https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/ Michael J Phillips writes character-driven fiction rooted in place. Novels, short stories and the odd record review from Penarth, South Wales. en-gb https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/are-you-writing-for-healing-or-for-applause/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/are-you-writing-for-healing-or-for-applause/ Wed, 28 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT (Note: This Blog Post contains an affiliate link) Writing is a force to be reckoned with—one that can heal, inspire, challenge, and entertain. But for every word we put… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/the-reviews-are-in-and-were-going-to-spain/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/the-reviews-are-in-and-were-going-to-spain/ Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT It’s been ten days since The Mijas Cowboy was published and the response has been everything I hoped for and more. Three five star reviews in the first ten days — from… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/the-mijas-cowboy-paperback-now-available/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/the-mijas-cowboy-paperback-now-available/ Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Mijas Cowboy is out in paperback (and I’m in Mijas to celebrate) Today The Mijas Cowboy arrives in paperback, and I’m writing this from Mijas Pueblo, a few streets… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/its-here-the-mijas-cowboy-is-published/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/its-here-the-mijas-cowboy-is-published/ Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT After months of writing, editing, rewriting, proofing, formatting, cover designing and more cups of tea than I care to count, The Mijas Cowboy is published today —… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/new-track-from-breezbear-halloween-queen/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/new-track-from-breezbear-halloween-queen/ Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Add Halloween Queen, the new single from Breezbear, to your Halloween playlist! Like this? Please share! #halloweensongs #halloweenmusic #halloweenpartyideas… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/five-days-and-counting-the-mijas-cowboy/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/five-days-and-counting-the-mijas-cowboy/ Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Five days to go.... People keep asking me what The Mijas Cowboy is about. Its about four Cardiff men in their eighties who travel to Mijas in southern Spain to confront… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/eight-days-and-counting-the-mijas-cowboy/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/eight-days-and-counting-the-mijas-cowboy/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT I started writing The Mijas Cowboy at a table in Cardiff Bay earlier this year. A notebook, a pen and four old men who wouldn't leave me alone until I told their story.… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/new-track-from-breezbear-birds-fall-from-the-sky/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/new-track-from-breezbear-birds-fall-from-the-sky/ Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT New track from BreezBear Music - Birds Fall From the Sky - available on all the usual platforms (Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify etc) - Like, share, follow or not -… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/meet-alfie/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/meet-alfie/ Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT They call him The Don. The planner. The one who never misses a day at the café. For forty-five years he's kept ten thousand pounds in a biscuit tin and a secret he's… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/the-mijas-cowboy-proof-copy-has-dropped/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/the-mijas-cowboy-proof-copy-has-dropped/ Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT Eeeeeekkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!! Proof copy of The Mijas Cowboy has landed today - Cover edits needed but otherwise I think its looking good! #TheMijasCowboy… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/meet-frankie/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/meet-frankie/ Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT He's carried the same photograph for forty years. Five men outside a Cardiff pub in 1985, all of them young, all of them certain the world was still ahead of them. He… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/meet-ronnie/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/meet-ronnie/ Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT Cooler than a polar bear's toenails. Not bad for eighty-one. Ronnie Foster never stopped chasing the feeling he found at a punk gig in 1977 — wireless headphones now… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/new-breezbear-release-grenache-or-love/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/new-breezbear-release-grenache-or-love/ Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT New Breezbear Music! Out now on the usual platforms including Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube - Grenache or Love. Featuring our new Singer Ally - Listen, like and… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/the-mijas-cowboy-proofreading-complete/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/the-mijas-cowboy-proofreading-complete/ Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Proofreader's report on The Mijas Cowboy landed this week. After months of writing, editing, beta reading and revising, these were the words I needed to read. "What… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/the-mijas-cowboy-proofreading-begins/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/the-mijas-cowboy-proofreading-begins/ Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT 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… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/the-mijas-cowboy-editing-complete/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/the-mijas-cowboy-editing-complete/ Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT There's a particular feeling that comes when you finally put the pencil down on a manuscript. Not quite relief, not quite satisfaction. Something in between. Something… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/new-breezbear-music-read-more-books/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/new-breezbear-music-read-more-books/ Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT New Breezbear Music! Out now on the usual platforms including Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube. Inspired by our visit to the fantastic Hay festival last year, here's… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/the-mijas-cowboy-the-first-edit-begins/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/the-mijas-cowboy-the-first-edit-begins/ Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT "The first draft is just you telling yourself the story." - Terry Pratchett Now it's time to tell it to everyone else. SECOND DRAFT BEGINS 📝.....AND SO DOES THE REAL… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/the-murder-of-sal-mansi/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/the-murder-of-sal-mansi/ Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT A village. A whisper. A mystery... By nine-thirty on a Tuesday morning, Sal Mansi was dead. At least, that was how the villagers of Pennycross Bridge understood it. No… https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/latest-news-the-mijas-cowboy/ https://michaeljphillips.co.uk/blog/latest-news-the-mijas-cowboy/ Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT I did it! 🎉 THE MIJAS COWBOY - first draft complete in 51 days! When four octogenarians discover where their fifth man has been hiding for twenty-six years, they follow…