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Welcome to WATSONWORKS, the website of author James Watson.

'James Watson .. is above all a master of narrative.'
Junior Bookshelf

So far WatsonWorks amount to:

11 novels for young readers
A book of short stories
A kids' book featuring some very noisy ducks
Two plays for upper schools and youth theatres
Four plays for radio
Three books on the study of media

In a few words, what the novels are about:

They've been called political thrillers
They deal with human rights issues
But they are also action-packed
Their locations are internationa
They are about characters caught in 'the eye of the storm'
They pull no punches in terms of plot or language

NEWS UPDATE
There has been considerable publicity of late concerning the opportunities made possible to authors by the Internet; for them to venture into self-publishing via the Net. I am currently planning the publication of my latest novel FAIR GAME: THE STEPS OF ODESSA in this mode. There must be a legion of us writers who judge that the amazing success of the Harry Potter books, and the subsequent dominance by wizards over the literary landscape has made life for ‘realists’ that much harder.

Publishers seem to be constantly looking the other way; and if they do agree to consider the work of even an established author in contrasting genres, they can take months to reach a decision; and the odds are that while they may admire the story, they fear that they would not be able to sell it in sufficient numbers to risk the costs of production.

Of course, even J.K. Rowling received rejection slips. They are par for the course for all authors. Internet publication does not offer any guarantees, but it carries the author over the initial hurdle of publication and potentially at least gives a new work a spectrum of contacts never available to authors prior to on-line communication.

Whoever happens upon this website can help make things happen in a number of ways. First, by encountering information about work with which readers may be unfamiliar. Something here might be of interest and prompt follow-up. If readers are already familiar with a selection of the books or plays mentioned here, they may wish to venture further into the canon of stories or other tomes mentioned or summarised below.

What books etc. are out of print at least can be located in libraries. Those that are still in print can be ordered through bookshops or directly from publishers (See ORDERING COPIES).

Most importantly, they can support new literature. WhenFair Game: The Steps of Odessa is issued its future will rely on readers to purchase copies on line and, if they enjoy what they read, recommend the book directly or on line to others.

What’s it about?
Fair Game isboth about women’s soccer and human rights, each a sort of working metaphor for the other. Occasionally when I’ve mentioned the fact that the book’s main protagonist is a woman and a key action feature of the story is football, I’ve received the comment, ‘But surely that makes it a boys’ book?’

The temptation is to reply, ‘Where’ve you been living in the past few years?’ for recent research has indicated that football is the most popular sporting interest of girls, watching it and, more and more, playing it.

For Natasha in Fair Game achieving soccer success is her driving ambition. However, as her talents and determination carry her towards the fulfilment of her ambition to become an international, she realises the irony implicit the title: on the field of play, or off it, life may often resemble a game, but it is rarely fair in any sense of the word.

Fair Game: The Steps of Odessa is currently progressing towards Net-publication. Details to follow.

Details of the story and plot of Fair Game can be found in the section, IN PREPARATION.