Malcolm Welshman has worked as a vet at London Zoo, in a small animal hospital on the South coast and as a consultant specialising in exotic animals. Now retired, he lives in Somerset with a menagerie of pets, roe deer around the house and badgers in the garden.

Malcolm has been writing about animals for many years and has had over 200 articles published. He has written for many publications including The Lady, She, Yours, Home & Country, People's Friend, Cat World and the Sunday Times. He was the vet for My Weekly magazine for 15 years and currently writes a monthly page for Parrots magazine.

Malcolm has now completed his first novel, Pets in Prospect, in which he draws on his wealth of personal experience in dealing with eccentric animals and their even more eccentric owners to produce a highly entertaining book which will appeal to all animal lovers. Set in a Sussex animal hospital, against the backdrop of the South Downs, it tells the story of newly qualified vet, Paul Mitchell, and follows his engaging exploits in the first six months at the hospital. It's the equivalent of a modern-day James Herriot and the first in a planned series.

Malcolm also has a Blog which you can access at www.myspace.com/mwman

Malcolm is available for interviews & talks.
Please e-mail: mwelshman@tiscali.co.uk

When young vet Paul Mitchell is bitten by a hamster on his first day in practice, he wonders what he's let himself in for. He finds out on a roller-coaster ride that sees him battling with bald cockatoos, stalking feral cats and chasing hot-foot after a lame camel.

While struggling to cope as a raw, new graduate, Paul is destined to meet larger-than-life characters such as Mildred Millichip with her out-of-date remedies, and the flamboyant actress, Francesca Cavendish, famous for her cat adverts; and there's no forgetting Madge and Rose Stockwell, two sisters who live a slow-paced life on a Downsland farm with no time for a 'vet in a hurry'.

Pets in Prospect takes the reader with Paul on his often hilarious ride through his early days at Prospect House Veterinary Hospital where a hawk-eyed, but one-eyed, elderly receptionist rules the roost, and a swearing Mynah bird and an Anaconda in the fridge are not out of place.

Through Paul's zany encounters with clients and their pets, we experience with him the highs and lows of a life revolving around the animals. Spinning with funny stories, Pets in Prospect is well worth the ride.

Pets in Prospect can be purchased from:

• Combined Book Services (Tel: 01892 837171)
• Amazon at www.amazon.co.uk
• Waterstone's Booksellers