This wretched agent fellow tells me that 10,000 people have bought a copy of a Brother Hermitage tale. It all seems a bit commercial to me, but he assures me this is quite normal.

To mark the occasion he suggested I leave the scriptorium for a world tour, or some such nonsense. Out of the question of course, I am just finalising some fascinating research into the time immediately after the Battle of Hastings. What could be more important?

Instead I have released into the world a short story concerning Brother Hermitage. It tells of a time the Brother visited a hostelry and interacted with the general populace. I believe it provides real insight into the troubles of the ordinary people of the 11th Century and so titled it, A Consideration of the Domestic and Intra-familial Relationships of 11th Century England, with Reference to Social Structures and their Dependence on Commercial Premises.

He called it Brother Hermitage in Shorts number 1. Hardly seems to be a rigorous title but I suppose he knows best.

When I told him it was free, he seemed to have some sort of attack, and told me had to leave for a long lunch.

It is available on iBook and Lulu http://www.lulu.com/shop/howard-of-warwick/brother-hermitage-in-shorts-no1/ebook/product-20960911.html