Hi, I'm Mike Leaver... and welcome to my author website.
Here you'll find lots of information about my off-grid lifestyle, book-writing passion, how to buy my work, and interact (if you wish).
Lorry-Living Eccentric Adventurer In Snowdonia. . .
I'm a pensioner who lives off-grid with no modern conveniences in a self-converted, static truck in a small coastal town in North Wales. In just four years, I've written my two-part autobiography and first three saga novels – all on an old laptop largely by candlelight in my lorry!
A single, 71-year-old, vegetarian, I'm like Alan Bennett's London character The Lady in The Van – according to my publicist – a well-known eccentric around my adopted home in Snowdonia/Eryri, and throughout the UK, thanks to extensive media coverage. I enjoy outdoor adventure, table tennis, and chess.
Official England Launch Of New Book!
I held the official England launch of my new book 'English, Solitaire, Cowboy, Cuckoo. . .' on Saturday 9th November at the award-winning Script Haven book, gift, and coffee shop in Worcester High Street.
There was an informal meet and greet with me and my agent/publicist Ian Spindley from 4pm-5pm where I promoted all of five of my books.
'English, Solitaire, Cowboy, Cuckoo. . .' is a bizarre-but-true autobiography chronicling my madcap travels and death-defying misadventures as a solo mountaineer and outdoor pursuits enthusiast at home and abroad – including Snowdonia, the Alps, North Africa, and Scandinavia – over five decades.
It is a companion volume to my general life-story 'Yeti Seeks Mate: In Pursuit Of Dreams'. Earlier this year Ian and I attended Script Haven's first-ever and successful Author's Fair to promote 'Yeti' and my three saga novels: 'Newspaper Curtains' which is set half in the West Midlands and half in Eryri/Snowdonia; 'The Ice Cream Terrorist' about escaping cruel state boarding schools; and 'Nork From Nowhere' about an orphan boy and teenage girl on the run.
Now retired and living in a lorry in North Wales, I used to captain popular pleasure-boats on the River Severn in Worcester. I worked for the then Worcester Steamer Company as training officer for a decade.
I lived in a self-converted lorry under the arches in Grandstand Road. But after epic journeys to Morocco to climb its highest mountain Mount Toubkal, and to Arctic Scandinavia to tackle the three tallest peaks in Finland, Norway, and Sweden, 25 years ago I decided to move my lorry home to Porthmadog in Eryri/Snowdonia.
Pictured are myself and Ian at the meet and greet.
5-Star Review Of 'Cuckoo'!
Thanks ever so much to fellow author Andy Mullaney for enjoying my new book 'English, Solitaire, Cowboy, Cuckoo. . .' and giving it a 5-star review.
It means a great deal when anyone comments on my writing, but especially because Andy - an author, mentor, coach, public speaker, and cancer fighter from the West Midlands - is also an ambassador for our publisher Troubador Publishing / The Book Guild Ltd.
Andy says: “It’s one of a kind and that’s a fact. I guess it’s Mike's humility that draws me in, and the way that he tells his stories takes you with him to that point in time and that exact place.
Mike is one of the last great adventurers this country has produced – someone who takes on a challenge simply because it’s there, often without any plan, preparation, or thought for his own safety, recovery, or return. He embodies a certain eccentricity that is endearing and makes you want to cheer him on.
Mike has an encyclopedic recall of situations and encounters. The level of detail is incredible, and the vivid pictures he paints with his words are utterly absorbing.”
Full review on my Books page. . .
Interview Video Exclusive!
My latest book 'English, Solitaire, Cowboy, Cuckoo. . .' arrived from my publisher in July.
I share some of its bizarre highlights in this exclusive 10-minute video interview with my publicist Ian Spindley...
INTERVIEW ABOUT NEW 'CUCKOO' BOOK! (Link to YouTube)
It is available to buy from the independent stockists listed on my Contact/Order page. . .