David and Alan are on the run from the redcoats through the wood of Lettermore. To be honest, I am not sure what I am running from. The midges definitely, but what else?

At the moment I am definitely being pursued online by a small posse of ad planners. Such is the power of Iain’s blog (aka crackunit) that he has boosted my Twitter following overnight from 1s to 10s of followers!

I think he sums up my ambitions for this project rather well when he says:

“it’s charming. And interesting. And funny. And real. And a touch shambolic. And a little bit odd.”

Just two of those qualities would do me; although perhaps not ‘shambolic’ and ‘odd’ just on their own. I’m also happy to report of at least four people who have mailed me directly to say that they are now reading ‘Kidnapped’. As a percentage rate of my total audience that’s a pretty good conversion rate of viewers to readers. Check out this note from one of my growing band of kidmappers:

“just ordered the ebook from amazon for me and joe so we don’t feel left out of your travels. joe is making the transition you talk about over the next few years. let’s hope this book helps him. he’s just finished tom sawyer which for me, did the same.”

Hey, Iain, perhaps there is a business model here after all!

And maybe it isn’t just about this book. Kevin, an English teacher, has contacted me to suggest other novels that could get the same mapper treatment: 39 Steps, Moonfleet, Jamaica Inn…? All other suggestions welcome.

And let’s not forget about the potential for a soundtrack album too. I rather liked Garret’s suggestion of ‘Explosions in the Sky’. He says it goes well with the clip of me walking about in a storm.

Less sure about Paul’s insistence that I try singing a bit of Jacques Brel as I walk. I’m not sure that will win me friends, Paul, and may even lose me some. Certainly it would worry the sheep. (Yes, they’re still here… there… everywhere!)

*Please note all the Kidnapped posts have been transferred here from the original blog at https://timwright.typepad.com/kidmapper which no longer exists.

I have archived the comments from the original site but have not included them here. If you have any queries about this project, do get in touch.