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Categories Bibliophile publications and eBooks Deric Longden

Deric Longden

Click EBooks or on the grey box above to see all Deric's titles available.

More are being prepared in 2015 from his live Sports broadcasts for BBC Radio Derby and Nottingham in the mid 1980s.

 

 

Deric Longden was born in Chesterfield in 1936 and married Diana Hill in 1957. They had two children, Sally and Nick. After various jobs he took over a small factory making women's lingerie, but began writing and broadcasting in the 1970s and before long he was writing regularly for programmes like 'Does He Take Sugar?' and 'Womans Hour'. Most of his work was based on his own experience. The demands made on him by Diana's illness, subsequently believed to be a form of ME, forced him to sell the factory, and since then he has devoted himself to full-time writing, broadcasting, lecturing and after-dinner speaking.

Diana’s Story, published in 1989, some years after Diana's death, was a bestseller. The book hit the Sunday Times best seller list straight away, won the NCR book award. It was voted the most loved serial in 50 years on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour.

It was followed by Lost for Words, The Cat Who Came in from the Cold, Enough to Make a Cat Laugh, I’m a Stranger Here Myself, A Play On Words and Paws in the Proceedings. Deric Longden's first two books were adapted for television under the title Wide-Eyed and Legless, and an adaptation of Lost for Words. Both were nominated for multiple BAFTAs and Lost For Words, screened in January 1999, attracting an audience of more than 12 million viewers and won the Emmy for best foreign drama and a BAFTA for Thora Hird as best actress.

He married the writer Aileen Armitage in 1990 and lived in Huddersfield. Aileen and he were jointly were awarded honorary Doctor of Literature from Huddersfield University in 2004 and Deric a honorary Master of Letters from Derby University in 2006. Aileen is Bibliophile owner Annie's mum and her dear step father Deric died 23rd June 2013. Read The Daily Telegraph Obituary here.

A beautiful quote from ME awareness

The recording from Woman's Hour





Our readers write:

 





Dear Mr. Longden,
 
Thank you so much for the wonderful stories you've written. I discovered your cat books when I was in my early 20s, and I have savored every one as I read them.  Over the years, I have had the pleasure of introducing these books to other cat lovers in my life.  My 9 year old step-daughter, Isabelle, insists on having a chapter read to her every night at bedtime.  It's such a delight to hear her giggling over Thermal's antics, and it has really spurred her imagination in relation to our own feline companions.  She often tells stories about Thief and Moonlight's adventures, which have evolved from the oral tradition into the written tradition by way of her classwork in school. 
 
I read the article in the Examiner last month and was saddened to hear of your health problems.  Please know that prayers, warm thoughts, and gratitude are coming your way from our neck of the woods.
 
With warm regards,
 
Amanda Stetka
Barto, Pennsylvania, USA

 

 

I was hoping to have you pass along a message to Deric Longden.  This was the only email I could find to contact him.  I purchased the US audio version of The Cat Who Came in from the Cold about twenty years ago and fell in love with his story telling.  I shared the audio with my mother and we have been hooked to his writing ever since.  We have purchased all of this books in print and audio whenever possible.  Living in the US it is always a little more challenging but well worth it.  We have read all his books but prefer the ones we have in the audio format with Deric narrating.  He brings such richness and warmth to his stories.  We still find ourselves quoting phrases from the books like you would from a classic movie. 

 

We just wanted to thank him for the many years of enjoyment we have gotten from his works.  They always make us cry and laugh and have truly given us joy. 

 

Thank you,

Melissa Martin

Sue Redfern posts on 6/17/2012 4:49:38 PM

Amazingly I have downloaded the Kindle app to my phone, that's me who isn't even sure what an app is!!

       Yvonne Welsh posts on 6/17/2012 4:40:50 PM

Hi everyone. Deric, it's great to see you posting more often! I too do not deal with technology well, although my other half doea. I shall have to get him to help me download the kindle app thing. I tend to install goodness knows what when I try anything new on computers and this usually means they break! Jan, nice to know I'm missed! I'm not around as much as this Elsa of mine demands attention! In fact as I type I have my legs up on the sofa stretched out. Just a minute ago Elsa jumped on and proceeded to push the laptop down my legs, so it was on my shins, so she could monopolise the attention. She then decided to stick her head in the gap between my legs and under the laptop so I only had a cats bum to look at. Nice! I hope everyone is well! x x x x

       paula posts on 6/17/2012 12:50:31 PM

I've been refusing to leave the dinosaur age also. No kindle, I want REAL books. Had to give up and have my husband download the Kindle program so I could get Tailpieces on my computer. And it worked! A Kindle Deric is better than no Deric.



       Jan Tenzer posts on 6/17/2012 11:12:05 AM

Thanks everyone. My husband is going to download the Kindle on his laptop so that I can get Tailpieces. Can't wait! Gill, it's so great to see your name pop up here again. Missed you. Hope you're doing well. I miss Yvonne also. Hugs and kisses to Deric, Aileen, and all who post here. Jan

       Andrea posts on 6/17/2012 8:36:27 AM

Liz (and everyone else), Amazon offers free Kindle-Apps for iPhone, iPod-touch, Android-smartphones, Windows-PCs, Macs, iPad and Android-tablets. You find the link at the bottom right of the product-detail-page of the Kindle-edition of the book you want to purchase. By the way: I just love "Tailpieces" - fell in love with Global in an instance.

