Harry... "I worked for years as a journalist & then-with no cash but a lot of enthusiasm-I set up a music publishing company that, was surprisingly rather successful for around twenty years. So - journalism then the music company years- together with a recent decade spent lecturing around Asia- took me repeatedly to almost every country on the planet-including most behind the then Iron Curtain. My activities attracted interest and concern from the main security services of both East Block and West Block...leading to some interesting situations. These enabling me to gather a catalogue of useful stories for my return to writing, although so far, my books owe more to my travels than my time as an accidental spy.
Phil Israel of 'It's all books to me' Sydney Australia tells more:
It all started when James Bond author Ian Fleming (a wartime security services friend of Harry's Aunt) got him his first job as a trainee newspaper journalist in London's Fleet Street. He quickly progressed to writing in various girls publications - where somewhat to his surprise through the 1960s he became the most read pop lifestyle guru for the UK's teenage girls.
Lured by his love of music, still based in London, 'surprisingly again' he says, he became a remarkably successful record company owner & music publisher. "Luckily I was in the right place at the right time, as English pop was top of the charts worldwide."
Through this time, with no apparent help from Fleming (or Bond), he found himself- truly- working for both the UK's MI6 & Russia's KGB secret services! "It seemed both sides wanted a better understanding of what was bringing young student protestors out on to the streets in both the West & The East Block."
Harry says, 'Fortunately, my time as a journalist, the twenty year success of my music companies, together with a recent decade spent lecturing around Asia, took me repeatedly to almost every country on the planet-including most behind the then Iron Curtain. This enabling me to gather a catalogue of useful stories for my return to writing, although so far, my books owe more to my travels than my time as an accidental spy.'
"Working & now living in Asia for some time I knew as an expat author I'd need to be well organised to get my works out beyond 'the ricelands.' (As even the local call them.) My years as music publisher-music distributor turned out to be useful training, & with the logistics under control I can get back to the old creative typewriter..."
Harry in conversation with Phil Israel 'It's all Books to Me'. Sydney.
"The Just series', which can be read in any order, developed from good reactions to 'Just in Time'...with folks referring to 'Rick Stein's still popular French Odyssey TV journey along the Canal du Midi in South Western France, others to the late Peter Mayle's 'Year in Provence series. Many asking for more.
I'm not sure I can reach their lofty standards but 'The Just' storylines do now follow more of 'life with the locals', interspersed of course, with calls to action for our hero Joel & his miscreant team of security experts. So not yet quite Peter Mayle's almost Clochemerlian levels of village intrigue in rural France, but we seem to be going that way."
"You would imagine my 'The Kennedy Ultimatum' title, to be a very different kind of book, but whilst factual, it's a far from serious account of a five year search to see if something my co-author and I had discovered was fact or fiction.That something being for thousands of years the Mongolians, Afghans, Iranians & others trained mighty Golden Eagles as warbirds to recognise specific individuals from thousands of feet-before plunging down in often fatal (for the victim) attack mode.Now it seemed someone was planning on targeting then President Trump with such war birds.
We were bizarrely 'warned off' by the US State Department for suggesting Regime Change, so we wondered if we'd stumbled on some kind of CIA or other agency's big secret. Sure enough, despite a two year covid hiatus, we unraveled an amazing tale.(You'll need to read the book) but I can confirm the French Security Service & others are indeed training Golden Eagles as offensive & defensive warbirds...
Whilst readers seem to like my tales of life with the locals in & around a village' in the sunshine of Southwest France, I'm also focused on sunshine here in Asia.
Watch this space for news of : Can He Eat Spicy? The Further adventures of Mr Mick, Thailand's only Irish Rice Farmer & His Sister Frances. Follows the surprising lifestyle of Mick Murphy-who-at home in Dublin, was somewhat surprised to discover he'd inherited a farm in the old Golden Triangle region of Northern Thailand...
Oh yes: Before we forget, The Kennedy Ultimatum: that threat from killer warbird Eagles to POTUS or EXPOTUS or even NEXTPOTUS with it's sinister echoes of a past generation of The Washington Elites dissatisfaction with their President. ...in any event we'd advise Ex President- or even- Next President Trump he'd best wear a hard hat when golfing."
Phil Israel -All Books To Me - &- Harry Buckle. Sydney. Winter 2023/24.
