Johnny Mack is a published author living in Cowes who is remarkable because he has turned his life around.

Johnny lived in Peckham and was expelled from two schools, he was a bit of a 'wheeler dealer' successfully trading goods from a suitcase before becoming a notorious figure in South London's underworld.

Robberies, violent crime, alcohol and drug abuse became a way of life for Johnny.

Nowadays he is tee-total and a respectable member of the community living in Cowes. He uses his experiences to help others who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, counselling in prisons on the Island and giving talks to audiences on the mainland.

'Memoirs of a Hitman' is due for publication in early 2012. It is a colourful, humorous tale reminiscent of novels by John Grisham and more recently Stieg Larsson, it tells the story of a hitman who wants only to retire with the love of his life and leave his life of violent crime behind him.

His fellow gang members do not want to let him go and he has one major obstacle to overcome before he can retire to the sunshine.