From bathroom showroom to book shelves

RAB Corder spent years selling toilets, showers and taps but now the Dumfries businessman is making a splash in the literary world.

After selling his well-known firm, Rab Corder Bathrooms, two years ago, Rab thought he was heading for a quiet retirement of travel and relaxation.

But whilst he was soaking up the sun in France, a secret project from the dark days of the 2020 lockdown came back to haunt him.

Rab had quietly penned a high-octane thriller, but never thought it would see the light of day.

That was until a bolt from the blue email arrived from a publisher and suddenly the retired salesman is now a debut author.

Rab’s debut novel, 40 Year Lockdown, isn’t your average retirement hobby. Set right here in Dumfries, it kicks off on Boxing Day 2020 with a freak lightning strike that traps a couple in a terrifying time trap.

Whilst seconds tick by for them, weeks fly past for the rest of the world.

What follows is a fast-paced thriller that captures global attention. Governments, intelligence agencies and scientific experts are drawn into the mystery as the anomaly becomes a dangerous geopolitical flashpoint.

At the centre of the storm is ex-special forces operator John Collins, who holds a powerful and potentially deadly prototype linked to the anomaly — one that international powers will stop at nothing to control.

Meanwhile, MI5’s DCI Harry Mills races against time to find Collins and uncover the truth before a new arms race threatens global stability.

When it came to picking a spot for his big book launch, Rab didn’t head for a stuffy library.

Instead, he’s heading back to where it all began — a bathroom showroom!

Rab said: “A few friends suggested a launch, and I thought — why not?”.

Showing he’s still got plenty of love for local trade, Rab is hosting his official signing at Dumfries Bathrooms (30 Church Crescent) on Saturday, April 11, from 10 am to 1 pm.

The event is being hosted by his good friends and business owners, Teresa and Andy.

Whether you want to buy a copy on the day or bring your own for a signature, Rab is ready to swap bathroom talk for book talk.