       Liz from Buxton posts on 6/17/2012 7:18:00 AM

I don't know whether it's possible to download the kindle app onto what are known as "android phones" (which are iPhone-type phones made by eg samsung, LG etc). It's certainly possible to download the app onto an iPhone. It synchronises with your kindle account so it's possible to read your kindle books on your phone as well. I travel a lot, so I have been hugely grateful to be able to read books on my phone when delayed on a journey and no other reading material to hand (ie I've finished the book I have with me).Reading on a phone screen is not the most comfortable of experiences, but better than twiddling your thunbs.

       gillhawley posts on 6/17/2012 7:01:12 AM

Have just downloaded kindle app to my phone(my pc is a dinosaur!) So now I can read your wonderful new 'tailpieces' anywhere. Thank you all for the suggestion. Gill. Belper xx



       sugeebas posts on 6/16/2012 11:15:15 AM

Although all this new technology sometimes scares me, I took the plunge and have just successfully downloaded the Kindle-App to my PC and have purchased Deric's new book. To my surprise, it worked! I can now read and giggle at my PC and my husband can think that I have gone raving mad. Thank you Deric, Annie and especially Andrea, for without you I would not have known that I could download the book to my PC. Sorry, no more postings for a while, I have some reading to do!!

       gillhawley posts on 6/16/2012 10:40:35 AM

Hi Deric,and Aileen et all. It's been ages and ages since I posted in here. We have been to and fro to southampton visiting my friend, who is in the final stages of cystic fibrosis. It's all been very sad,and with that and working, the children, and the housework, its been a bit hectic. I am sat watching itv3. Lost for words. It always makes me laugh and cry. Deric I hope you are as well as you can be. You are always in our thoughts, here in belper. Jan..how are you?? How are the kittys? Delighted to hear of the new 'tall stories' book. Great news. Thank you Annie. I will have to try and download it. I don't have a kindle. I am a bit old fashioned, and like the smell of books, and turning the pages.best wishes to all who post on here.Gill. belper.xxx


       sugeebas posts on 6/16/2012 10:13:00 AM

Thank you Andrea. I also had no idea that a free Kindle-App was available for the PC. That saves me having to purchase the Kindle. Not that I begrudge the money to be able to read Deric's book, but I'm very old fashioned in the sense that I love the feel and smell of a book and I know of no Kindle that can give me that. Love to everyone. Is it so windy all over Britain? Almost afraid to go out in case we get blown over! Wonder when we are going to get a "proper" summer? My sister's cat hates the wind, she charges back into the house as thou being chased by the bats of hell!!

Andrea posts on 6/16/2012 8:44:58 AM

Jenny, you're welcome. Glad I could help. Just realized that additionally installing the app on my laptop makes sense because now I can read the book comfortably on the couch and even take it (the e-book not the couch) with me on an upcoming holiday-trip - both would have been quite complicated with only having it on the normal PC ;-)

       Jenny Reeve posts on 6/16/2012 8:25:29 AM

ndrea. Thank yo, I had no idea that a free Kindle download was available. I have just downloaded it to my macbook. Now I can purchase Tailpieces and spend my time enjoying more of Deric's wonderful writing. Thank you also to Annie for coming up with such a beautiful idea.


       Andrea posts on 6/16/2012 7:37:05 AM

I don't have a Kindle either but I just downloaded the free Kindle-App for my PC and purchased Tailpieces afterwards. Guess I will spend some more time in front of the monitor today than planned... Thanks a lot for the info Annie - really made my day. Regards to all who post here and especially Deric and Aileen of course.



       Diana posts on 6/16/2012 6:57:32 AM

Annie I'm SO pleased you've done this for all of us - Deric's fans. Thank you so much. Problem is, I haven't got a Kindle... but I'm off to get one now so I can download 'Tailpieces'. Finding out how it works, then reading the stories should keep me out of mischief during this flaming miserable month of June!! Love to all, especially Deric and Aileen, Diana, Southampton xx


       sugeebas posts on 6/15/2012 7:22:43 PM

Hi Conny, we are coming over to Germany in September. Just can't wait. Will be visiting the Stuttgart area for two weeks to catch up on my old stamping ground and friends. One week will be in Ludwigshafen, spending a week with my son. I took my husband over in March 2010 and he fell head over heels in love with Germany and was then able to understand why I love the country so. I have many happy memories of your country. Love to everyone here and in Germany!

       Conny from Germany posts on 6/15/2012 3:29:35 PM

thank you Annie, you are a genious! Well, Deric, being a God, no need to tell you that you are a genious, too (smile). You ought to know that by now, with so many people telling you just how wonderful you are. Love to all and enjoy reading! This is such a treat! Love from sunny Germany (at least this evening), Conny



       Bea posts on 6/15/2012 1:28:39 PM

Hi Annie, and Deric, just downloaded Tailpieces - thank you very much. Not going to be able to go to sleep too early tonight! Will have to wait to download the other two, or my budget will not just be overloaded, I think it'll burst. I was not very impressed when my children spoilt me with a Kindle for Christmas, and now can't think of being without it. I even find myself trying to turn a proper page every now and then! Love, Bea

       sugeebas posts on 6/15/2012 12:36:50 PM

Oh Annie, thank you. Just took a peek. It looks as though they are all the beloved stories that we know from Deric, all concise in one handy book. Great. Only problem is, I don't have a Kindle and wasn't interested in purchasing one. Now it looks as though I will have too. Love the photo of Deric, a georgous looking guy. Was that Thermal on his shoulder? Bless you for thinking of the idea, you are going to make a lot of Deric fans very, very happy. Best Wishes from Basildon.

       Murray posts on 6/15/2012 11:40:36 AM

This is for Deric and Annie. I just purchased Deric's newest book. Can you please cause the middle four books to be placed on the same device? It would be so nice to take the books on my phone with me wherever I go. I have your first two books on that same device.

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