Michael Paul is an English author who lives in Shropshire, England. His debut novel, 'Blood Money Betrayal, ' was inspired by his many visits to the USA over the years. Many years ago, Mike presented a weekly one-hour radio show which was recorded in his home multi-track recording studio. At the time, his show was unique, and featured various characters, all played by Mike. The colourful characters would interact with him as the show's presenter and were very popular with listeners. Mike would write and perform comedy sketches and jingles, using various sound effect material (courtesy mostly thanks to the BBC sound effects library) and would integrate the mastered segways seamlessly within the running order of the music. The segways were recorded on his Teac four track open reel tape deck and then mixed and mastered, much the same as multi-channel music is produced. His diverse range of characters included a pair of troublesome cowboys, a charming caretaker with a dodgy penchant for dark dealings, a sexy seductress, and many more. Owing to the show's dynamic complexity, it took a week of preparation to produce a one hour show and had to be pre-recorded prior to being broadcast. Mike was justifiably proud of his unique show, but his greatest compliment was when other radio presenters would turn up at the studio at 10am on a Sunday morning to listen to his latest production. Mike also recorded voice over commercials which aired on his local radio station. Throughout his career, Mike spent countless hours travelling the UK, using his driving time to immerse himself in audiobooks borrowed from his local library. These journeys further sparked his creativity, leading him to craft his own short stories, which he later recorded as audiobooks for his family. His writing spans a diverse range of genres, from short story crime thrillers and suspense tales to romantic narratives often infused with dark humour and irreverent anecdotes. Each story is a tapestry woven from the author's imagination, rich life experiences, and accumulated wisdom. Bolstered by the encouragement of his family and friends, Mike decided to finish and publish a novel he had long been developing. Now in retirement, he has seized the opportunity to share his work with readers worldwide. 'Blood Money Betrayal' is touted as a raw, unfiltered, and uncompromising narrative centred on two New York crime families. "For the audiobook, I have endeavoured to incorporate my experience as a voice actor within the narration," says Mike, wherein he narrates the story and seamlessly voice acts each of the characters featured in his novel. A sprinkling of dramatic sound effects at key moments ignites the story and brings the book to life. The printed book and the immersive audiobook, which incorporates many of the techniques Mike utilised as a radio presenter, took two years to complete and are also available as an e-book, and in print format as a paperback and hardback. "Whichever format you choose," says Mike, "I really hope you enjoy my first novel. It has been challenging but great fun to produce. Thank you very much for your interest." Hints of a potential sequel to 'Blood Money Betrayal' and publication of his short stories are already circulating, suggesting more to come from this emerging author. With his background in storytelling, audio recording expertise, and passion for crafting compelling narratives, Michael Paul is set to leave his mark on the literary world with 'Blood Money Betrayal - A New York Mafia Tale.'
