Promotional Tour Blog 2011

Friday 15th April

Fun day in the midlands dropping by Waterstones shops – everyone very welcoming and kind. The inimitable Bradley Rose doing his ‘thang’ – finding all the venues by smell alone (and that’s quite something considering that in an average day there could be at least ten or more venues in up to five different cities.) I’ve talked about Bradley before in previous blogs – he’s a real tour stalwart and has had characters named after him in at least four novels by authors grateful to him (he appears in my novel ‘Gone’ as a woman but you can spot him in other novels including those by Tess Gerritsen and Andy McNab).

I like being on the road – it’s a bit like being the queen - I don’t have to carry money or do anything myself, there are always people around me thinking for me, anticipating my every move (even taking my chewing gum from me before I go on stage – how rock and roll is that?).  The event at Nottingham Waterstones was amazing – such enthusiasm from the audience and Shane the event organiser, and such intelligent questions in the Q and A at the end (Simon!) Plus I had a volunteer on stage, Matthew, who coolly shoved a tennis ball in his mouth and bowed to the audience. So that proves once and for all that you CAN fit a tennis ball in your mouth.

Sorry – I can’t explain why I’m so obsessed with tennis balls in mouths (plot spoiler).
Take care everyone, don’t go near the M1, and enjoy your weekend.
More from me next week. M x

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Thursday 14th April

Hey everyone, a quick note to say I've had my first day on the road - started in London signing books. There is a kind of established route for writers to take, with key shops, and you very often bump into other authors with their publicists treading the same pavements. Today it was James Frey - I thought we might get into a signing skirmish when we both turned up at Foyles armed with our pens ready to sign, but he was the gentleman and let me go first. I guess a lot of overseas authors are in town because of the London Book Fair. Then off to posh Moroccan restaurant to smoke hubbly bubbly pipe which I know is all the rage in London, but I've never done it before. Got totally high on the tiniest bit of baccy and the day went with a swing. Quick interview at the BBC then hotfooted up to Birmingham for a lovely event with an audience full of writers - so it turned into a real writing workshop (the sort I thoroughly enjoy) More tomorrow, Best Mo.

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