"Circus Mania reads like a novel!" - another great review of Circus Mania

Juggling at the
Great Yarmouth
Hippodrome
where my journey
into the circus world
began.

My thanks to writer Lynne Hackles for marking World Circus day by posting a glowing review of Circus Mania on her excellent blog I Should Be Writing. Among other compliments, Lynne said, “Circus Mania is one of those rare non-fiction books that you end up reading as if it were a novel. Great characters and plot and beautifully written descriptions.” You can read Lynne’s full review at www.lynnehackles.blogspot.com My thanks are also due to my local regional daily paper, the Eastern Daily Press for running a fabulous 2-page feature on Circus Mania in the run up to World Circus day last week. Among the EDP’s descriptions of Circus Mania: “Remarkable... captivating... beguiling... a real page-turner of a book that shines a bright light on a hidden world inhabited by an extraordinary cast of colourful characters.” Finally, thanks to David Whitely for inviting me onto his BBC Radio Norfolk breakfast show to talk about Circus Mania on Saturday 16, and, through the wonders of pre-recording, to BBC Radio Essex who had me giving a completely different interview about Circus Mania at exactly the same time. You may be able to listen to both on the BBC iPlayer (if you know how to work it...).

Don’t forget, you can buy Circus Mania direct from Peter Owen Publishers at the special offer price of £10 postage-free in the UK (£2.75 postage worldwide). Send cheques to: Peter Owen Publishers 81 Ridge Road, London N8 9NP.

Circus Mania in the papers

Click here to read a dozen more reviews of Circus Mania - The Ultimate Book For Anyone Who Dreamed of Running Away With The Circus.

5 Ways to celebrate the 10th World Circus Day, 20 April, 2018

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Saturday 20 April, 2019 is the 10th World Circus Day! Organised by the International Circus Federation under the patronage of Princess Stephanie of Monaco, World Circus Day is a global celebration of the glamour, excitement, tradition and spectacle of the sawdust circle - and it’s something EVERYONE can get involved in.

Here is the recipe for a perfect World Circus Day:

1/ Google ‘Circus’ and the name of your town or county. Find the circus appearing nearest to you and go along! If you haven’t been for years, you’re guaranteed to enjoy it! 

2/ Buy some paper plates and a can of shaving foam. Spray the shaving foam on the plates to make some nice big custard pies, then go into the garden and have a good old custard pie fight!

Sand-filled juggling balls
won't bounce away

3/ Get out your face paints and paint clown faces on your kids... and yourself!

4/ If you’ve got any circus skills take your stilts, unicycle or juggling balls out onto the streets and share your passion. If anyone asks you what you’re doing, tell them it’s World Circus Day!

5/ Buy a copy of Circus Mania - The Ultimate Book For Anyone Who Dreamed Of Running Away With The Circus by Douglas McPherson and read all about the unique lifestyle, traditions, culture, history, superstitions and secrets of the world’s greatest circus entertainers as told in their own words.

Click here to buy Circus Mania from Amazon.

Certificate from Princess Stephanie of Monaco
congratulating Douglas McPherson on participating
in the first World Circus Day with the launch
of Circus Mania

The Mail on Sunday called Circus Mania “A brilliant account of a vanishing art form.” The Eastern Daily Press called it “Remarkable... captivating... beguiling... a real page turner.”

Click here to buy Circus Mania from Amazon.

May all your days be World Circus Days!