New book - "And now for something completely different..."

My headline, of course, is courtesy of the immortal Monty Python (I'll love them until I die!).
​But for me as a hard-boiled crime fiction author, this is the epitome of "something completely different".
It's also something so very personal.
Little-known fact about me as a person/author: as a young child (age 7) I was sent to an English boarding school.
The experience has left me scarred for life.  
And I'm obviously not alone.
​Over 10 years ago, I connected with a group in the UK, Boarding Concern, who provided a support network for boarding school survivors.  Aside from slaying a few personal demons, I ended up with the honour and privilege of being able to be instrumental in putting together a book of accounts, of a very personal nature, from a wide range of men who had gone through the trauma of English boarding schools.
It is indescribably wonderful to this year, 2021, see Routledge publish the end result of a project that ran for about 8 years: from the initial canvassing of survivors to the final testament.  It was a long road, believe me.
​I'm so proud to be a co-editor of, and also a contributing author to, this immensely important collection of personal stories.
​Special thanks to my two co-editors, Margaret and Allison, who did so much to steer this project to glorious completion.  My main work was in the earlier stages, and in the last couple of years Margaret and Allison have tirelessly driven the project home.
My great hope is that, through this project, we have furthered the cause of combatting the insidious and inhumane business of boarding schools.
To all the men who contributed to this book, my thoughts and solidarity forever.  I feel your pain, as I know you feel mine.  
Cheers,
ABP