Sir – May I thank the WHT for the full, fair and well written report on me and my first (and probably last) book of short stories and bits and pieces . It was a real pleasure to be interviewed by phone by your friendly correspondent Naiomi Madden. My wa

Sir - May I thank the WHT for the full, fair and well written report on me and my first (and probably last) book of short stories and "bits and pieces". It was a real pleasure to be interviewed by phone by your friendly correspondent Naiomi Madden.

My warm thanks also to your charming photographer, Louisa Emery, who visited us at home for her delightful picture of my wife Lucy, and for managing not to capture my Victor Meldrewish scowl, so often to be seen when I am searching for needlessly-moved items at the supermarket, or brooding over the latest worrying WHT reports about QE2 problems, clamping and crime, rising taxes, and possible council innovations and alleged cock-ups.

May I mention also that perhaps the most attractive feature of the 360-plus pages of Snakes and Ladders is its clear bold print, which at least makes it easier to read even if the contents are found boring, though hopefully there is something there to interest or amuse, or alternatively to be helpful whenever sleep is difficult. The price, I regret, is an outrageous £8.80 (plus p & p) when ordered direct from AuthorHouse, on 0800 197 4150.

It can also of course be ordered through any reliable bookshop or Amazon, but will probably cost more.

Either way, I may eventually get a few pennies out of it to help offset my reducing Equitable Life pension until of course my eagerly anticipated Lottery win actually arrives, when the book could well become free on request (with perhaps a suggested modest contribution to the charities I shall be supporting).

To be fair enough, prospective readers should consider whether they have space on their book-shelves amongst all the short-listed Booker prize candidates they haven't yet had time to read, and just how they can eventually best dispose of my book in a politically and environmentally correct way.

Thank you, yet again, for your attention and hopefully space in your letters and comment section.

Brian C Bennett, The Ryde, Hatfield.