Kaden heard Joe huff in his head.What is this?
A dog. A pet. Don’t talk to me.
His fingers prickled as he stroked the dog.IsJoe stroking her too?Elsie made a contented sound and Joe echoed it. When Elsie rolled onto her back so she could have her tummy rubbed, Joe laughed. Kaden pushed to his feet and went to sit at the kitchen table.
Alistair put Kaden’s coffee next to a pile of paper. Kaden took out his laptop and set it next to Alistair’s.
“I’ve read through the final chapters,” Alistair said. “I made a few adjustments but it reads very well. Thank you, Kaden. You’ve done an excellent job, but then I shouldn’t have expectedanything less. You’ve already made a name for yourself withRun With The Wind.”
Another book he’d ghostwritten for a well-known TV chef. It had gone viral, which now made him worry. “I hope you’re not expecting too much,” Kaden said carefully and sipped his coffee.
“You’ve already exceeded my expectations. You’ve made me sound a lot more interesting than I am.”
Kaden chuckled. “That’s not true. I’m in awe of what you did when you were younger than me. I’m nowhere near as brave. All that way and no mobile phone? Plus, I’d cope with one night in a tent and that would be it. First sign of a snake or scorpion and I’d have gone home. I probably wouldn’t have stopped to pack first.”
Alistair laughed.
Kaden brought up the document on his laptop. They discussed the changes Alistair had made and Kaden amended the main file.
“Great,” Alistair said. “All done, right?”
“Almost. I’ve written this to go at the end of the blurb. What do you think?Both a travelogue and a chronicle of self-realisation,Going the Extra Mile is a captivating blend of adventure, challenge, and ultimately, self-discovery.”
“That sounds fabulous.”
“In that case, give me a moment to update the paperback file and once I’ve sent both that and the ebook doc to you, I’ll help you upload them onto the publishing platform. We’ve already filled in most of the details Amazon needs, it’s just a matter of adding the final versions and pressing go. Sure you haven’t changed your mind about requesting a proof of the paperback?”
“No, I’m fine. I’ve read it all again since you last came.”
Several minutes later, everything was done. All boxes ticked.
“Okay. So now you can press the bar at the bottom and it will publish,” Kaden said.
Alistair chuckled. “Done.”
“They’ll send you an email to tell you when the book is live and you can order author copies by clicking here.”
“Right.”
“Then I think we’ve finished. I’ve had the best time with you working on this book. It’s been a privilege and a joy. Thank you for trusting me with your story.”
“Thank you! You’ve been so patient and I’ve enjoyed your company. In fact, I’ve enjoyed it so much, I wondered if you’d like another commission?”
Kaden glanced at him. “Really? You kept telling me your life was dull after your travels. You came home, went to work for the foreign office and finally retired.”
“All of which is true, but… I was a spy.”
Kaden widened his eyes. “Are you supposed to admit that? I didn’t even have to get out my thumbscrews. You must have been a terrible spy.”
Alistair laughed loudly. “I’ve never been tortured. Fortunately. I’m not a spy now and I wouldn’t be confessing any state secrets but I thought we could perhaps write a novel together? Loosely based on my work. Or maybe an autobiography, though I’d have to make sure nothing was included that shouldn’t be. Any material would have to be reviewed and approved.”
“By the government?”
“I can’t compromise current sources, methods, or anyone’s safety.”
“Which would likely mean taking out all the good bits.”
“You’re probably right. A novel then. I’ll still have to have it approved by the powers that be.”
