Hi, I'm Philip Birch.
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Updated 7th March 2026
My novels are all now on Kindle for you to read on your favourite e-reader. Many people have asked me to do it, so here they are: Luck, Bert:Postcards From Labrador, The DaVinci Stone, The Muff Hare and my new one Letters to Pliny. Click here: Kindle or on the image. Long time readers might know that my earlier books: The Secret Studio and Once in Killmuckie and Felix & Lucia have been expanded into Luck, The Muff hare and Letters to Pliny respectively. The originals are no longer available to read, nor are (most of) the short stories which comprise them. |
Letters to Pliny and The Muff Hare are now available on Kindle. New titles will be added by the end of the month Click on the titles to view/purchase. Thank you
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Update 22 February 2026 I launched my physical book, Letters to Pliny, sales did well yesterday, though it was a bit quiet in the Centre. A re-press of The Muff Hare too, though I sold more of them. Another three hours today with my daughter Helena and a children's author that I invited Jenna Pucill and Carol Holmes who are selling their Billy The Happy Bean book. Buy it on Amazon here
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Update 20 January 2026 My new book, Letters to Pliny is a compilation of the Rome series, now all tied together as a novel is available online here. Printed copies will be available by the end of the year. If you wish to pre-order a printed copy, contact me by clicking here. To read online click on the picture or click here. For the Kindle version click here |
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Update 24th July 2025 Updated the grey card page as the original source has gone down. |
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Update 11th February 2025
A game this time, An old game, Mancala, popular all over Africa and taken to the Americas by slaves.
Download the board and print it out. Use buttons or counters to play. Just two variants out of the dozens of different ways to play. Click on the board or here to access the page.
A game this time, An old game, Mancala, popular all over Africa and taken to the Americas by slaves.
Download the board and print it out. Use buttons or counters to play. Just two variants out of the dozens of different ways to play. Click on the board or here to access the page.
Planet 3 is a short story is about the Arecibo message. A signal sent by scientists to a dying planet orbiting a nearby star is replied to... This story is science fiction, but if that's not your thing, why not try it anyway?
Written in my easy to read style, this 18 page tale is about climate change.
Read it here, on my short stories page or click on the image
The great M39 confusion
Newcomers to the Leica/Leica copy camera scene can be easily misled regards lenses. Not all M39 lenses are the same, nor are all M39 lenses actually M39
click here to read about it or click on the image
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Printable Grey card
Another photography related resource - A printable grey card. Print with any printer, this striped sheet is 18% grey. Download and print at home. Check out my photography page above or click the link here to go directly to the page. |
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Vivitar 283
Is the 54 year old Vivitar 283 strobe still relevant today?
I review the unit and tell you exactly how relevant it still is.
Click image for link
Is the 54 year old Vivitar 283 strobe still relevant today?
I review the unit and tell you exactly how relevant it still is.
Click image for link
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Kodachrome Processing as black and white
I have posted the results of my processing Kodachrome into black and white negatives. It can be done but with, at best, average results. Read it here. or click on the Photography link above for all the articles. |
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The original version of Posh Score, entitled simply Score.
Set in a nameless town between Manchester and Liverpool a gang of penniless Mancs and Scallys wanting a fix, plan a daring robbery. Humorous with adult language and drug themes. |
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Photography Pages
I've been working on my photography pages, hoping to share my knowledge and some unusual resources to help users of classic cameras. I discuss the history of the exposure triangle, discover the benefits of 'F8 and be there' and how you can be a human rangefinder. Click on my Photography link at the top of the page to read more. |
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I have many short stories for you to enjoy including Anomaly and The Whirlaways
Anomaly: A mysterious machine is collected by a scrap merchant who discovers its mysterious function. Meanwhile a top secret research lab discovers that their billion dollar project is missing. The Whirlaways: A story for children 8+. A young boy discovers that his Grandad found a crashed flying saucer when he was a boy... Find them both here |
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Last year I helped my Uncle write his memoirs go to the Richard Sargent tab, or click here to read the first of two books: On Reflection. Richard has a second volume of memoirs entitled More Reflections 2023 - 2024 in which he fills in some gaps and discusses life without Marlene. Read or Download them on his page here or click on these links: On Reflection More Reflections |
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I'm excited to tell you about my project. Bert, Postcards From Labrador
A novel, based on the true story of my grandmother's time in Labrador. Bertha 'Bert' Lewis was a mission school teacher going there in 1930 on a three years contract to teach Inuit children in one of the Moravian missions in Makkovik, Labrador.
Based on letters, articles and photographs my story weaves fact and fiction together, entertaining and hopefully educating the reader. Mainly written for the family, and illustrated with many of Bert's photos, this is a book that anyone will enjoy.
Go to Bert's page here to see some fascinating photographs not published in the book
Copies of both books are free and available in PDF form from this site by clicking on the cover picture below or a limited quantity of printed books is available directly from me.
A page of photos and information on the book Bert, Postcards from Labrador here.
My first novel Luck
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Luck is the full, finished novel, continuing on from (and including) my first novel The Secret Studio which follows the fortunes and misfortunes of character Billy Briggs who unwittingly gets dragged into the Jimmy Savile scandal when he meets two victims.
Thirty years after The Secret Studio, Briggs is a bitter man who hopes to win a big prize on a TV show called Prisoner. Using a special code and hoping to influence the score, Billy along with two old friends conspire to cheat the system. This all unravels though, as the past comes back to haunt him and those he loves.
Written in my easy-to-read style, with adult themes, and strong language this isn't a book for everyone.
I have had good reviews too about this.
Available to download or to buy in print. Click on the image to download
Luck is the full, finished novel, continuing on from (and including) my first novel The Secret Studio which follows the fortunes and misfortunes of character Billy Briggs who unwittingly gets dragged into the Jimmy Savile scandal when he meets two victims.
Thirty years after The Secret Studio, Briggs is a bitter man who hopes to win a big prize on a TV show called Prisoner. Using a special code and hoping to influence the score, Billy along with two old friends conspire to cheat the system. This all unravels though, as the past comes back to haunt him and those he loves.
Written in my easy-to-read style, with adult themes, and strong language this isn't a book for everyone.
I have had good reviews too about this.
Available to download or to buy in print. Click on the image to download
