The Mijas Cowboy — Proofreading Begins

Another milestone reached. The Mijas Cowboy has gone to the proofreader.

Prior to this, the manuscript went to a trusted beta reader. The feedback was everything a writer hopes for. He found the subject matter timely — we're an ageing population and the invisibility that comes with age is a real and pressing issue. He picked up on something I'd hoped readers would find — the contrast between how older people are treated in the UK and how age is regarded in Spain and southern Europe, where it carries wisdom and commands respect rather than redundancy.

He said he felt he knew all four men well by the midpoint. That the bond between them was genuine. And that the tenderness that develops between them goes beyond friendship in ways he found quietly affecting.

He's right on all counts. I knew that when I was writing it, but it's something else entirely to hear it confirmed by a reader coming to the book fresh.

The proofreader now has it. Cover design is next. We're on track for October 2026.

This is the book I'm most proud of. I can't wait for you to read it.

Michael J Phillips — Tales From the Monkey House