MILESTONES
-72dpi-1500x2000.jpg)
"Fifty Thousand miles travelled Books Sold!"
In my Scottish home town of Aberdeen, the ancient Castlegate at the eastern end of the city's main thoroughfare marked the spot from which distances to other towns and places in the region were measured. Radiating north, west and south from that east coast site, routeways featured granite roadside bollards at each mile with the appropriate number carved into the stone. I particularly remember the four mile stone on the west side of town as next to it was located the sixteenth century 'Four Mile Inn', a favourite watering hole of mine in younger days ... but I diverge!
As I grew up and moved further afield, I found milestones on roads everwhere keeping me advised of not only how far I was from home but how far ahead lay my next destination. In due course I moved away from Britain altogether yet continued to find the milestones at roadsides everywhere, many now displaying kilometres. Nowadays of course the old stone indicators are replaced with giant billboards and overhead gantries with electronic displays and messaging, but some of the original stones can still be seen on lesser roads. There are many to be found around my present home in rural Portugal. I find their presence reassuring.
They remind me of what I recall as both gentler and more reckless(!) times, places of my youth and of youth itself! But they kindle in me a deeper awareness too of significant events such as marriages, births, anniversaries, personal and business ambitions fulfilled - each one in itself a milestone in life's onward march. Milestones reached give a sense of achievement. They also point forward to the next one!
It is ten years since I decided to discard other interests and concentrate solely on life as an author. My writing had commenced many years earlier; originally as business notes and then as printed booklets for guests of my 'Wake Up' leisure and learning breaks which I hosted first in France and then in Portugal. Those booklets morphed into my Inspirations series of print and e-format books reflecting my professional insights, real life experiences, personal views and fun stories. Then I decided to fulfill a dream which many people harbour but few realise. I turned to writing my first novel. Another milestone in life!
To date I have completed four novels (one ghost written for a client) and embracing a combined total of five hundred thousand words written. A remarkable output for a 'late starter'. More amazing still, I have as of this month reached the milestone of Fifty Thousand world-wide sales of my books! Were it miles travelled it would equate to more than twice around the world. In terms of book sales it gives me equal satisfaction to just that ... more perhaps. It is indeed a milestone in my life.
So, where for me next? Well, there is another novel in the pipeline, plus I have a publishing business - (HLLB Imprints). The latter to give me control over the production and distribution of my own works but also to provide a much-needed facility for authors in need of a 'woke-free' route to market.
But first I want to share my current success with you. When you click below on the image of my latest Lukaku's Black Gold novel you will be taken via my web page to the Amazon Sales page offering the paperback version at a 50% Discounted Price. The reduced rate is for a limited period only - so act fast!
My hope is that reading 'Lukaku' or any of my novels and other books proves to be an enjoyable and rewarding experience for you - one which leads you to your own personal milestones in life.
I am Tom Riach. I live and write in the sunny south of Portugal.
Read my latest thrilling novel which was published on the 27th March 2026. Click on the image below.
'MILESTONES' is an original copyright Tom Riach feature.
I hope you enjoyed this presentation and found it to be of value.
To learn more please visit me on my Author Page.
See you there! Regards, Tom.
Comments