Paul Tomkins Dynasty

[Johnny]

Paul is a blood good bloke and a really good red.

However, his books are off the wall biased, and you simply can't do that as an author.

The irony!!!

[Assassin]

The irony!!!

[Rashid]

The irony!!!

[Hass]

The latest from Tomkins (sent to everyone on his mailing list)

Dear beautiful and generous-spirited people,


First of all, thank you for all the responses following my last mail-out. I have read them all, but there are too many to reply to.


Following on from that mailing, I just want to clarify the events surrounding the official website and my new book, Dynasty.


I received an email on Tuesday 9th September telling me that all mention of Dynasty was prohibited from the site because someone within the club was concerned with part of its content, relating to the 'troubles' of the past year. However, two days later I was told that this decision was overturned following the hard work of certain people behind the scenes, who did not see a problem with what had been written. Whether or not the original decision constitutes a 'ban' is, to my mind, purely semantics. However, let me make it clear that the club's shop did not 'ban' the book - they stock mostly official publications, and so it was unlikely to appear in there, even if the content was 100% to their approval. The club did not try to get the book banned from anywhere else, either.


Let me also make it clear that I have never had a problem with .tv. It is what it is - an official website, and not an independent fanzine. It needs to be viewed in that context. But it is also a way to communicate with genuine Liverpool fans, and a forum for me to get my opinion across. The people who work there are fantastic. They are good, honourable people, at times doing a very difficult job.


For the record, I have never, ever written a single word for .tv I did not believe at the time, nor have I ever been told what to say. But of course, I've had to bite my tongue (pointless when you're typing, admittedly) over certain issues, and have occasionally been censored. Therefore, what I write can never be 100% of what I feel. That is reserved for my books.


After two years unpaid I began to receive a nominal fee to write the column a year ago, on the understanding that the arrangement would benefit me by allowing a certain amount of promotion of my books. This is why I was deeply upset with the club's initial decision to deny me that privilege, particularly as I've defended the team and the manager in the face of ridicule and attacks on my credibility. Equally, I am very glad that what I see as common sense has prevailed and that the book is no longer The Tome Whose Name Cannot Be Uttered.


Just as my .tv articles often have a proviso saying that the club does not necessarily share the views I've expressed, writing for the official site does not mean I condone everything about the club and its decisions; I certainly do not. I am not employed by the club; I provide articles on a regular, freelance basis.


Nor do I approve of the way modern football is moving; the game itself remains great, but some of what surrounds it turns me off.


At the time of writing, I am considering taking an extended break, as I have to from time to time, on the grounds of my health. Dynasty was at least twice as hard to write as my other books, given the depths of research and attempts at original thinking on old subjects, and as such it has left me feeling very drained. Frankly, I'm knackered. By the time it gets to the stage of actually promoting the book I'm usually exhausted, and this year has been far worse than ever before.


I've had three ECGs this summer due to almost incessant palpitations, and while it's almost certain that my heart itself is perfectly fine, it can also be symptomatic of M.E., as well as no doubt exacerbated by the stress and pressure of writing this particular book. I had already written one article about one aspect of the research findings that I thought people would find very illuminating, and this may yet appear on the site. At this point in time I do not feel up to writing anything new, but that may change after a decent rest.


I am incredibly proud of Dynasty. I tend to hate my books once they've been released, just as many film directors say they cannot stand to view their films again for years afterwards. On the one hand, you live in fear of spotting mistakes when it's too late to alter them. On the other hand, you are normally just sick to the back teeth of the project, having emersed yourself in it for months on end. However, Dynasty is the book I always hoped I would one day write. If I never write another Liverpool book, this would be a fitting finale.

https://www.paultomkins.com

PAUL TOMKINS

[Matt]

Theres a Tomkins essay and book promo on the offal today, guess it got sorted out.

[meffin]

got his book golden past red future and thought it was ****e, so wont be getting another of his. its just full of his opinion and bull **** (i know its bull **** after reading carras and fowlers books- and the fact that im a massive insider )