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Hello, and welcome to my (hastily thrown together) website.
To be honest, when I decided to write some books, no one told me I'd have to market them myself. Ah, I hear you say, but you're an adman. That should be easy enough for an expert like you. I can tell you it isn't. I've created ads for some of the biggest brands on the planet and that was a doddle compared to pushing my own books out there.
So here I go, trying to tell you a little bit about me and my books in the hope that you'll buy into my brand (ha ha) and we can become firm friends. Luckily, we're off to a good start because I like you already – so thanks for stopping by.
Now I'll let you off the leash to click and scroll to your hearts content. It won't take long. And if you'd like any more info, please contact me.
A Path of Life
Dark Ocean
Web of Lies
WINNER BEST HUMOUR & COMEDY BOOK – PAGE TURNER AWARDS 2022
“Hilarious! Maddening, touching and endearing… breaks every mould and shatters every expectation.”
THE INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF BOOKS
Perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Ben Elton, Robert Goddard and Fredrik Backman, Hacking George will put a smile on your face and a tear in your eye as it drives you towards its startling end.
Playing God is a dangerous game, even if you do write the rules and think they’re pretty neat.
Loner George Sanderson has an epiphany. He believes he has the power to influence fate and set the world to rights. Then out of the blue comes downtrodden Angela Hayworth. It’s a perfect opportunity to test his new ability.
But George soon discovers that playing games with people’s lives is fraught with danger. And when his own life starts to fall apart, he’s forced to confront the chilling truth… Someone is manipulating him.
With his freedom and sanity at stake, George must fight for everything he holds dear – especially his lawn, his meat thermometer, and Angela’s flawless teeth.
"A salutary tale that will keep us wary of AI, Palmer’s latest is topical, cleverly plotted, often laugh-out-loud funny and thought-provoking."
GOODREADS
"A fast-moving absorbing plot coupled with believable characters made this a fun read that once you start you'll not want to put down."
KEVIN CANNON – REEDSY
For fans of Black Mirror, Dave Eggers, and Ben Elton comes a biting near-future satire on out-of-control technology, politicians, admen and dreamers. A tense ride towards catastrophe in a society where algorithms are trusted more than friends.
One big problem > One brilliant idea = One whole heap of trouble >
As artificial intelligence devours jobs, the UK government invites proposals for ways to motivate worried workers and placate the unemployed.
For advertising guru Andy Samuels, the project just might relieve his boredom. Working closely with his best friend and chatbot supremo Rick Osborn, they create Colin, a pocket-sized personal robot to nurture positivity and mental wellbeing.
Andy thinks his idea will win, and winning is all that matters. Rick believes Colin could save society from itself. Jacob Chastain, the minister responsible for the project, spots a fast track to the top. And Colin? He simply wants to help us all.
Three men, three agendas, and an idea that could be too good for its own good.
For fun, I uploaded CUTE (or C-U-T-E dot P-D-F – you'll see) into some AI software called Notebook LM, waited a couple of minutes, and downloaded a 9-minute podcast-style review. The result isn't perfect, but it's a reflection on how far AI has come – and how easy it is to simulate or fake whatever you want. Check it out ...
A ten-year-old boy, searching for help after surviving a devastating global pandemic, puts his faith in a friend who has a different agenda.
The near future. A killer virus. Only those who’ve had no contact with others are safe. Armed gangs roam the country in search of supplies. A tiny community of Mormon fundamentalists live on, hiding out in Utah’s red rock desert. After a brutal raid wipes out the whole community, there is only one survivor... Ten-year-old Dallin Smith. This is his story. One of trauma, survival, hope, and betrayal.
It's a very different kind of book to Hacking George and CUTE. I finished the first draft in 2019, just a few months before the COVID pandemic. It didn't seem like the right time to publish it! Now it's scheduled for release in May 2025.
"Not to be missed. Filled with delightfully quirky characters and witty situations, the author takes a completely ordinary man, an accountant no less, and turns him into the unlikely hero of this highly entertaining story.... a delightful read that delivers great characters, an interesting plot and a satisfaction that at the end you’ve not been short changed."
REEDSY
“Sometimes you take a chance and you’re rewarded.”
“Laugh-out-loud funny cosy crime fiction.”
“One of the best novels I have read in a very long time."
“Had me reading late into the night.”
"It's a can't put down and once you do, can't stop thinking about it kinda book!"
"If Black Mirror left you feeling uneasy about our tech-obsessed future, Bob Palmer’s Cute is bound to crank up those feelings in the most darkly hilarious way."
"The perfect mix between British wry humour, dystopian AI future, and social commentary—all with a cute furry ball."
I constantly seek new challenges. I say yes much more than I say no. I've been out of my comfort zone so often, I don't even know what my comfort zone is. I am never bored.
After four years in town planning (an aberration) and even less as a rock drummer, I finally found my niche as an advertising creative in London. I enjoyed some nice lunches, won a handful of awards, and met a lot of interesting people.
Later, disillusioned with traditional ad agencies, I co-founded a small consultancy with big ideas. It was the springboard for HYPtv, a television production company and emerging creative talent showcase. Along the way, I mentored numerous young filmmakers, helping them take their first steps into commercials, TV and film. They taught me a lot too. In 2017, I ventured into feature films, co-producing the New York Times Critics Pick Us and Them. It's worth a mere 83 minutes of your time.
I share a creaky 400-year-old cottage on the edge of London with rampant woodworm and my infinitely-patient author and book cover designer wife Berni Stevens. It's thanks to her encouragement that I started writing. Finally, I am able to create something pure for myself that hasn't involved a committee of people standing in judgement before it even sees the light of day. It's liberating.
When I'm not working, you might find me exploring canyons in the high desert of south-east Utah searching for ancient ruins and rock art. And getting lost, which I can highly recommend. And being caught in a flash flood, which I can't. If you're interested, check out my Utah hiking website.