SPORTS writer John Riddle is celebrating scoring an incredible hat-trick.
Almondbury-born John, the sports editor for a newspaper based in the Canary Islands, has penned his third book and all three have found their way into major national bookshop chains, including WH Smith.
The 60-year-old, who now lives in Hartlepool, has been a reporter for 30 years and recently found success when he decided to pen books inspired by his experience of the world of sports stars.
John is now celebrating getting his books on to bookshop shelves across the country.
He joins a long line of Huddersfield authors to see their books in print, including best-selling Chocolat author Joanne Harris, also from Almondbury.
John commented: “I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would have three books published this year. I am grateful to Apex Publishers for the faith they have shown in me.”
Two of the books are biographies, entitled The Life of Brian and The King of Cappielow.
The Life of Brian – with a foreword by former England and Liverpool ace Pete Beardsley – tells the story of footballer Brian Honour, of Hartlepool United.
The King of Cappielow charts the career of ex-Celtic and Greenock Morton player Andy Ritchie.
Lifelong Huddersfield Town supporter John has also written Jailed, a book about sports stars doing extra time in prison, something he knows all about, having formerly worked as a prison probation officer.
John attended a book signing for Jailed in Tenerife and it was so popular that it sold out in two days.
Jailed is the only one of John’s three books that is no longer available in bookshops.
He said: “Unfortunately Jailed is not available, having sold out and 10 copies having been stolen or lost en -route to Tenerife. I thought it was ironic that a book called Jailed has gone missing, presumably stolen!”
As well as major high street book shops, John’s biographies are available from Apex Publishers at www.apexpublishing.co.uk
