A novel career switch
BLOATED bankers, overpaid footballers, and Manchester’s pre-crash property market are sent up in a new novel by a former business journalist.
Michael Taylor, 48, drew upon his experiences of reporting on boom time wheeling and dealing to pen comic thriller ‘40 by 40’.
The Marple-based business expert and former Labour candidate for Hazel Grove tells the story of anti-hero Roger Cashmore, an amoral Cheshire entrepreneur who seeks to make a £40m fortune before he turns 40.
The novel – which is set just before the credit crunch of 2008 – is based on a satirical column created by Taylor for Insider magazine, which he edited for ten years.
The novel also features a cast of real-life figures from Manchester’s business community, as well as incidental characters including football manager Sam Allardyce and Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson, although Taylor is quick to insist they only make passing appearances in the book.
The novel, which was launched at an event at Central Working, Deansgate, on Friday is now available from bookshops including Waterstones and WH Smiths. It costs £7.99.