well be in sight. Watch this space.
In one of my many other lives I have been working on a movie as a "Supporting Artiste" ~ (Extra to you and I!)
I have been playing the role of a member of the CLA (Cornish Liberation Army). It is a comedy written and starring Jack Whitehall and is a film version of the hit TV series "Bad Education".
I have met some really nice people on the project and have been lucky enough to have worked with Iain Glenn (my boss in the film). Iain is well known for many roles including "Game of Thrones".
I have also worked with a fabulous guy called Steven Spiers. Steve is a character actor whose resume ranges from "Pirates of the Carribean" to Ricky Gervaises "Extras".
The pictures show me in my CLA guise and with Steve.
April 2015
Still in April, albeit the end, and after much deliberation I have finally decided on the image I will be using for the book cover of "Matthew and the Kilderkin". This has taken far longer than I anticipated and I hope you like it and approve. Watch this space for a sneak preview coming soon.
I have also been doing a few days filming on the TV series "Doc Martin" ~ for the non British people looking at this web page it is a gentle comedy set in a mythical Cornwall where the sun is always shining and it follows the trials of a sugeon in a rural seaside practice. He is allergic to the sight of blood and is further hampered with a very poor set of social skills!
My secenes have been as a fisherman with Ian McNiece who plays an old scoundrel called Burt Large.
May 2015
Well, May has arrived and what a busy month it has proven to be. It started off as usual with a trip to Padstow to celebrate the beginning of Summer with me kissing the Maypole and following the 'obby 'oss around the village. It also gave me the chance to catch up with some old friends who also make the annual pilgramage. One couple of friends announced the expected arrival of a new member of the family. Always great news to hear.
Work on "Matthew and the Kilderkin" has been ongoing and is now finished after the final bit of "fact checking" and proof reading which resulted in a tiny bit more editing, but now I can announce that the completed manuscript is ready to go off to Canada for the final digital formatting. The "Author photo" which will come with the ebook is of me having a drink of well earned water after taking part in a Seventeenth Century battle re-enactment with my Sealed Knot chums. It just goes to show that a 62 year old can still wield and use a pike on the "field of warre" ~ albeit battling for charity! Hard sweaty stuff!
The cover for the book has proven to be more difficult to decide upon. As I write this, there are four different book covers sat on my desk and I have to choose one to accompany the ebook. Hard choice and one which I hope I don't get wrong. The artwork is by an American artist called "Diversepixel" who has designed the cover and it is perfect for the tone of the book, my decision is with reference to the layout of the text. I hope my final choice will not detract from the quality of the cover picture.
"Doyle and Wells" is progressing well and I am hard at work with its latest draft. It is wonderful writing about two of our most respected authors, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and H.G. Wells. Pitting the two great men against an enigmatic puzzle is not only fun but is also a great challenge. I have not worked on this manuscript for a while and returning to it with fresh eyes has been a pleasure.
The cover picture for the ebook "Doyle and Wells" has proven to be far less complicated than that for "Matthew and the Kilderkin" and I think I have pretty well made up my mind on the design.
June 2015
Well here we are on the 4th of June 2015 and I'm pleased to announce that the second book in "The Trust" series has been published today.
"Matthew and the Kilderkin" is now available for anyone to buy online. This is my second Ebook and I love the story. The artwork on the cover went through many alterations and design changes but eventually I hit upon a design I really like. I note the book has already been picked up by libraries and I'm hoiping that all who read it have a good time and enjoy the plot. The English Civil War period is a particular favourite of mine and by the end of the tale I hope you will want to learn a little more about it yourselves. A huge thanks to everyone who helped me to make it happen from publishers to cover artist and from beta readers to proof readers. You guys are something else!
Summer 2015
Well the summer has come and gone in a frenzy of activity.
Sales of both The Spy, The Dwarf & The Mongol and Matthew & the Kilderkin have been going well and I am looking forward to publishing the third in the series of "The Trust" which will be titled Doyle and Wells.
I have been having a few problems with choosing a suitable jacket for the book but now think I'm almost there with a design.
I have also been busy working for the National Trust at the beautiful Lanhydrock House. Here is a picture of the property.
October 2015
Well the decision has finally been made about the latest book jacket and it can be seen here for the first time. I am pleased with it along with the strap line "Do the dead have a voice?" Work on the final edoiting of the book has proceeded well and everything looks ship shape and Bristol fashion for publication within the next month or so.
I have had a little problem over a character who was to have been based on a real person but it has now been resolved.
The leaves are falling and the garden is looking messy again!
November 2015
Wow, where has the year gone?
A lot has been happening this month, I have completed the editing, Biographies and other ancillary things to go into "Doyle and Wells" and today it has been whisked off to Canada to my formatters who I can thoroughly reccommend. They can be found at: http://ebooklaunch.com/contact/
I am hoping all is well and that this rather complicated process which enables the book to be viewed correctly across all different formats and platforms goes easily. This is always a tricky time hoping that you have included all you wished to include before it is too late!
Talking of Canada, I recently did a film for Netflix which is a Canadian co-production. They flew into Britain for two days location filming in Charlestown, Cornwall. All seemed pretty exciting stuff to me with Redcoats, Indians and Fur-trappers. It is called "Frontier" and should be with you in 2016.
As some of you will know I also have a passion for playing board games and I have just returned from a week in a farmhouse on Dartmoor with a big bunch of friends playing from breakfast until very late at night. Yes, lots of food and drinking was involved as was laughter and visiting a friend who has discovered a hitherto unknown Roman Road, he took us to the dig, deep in the Devon woods!
