Odds & Sods by Andy Catling

‘Andy Catling’s Odds & Sods burst onto the literary track with the energy of a hot tip at the starting gate.’ The reviews rave about this debutant novel, describing Andy’s writing as ‘sharp and stylish’ creating a ‘page-turner’. Within the crime fiction genre, the novel serves up a hustle along with vengeance amid the backdrop of racing and gambling. Beyond the racecourse, the novel’s exciting plot sizzles in shady East End backrooms, where the concepts of triumph and disaster often blur.

With Christmas around the corner, this novel is the perfect stocking filler for any racing fan, crime buff or bookworm.

Andy lives in Bedfordshire with his wife Michelle. Despite a Paddy Power bookmaker situated conveniently nearby, nowadays Andy is much more likely to be writing at his desk than placing a bet. He is currently writing a script of Odds & Sods for possible film and/or a tv series interest. 

Do you have a background in racing? Born in 1957, I was involved in horseracing and gambling from the age of eighteen when I chalked up the odds and results on a blackboard in my local North London bookmakers.

Over the years, I devised scores of madcap betting systems. Ever eager to explain my rationale to punting buddies, they nearly always ended with a hard luck story and made very few visits to the payout window. As a diehard Cockney, racehorse owner, form student and weekend punter, I have yet to take much money from the bookmaker’s deep satchels.

Older and perhaps only a little wiser, I still have pipedreams about landing the jackpot.

How did you come to write a novel set in horseracing? Odds & Sods is my first full-length fiction. My work is usually short stories, many of them imaginary meetings with celebrities, past and present, written with humour and comment on contemporary issues. In between shifts for the NHS as a former ward clerk, and my earlier work in the murky waters of estate agency, double glazing sales, and managing rock bands, I have always loved to write.

The idea of writing the book came in 2020 when I was unable to work at the hospital due to Covid restrictions, giving me the time to put pen to paper to formulate the plot. I retired two years ago thus giving me the opportunity to work on it full time.

What research did you do? There was not a huge amount of research and what was needed was investigated online.

Where did the inspiration for your characters come from? Odds & Sods gives a big nod to the players in the movie The Sting, BBC's excellent series Hustle and the Ocean film series.

What research did you do? There was not a huge amount of research and what was needed was investigated online.

How has your novel been received? Odds & Sods was published in May this year and has quickly become a best seller within the racing fraternity and beyond with a plethora of 5-star reviews on Amazon. I have also had 5-star reviews on Talk Sport and the book had an excellent review in the Racing Post.

Is there a charitable element? Ten per cent of profits will be given to the Injured Jockeys Fund.

Will there be a sequel? Yes, a sequel is currently in the pipeline.

What authors do you admire? I love the pacey style of Frederick Forsyth, especially The Day of the Jackal.

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Have you ever been involved in racehorse ownership? As I mentioned, I have a few shares in racehorses and last year, I was fortunate to purchase a small share in Lazy Griff who was second in this year's Epsom Derby. A dream come true!

Favourite racecourse: It’s got to be York. Great racing, great people, great beer!

www.andycatling.com

To buy the book, tap here.