Unfinished Business by Paul Ferris – Stuart Wheatman, Steve Wraith and paying tribute to Reg McKay (May He Rest In Peace)
I’ve always had a fascination and love of gangster movies and books from as far back as I can remember, as a youngster I used to watch them and think “I wish my dad was the Godfather or I wish I had an older brother who was a gangster” I loved the idea of being protected by someone with such a title.
I’ve just finished reading ‘Unfinished Business’ by Paul Ferris It’s only taken me like three day’s not because I’m a slow reader, far from it, but picture the scenario.
I received the book, excitement kicks in so, I start reading it right away, it’s got me right from the start and I can’t put it down, Oops, I better get my finger out my daughter is due home from work soon and I haven’t even started preparing dinner.
So that’s how it’s been for the last three day’s picking it up again reading as much as I can in between cleaning the house, cooking, tending to my dog’s driving to the airport to pick up my cousin who has flown over from California for our youngest daughters 18th birthday party this coming weekend, now I can’t read anymore or my cousin will think I’m ignoring her.
Itching to start reading again I go to bed I’m up into the wee small hours, then I need to stop again and get some sleep, wake up back to the airport to pick my hubby up who has flew home from his work in Kosovo (He works for the United Nations)
I’ve only got a little bit to go but I can’t just ignore that I’ve not seen my hubby in a month, Saturday morning now he has gone to golf, Wahayy, and I’ve just finished reading the book.
For the many stories and some that have been pretty horrific, written by the press about Paul Ferris much to the annoyance I’m sure of Paul and his family I recommended you read ‘Unfinished Business’
There is a saying that we have all heard that goes ‘Never judge a book by its cover’ and bearing in mind some newspapers are guilty of needing to fill spaces and have exaggerated many a story in order to fill that space, not to mention the heading which very often is solely to catch the eye of the reader, resulting in a sale.
In Unfinished Business you are hearing it straight from the man himself and while I get that there will be many who will come back with, Yeh Right! If you believe that? Well, hang on, you just bought the book right?
I understand much of what Paul describes about his life growing up in Glasgow it was and still is in many parts rough and for some, survival is very much a part of every day life.
I remember some of what went on back then and still remember stories about my own family being involved in situations, I think though the worst from one side of my family being, my great-grandmother, who was a money-lender and who had people knee-capped if the money was late or not paid back. (Definitely not something I was proud to hear) I guess because she was a woman as I certainly didn’t think that woman were involved in such behaviour.
I only found out in the last eighteen years who my biological father was then finding out that I am related to the late Johnny Stark and since looking more into the world of crime particularly Glasgow Crime I have come to understand just why some individuals behaved the way they did, like I said and Paul touched on it too, it was a case of survival and looking out for number one.
While I don’t condone some of the tactics used in gangland Glasgow or gangland anywhere, I get it!
Getting back to Unfinished Business I can tell that Paul is like most of us going about his daily life respectfully and while like many of us, has paid the pied piper for his sins, I think people should take the plank out of their own eye before pointing at the sawdust in his.
While Paul sets the record straight and puts to bed some of those rumours, Yes, Rumours because not all that you read about or heard about was factual, why would he lie? His life of crime was way back in the day.
There is humour within his story and let’s face it, if you didn’t laugh you’d be pretty much on a downward spiral especially being locked up in the likes of Barlinnie Prison trust me I know but I don’t have to go into details, this is not my story, perhaps one day I will tell those stories.
I have to hand it to Paul he is a very witty man you can tell by the style in which he tells his story, indeed it was a very enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to future publications.
I also would like to mention that I like Stuart Wheatman’s style, the way in which he puts the context in all the right places.
NOTE; I have changed the name Steve Wraith to Stuart Wheatman (see above) My apologies to Stuart for the mix up which I hadn’t noticed until it was pointed out.
However, credit also to Steve Wraith For his part in the story also, his meeting with Paul and as a contributor is what makes for good reading.
As an Author you want someone you can trust not only to ghostwriter your book and or edit it, you want someone who will be honest in telling you what you should and should not include and or were in the book is the right place for a particular part of the story, but most of all who will not judge, after all they are there to do a job.
(My rule is, if I can’t handle my editor’s advice, then I’m probably going to have to re-think whether being a writer is for me, thankfully I have no problem taking advice)
If you haven’t read Unfinished Business then do so, It will definitely change your prospective of Paul Ferris and help you to understand the corruption that goes on behind the scene’s I’ll say no more on that subject, you will know what I mean after you have read the book.
Published by http://www.mojorisinpublishing.com
