New Book: Stanley Banks Devlins Knott

STANLEY BANKS DEVLINS KNOTT

It's been a tough year; I can tell because we're three-quarters of the way through 2026 and I have only posted twice.

I have only ridden my bike a handful of times and have found work really stressful. All I have done is go to work, then when I am home, stay in. Where I can go without seeing anyone, quite happily, well maybe happily is the wrong word... More like not really bothered one way or the other.

Things are going on in the background; they have been there for a long time, but I don't want to say too much, as well I haven't figured stuff out, so not much good writing about it here.

And that's about all I have to say on that.

One positive of finding myself spending more time alone at home is that I've eventually managed to complete writing another book.

As I recall, I started writing it sometime in 2025, during a period when I was off sick from work, and I got a bit carried away, realising I was at something like 96,000 words. It then suddenly dawned on me that I was maybe only halfway through, maybe a little further, but that it was going to be way too long, and I suddenly stopped writing, having lost my Mojo.

It wasn't until I returned to the story this year that I got back into it, and then spent untold hours working on the storyline and plot.

The book may never be a success; however, I know I am not what you would class as a proper author, well, not in my eyes. I like making shit up, and who knows, when I am gone, someone might pick up something I have written, and may even enjoy it. It's something that will sit on a shelf long after I am gone, yet still be a part of me, as are the characters in my book, or books, as I'm writing yet another.

Anyhoo, if you have read this far, well done, and you may be asking, "well what is this Stanley Banks Devlins Knott all about.

Mmmmmm, well, if I were to summarise, I would say it's about this likeable North East man, from around the Durham region,  who gets diagnosed with terminal cancer. "Whoaaa, I hear you say." Whey had on a bit, man, that isn't everything. 

As you may have gathered, his name is Stanley Banks, and Stanley likes riding bikes, camping out, playing his guitar, and eating Rolo's; oh, and he thinks he can hear his dad in the ticking of his watch.  

As he is ill, he knows his next ride out may be his last.

Meet Stanley Banks

This is where Devlins Knott comes in and the other part of the title. It's a local-ish wood where Stan meets a strange man and makes a deal.

This leads to another fella, that I am guessing readers will love to hate, and a chance for Stan to move up to Scotland and live out his dream of running a business up there.

Stan makes lots of new friends, on his journey, including a wee border terrier, who is actually taken from my little dog Neville, who becomes Haggis in the book. Stan also makes quite a few enemies. 

Tasked with a job he doesn't really want, he doesn't really like children, but he has no choice and ends up babysitting a troubled child.

While all this is going on, he falls in love; however, it's not all roses and roses, as his life isn't what it seems from the outside, and while he is an honest, genuine man, he is trapped in a lie.

The book has lots of Geordie dialect and swearing; it's dark, romantic, funny, and a touch supernatural. It's unlike anything else I have ever heard of or read, and it it took a considerable amount of thought to get the plot to work.

I guess time will tell, and 'readers' verdicts will too; it's not going to be for everyone, just like a cookbook isn't for me.

Oh and as I mentioned I am on with another book, about 56,000 words in about a serial killer, again from the North East. I thought I would mention it, as I gave my dad a rough draft to read and was chuffed to bits when he was almost crying with laughter at a certain chapter. So if I can bring some laughter to my dear old dad, that's approval enough for me. Maybe he will be the only one who buys a copy Lol.

Who knows when I am back, but for now, thanks for reading and if you're interested, watch out for

Stanley Banks Devlins Knott.