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Layton Bushel is the pen name of Alastair Warren (pictured).
The name was chosen because of its rarity, compared to the author's real name.
Since Layton Bushel is not a real person, the opportunity has been taken to wind him up a bit, mainly at the start of the books.
The first book. An inventor finds himself on a strange planet in a forgotten universe, with no way home.
Originally, this was to be called The Forgotiverse. That had to change, after the discovery of another book by the same name.
The original cover design was a DIY job, by the author himself. That took a lot of hard work. In the end, it had to be changed, partly because something he'd thought harmless caused Amazon (US) to complain about it. A second cover design was created. Amazon didn't complain this time, but it still looked a bit weak.
The current cover design (opposite) was created by somebody on Fiverr.
The second book is a first person narrative, told by the main character.
An engineer, telling his tale around a hundred years after his adventure first started, describes how his entire factory became, in effect, a giant spaceship. The story tells the of the daft things he and his colleagues got up to.
It's not supposed to be a romantic book, however there are a few small parts describing how the main character meets and eventually marries his wife.
It's a longer book than Forgotten Erf.
The cover design was created by somebody on Fiverr.
Both books are avaliable on Amazon, in Kindle, paperback and hardback formats, including Kindle unlimited.
This is where it gets a bit silly.
The author hasn't taken his pen name seriously, so here's a bit more about Layton Bushel.
Layton is an odd character.
He's a heavy smoker. Not because he smokes much, but because he's just... heavy.
He looks like he's swallowed a Spacehopper.
The doorways in his home have been widened so he can get through.
He has thin (strong) legs and very wide feet. They have to be, otherwise he'd sink into the ground. He went for a walk along the beach one day. A seagull attacked him, which made his feet curl up. That caused him to sink into the sand, so his legs vanished. Luckily, a few passers-by were able to dig him out (after an hour or two).
Layton's car is unusual. He's a back seat driver. He has to be, as he can't fit in the front.
Someone gave him a porcupine as a pet.
That worried him. He was afraid that if he got caught on one of the spines he'd go 'bang'.
He gave it to a local zoo.
Layton is a bit of a recluse.
People ask him why he doesn't go out much. He says he's rarely on fire.
Layton doesn't like late December. He thinks Santa is an alien shapeshifter. He must be, to be able to get through modern chimney fittings.
Layton took his pet elephant for a walk the other day. It's a very small elephant. Nobody has the heart to tell him it's actually a hamster. Asking the pet shop owner for an elephant wheel didn't go down well.
Layton has an extra leg. He keeps in a drawer, in his workshop. He's planning to throw it out, as he doesn't need four legs.
Layton is not currently married, although he was once accidentally married to a fish and chip shop. (Don't ask.)
Layton likes to go skydiving, although he doesn't like the last bit. It gives him headaches in the knees. He refuses to use a parachute. He says it would just slow him down.
Layton has nightmares about pianos.
He once dreamed he was sitting at a piano, in a car park outside an M6 service station.
The piano had car pedals instead of piano ones.
Upright pianos weren't allowed on the motorway due to visibilty problems, but Layton's two-litre grand piano was fine.
He was late for his music lesson, so he started the piano and drove it down the slip road.
The music sped up as he gathered speed. He joined the motorway.
He passed a matrix sign, which read 'mezzo forte'.
Then he passed a Mini Metro, doing forty.
As he changed into top gear, the piano played 'Jessica'.
He noticed blue flashing lights reflecting off the music stand, accompanied by rhythmic twanging.
A police officer appeared alongside, telling him to pull over.
Once on the hard shoulder, the officer stopped in front of him, dismounted his double bass and walked around the piano.
"'Ello, 'ello, 'ello... what's all this then?" he asked.
"One 'ello' per leg", thought Layton. He'd never seen a police officer with three legs before.
"Can I see your insurance please, sir," said the officer. Layton produced the certificate.
"You're only insured for classical music, sir. You were playing pop, and in the wrong lane."
"I'm sorry officer. It won't happen again," said Layton, as he extinguished the fires caused by the small overheated brass wheels.
"Just a minute... I can smell Brahms and Liszt. Wait there while I fetch my breathalyser." The officer brought something back from his Police double bass.
"Blow into this until I tell you to stop," he said, handing Layton a mouth organ. Layton played a Brahms lullaby.
"I thought so. You're nicked... zzzzzzzzz..."
"Wake up!"
"Zzzzzzzzzzz."
"WAKE UP, LAYTON!" said his music teacher.
All material on this site © Alastair Warren.
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