Scratching Shed Publishing

It’s all go here, we can tell you…

What a hectic old time it’s been – hardly time to draw breath – and phew. One minute we are standing by the presses watching our latest offspring – Forty-20 Magazine – come to life, the next we’re on telly sat next to Look North‘s Harry and Christa promoting it.

Two issues in and we have to say the reaction has been beyond expectations. The subscriber numbers are more than double what we dared anticipate and cover around 100 different geographical locations across Britain and into France, Spain and Oz which sort of justifies our mantra about the spread of rugby league.

Adding the respected and esteemed Guardian columnist and local radio doyen Martin Kelner to the stable of great writers was a real coup for issue two, while Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, or Louie McCockney as he now refers to himself on Twitter, has increased the sale of QVC apps through his column. Louie is pictured above, hard at work.

With supermarket chain Asda coming on board and giving us near nationwide access in their stores, the magazine print run doubled between issues one and two which helped to bring on board Alton Towers as an advertiser. You’d think this was planned.

Not that the book front has been neglected, with York’s Greast Races proving to be a hit at the course and Ronnie Teeman’s legal and sporting meander A Lawyer for All Seasons also attracting media interest.

The veteran and venerable legal eagle of Leeds – who is still practicing and counts some of sport’s great names among his friends and clients – is set to appear on BBC radio in the north’s One on One programme this Friday, 19th August, an hour long Desert Island Discs-type format to discuss his life and career.

Waterstones in Leeds, where he is doing a signing on 24th September, have a display of his tome in the window and he has also been ‘booked’ (sorry) to appear on his old stamping ground, the Leeds University Law Society.

In addition, Mr T has been contacted by a long lost friend who he went to school and through university with, but has lived in London for years and came across his book by chance – ah, the power of the written word.

Also just published and going down a storm is Lee Crooks’ eagerly awaited autobiography, From Hull to Hell & Back.

The big man has been superb in answering the call of those wanting to interview him, including the Hull Daily Mail, Yorkshire Evening Post, Yorkshire Post plus stints on local BBC TV, Yorkshire Radio and Radio Leeds, where his honesty and candidness were captivating.

Launched with events in Hull and Castleford, and a signing in Waterstones Hull, Lee has been kept busier than when he used to face that great Wigan pack of the mid-eighties, and the signs are that isn’t about to change. There will also be a major feature on Lee and his autobiography, written in association with Vince Groak, in this year’s Wembley Challenge Cup final programme.

Thanks for supporting us, long may the indies flourish.

Phil & Tony