Buy either of ‘Lost in Manchester Found in Vegas’ or ‘Lost in Manchester Tourin’ America’ from the below links.
LOST IN MANCHESTER, FOUND IN VEGAS
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?
But what would be the point of that?
Ricky Lever’s life is thrown into despair following the break up of his long-term relationship, and with it comes the realisation that life is in danger of passing him by. Desperate for answers, he embarks on a soul-searching trip to Las Vegas with three of his oldest friends, hoping that a new direction in life will be revealed to him.
In the midst of the excitement, madness and ecstasy of the city’s atmosphere, life changing revelations prove to be a little harder to come by than Ricky hoped, and he is pushed to take the ultimate gamble.
Bringing the city of Las Vegas to life with a killer soundtrack running throughout, this uniquely told coming of age story twists and turns through euphoric highs and emotive lows.
From excessive gambling to heavy drinking, strip clubs to the desert, the biggest hotels to the lowliest bars, ride along for the trip of a lifetime as these four ordinary lads from Manchester make the most of the extraordinary world of Las Vegas.
Seen through the eyes of Ricky, ‘Lost in Manchester, Found in Vegas’ is a hilarious, honest, and emotional journey showing how six nights in Sin City can influence a man at a crossroads in life.
LOST IN MANCHESTER, TOURIN’ AMERICA
'Rock 'n' Roll Never Dies. You just have to search a little harder to find it these days.'
Ricky Lever is back! After his exploits in Las Vegas nine months earlier, Ricky finds himself on another American adventure touring with Manchester rock band, Cutthroat Shambles, on their quest to be signed by a record label.
Thrust into the limelight as their tour blogger, this life-changing road trip isn’t as glamorous as first perceived. As questions arise about Ricky’s career and relationship with his Vegas sweetheart, Eva Espinoza, he also has to deal with the hostility of the band’s edgy lead singer, Dee Darrell. Dee is chasing her own demons, and they are brought to the forefront by the pressure of the tour.
And what about the rest of the band and their manager? Everyone has a part to play and a direction to follow as the stakes are raised, culminating in a career-defining gig at the legendary Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles.
From energetic shows in the lowliest bars to the largest cities and desert surroundings, ride along on this uplifting and humorous read for the trip of a lifetime following a rock band making the most of life on the road on this ultimate sex, drugs and rock n roll America trip.
Bringing the American West to life with a killer soundtrack, this modern-day, hilarious rock ‘n’ roll story twists and turns through love, friendship, excitement, madness and the music.
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Born and raised in Manchester and heavily influenced by music, film and literature, I’ve aspired to work in and around the creative arts since my teenage years. It was only when I hit my late twenties that life took a fortunate turn and gave me the opportunity to fulfil those dreams. I was invited to write for a local online music fanzine, naturally jumping at the chance to review and interview underground bands on the rock music scene.
There has always been a connection with the Manchester music scene down the years, whether that’s from the great bands that helped create the status Manchester currently sits upon, or the work I’ve done in helping little known local bands push a bit further towards achieving their own dreams. My main passion has always been for music from the 60s and 70s, and the rock icons that made that time so great. The wisdom and attitude shown by those legends played into my own mindset, and none more so than The Doors. It’s the chord striking lyrics of my favourite band, and of the many great songs of the times, that have always acted as a mantra to how I’ve tried to approach life.
Over the years, my involvement with music continued to progress and I co-hosted and co-ran the Sonic Bandwagon radio show on Stockport radio station, Pure 107.8FM, as well as hosting my own show, The Roadhouse for a short period. This enthusiasm for music has become an integral part of my writing, very evident in my first novel, ‘Lost in Manchester, Found in Vegas’.
I’ve always been drawn to novels that explore coming of age as part of the theme. The likes of Rex Pickett and Nick Hornby are personal favourites as they capture this idea of ordinary people thrust into dark times, who eventually manage to come through adversity improved by the experience. But it’s the extremities and intrigue of writers such as Hunter S Thompson and Charles Bukowski, and their use of brutal honesty, pushing boundaries into the darker side of life that really attracts me. It is their ingenuity, coupled with their depravity and rebelliousness which has me completely hooked.
The fascination and passion I hold for music and literature had to eventually come to a head. Sure enough, a holiday to Las Vegas with my friends acted as a catalyst for me to throw all these influences and ideas together. ‘Lost in Manchester, Found in Vegas’ is a story born out of the fires of such artistic influences, overlaid with my own voice and approach.
My involvement in music and radio led me to meet Mohawk Radio, who I became great friends with. That friendship eventually resulted in being asked to tour with them when they travelled to America for a mini tour. ‘Lost in Manchester, Tourin’ America’ is the book born out of that adventure.