Visit the Waterstones in Harrods – discover that the book has been classified as Mind, Body, Spirit – don’t think this is the best category – I think autobiography better. Decide to go ahead with the 80gsm paper from Butler and Tanner – the saving is too much to ignore. Ring the bookshop in Abingdon saying I’ll visit next Friday and then go to Waterstones in High Street Ken who order 10 copies on the spot and wish me the best of luck – such a good feeling. On the way to the cinema in Shepherds Bush – think that I’ll drop in on Books Etc – but its gone. Get my weekly sales ‘figures’ from Central - rather thrilling – 12 copies have been ordered from 2 branches of Waterstones and John Sandoe. Speak to Max from Daunts and agree to give a talk at the Louise T. Blouin Foundation.
Archive for February, 2008
Not very happy with the 80gsm paper that I got this morning. Not at all sure that ½ tones will look good on it. Try again to get an estimate for 100gsm matt coated cartridge. Another wait … No wonder I’m not sleeping well. Go into Blackwells at the Wellcome Institute – she wasn’t keen but did put it on the system. I forgot to tell her that I am using several images from the Wellcome collection. Go to Foyles in Selfridges who are keen, Waterstones in the Strand who say ‘What a wild book’ – but order some, and Watkins in Cecil Court who I’ll have to ring. Message from Max at Daunts saying would I like to give a talk at the Louise T. Blouin gallery – seats 200.
I wish people wouldn’t promise things and not deliver – I find it sooooooo frustrating. The additional proofs were meant to be coming today but when I rang this morning – I was told that they definitely wouldn’t be here today – and my e-mails from the last few days hadn’t been answered. The printer who was meant to be coming round at 10.30 to show me paper – rang to say he couldn’t come – fair enough but he said he’d get them definitely delivered by 12 midday. But again no. He promised them by 2pm – too late for me as I have to go out for the rest of the day at 1.15 pm. I do the rather mindless task of updating the blog on the website – making every entry something in its own right. In the late afternoon (after a snatched and decadent matinee) I go into Blackwells, Foyles and 2 branches of Waterstones (Oxford Street and Gower Street) – rather pleased by the positive attitudes. But will it translate into orders?
The finished cover - click to enlarge ….
Midas has got me an interview with Meet the Author in a couple of weeks. Printer saga continues – the printer who sent quote yesterday can only do it on 80gsm paper and I had wanted 100 gsm. Now I am in a quandry as I want the book to look really nice – but the price difference is HUGE. He is bringing round the 80gsm paper for me to see tomorrow morning. Go and see Mark in Waterstones in Notting Hill and show him the book info plus arrange to do a talk there in June. Also pop into Daunts in Holland Park.
Talk to a printer and more or less decide on using them as they could do the job straight away – I just ask for some paper samples. It’s a lovely day so I decide to go and do some repping in the West End. Drop a proof copy off at Hatchards, take the information into Waterstones in Piccadilly where I am pleased to find out that it is already on their database. How did it get there? It means that every Waterstones will have it on their computers. Terrific. Then go to Heywood Hill where I drop off another proof copy and hope that they might include it in their late Spring catalogue. Finally hear from Faber (after FOUR months) giving permission to quote 4 lines from an Auden poem … At about 5 pm I get an e-mail from the last printer to quote and the price is almost half of any of the others. I try ringing to find out how soon they could do the job – but too late. I shall have to wait until tomorrow.
Today was devoted, more or less, to what I think is referred to as housekeeping. I threw away many of the drafts of Venus (help – was that wise? –I know its all on disc but it felt so final) and I generally tidied my desk. I’m beginning to think of new projects but I know I should be concentrating on Venus. Towards the end of the day I get the proposal from Midas which seems comprehensive and rather exciting. If even a small percentage of the people who they are going to approach take it up – it would be wonderful. The next major decision is to choose the right printer – I think that I have definitely decided to have it sewn and the prices for that vary enormously – so that whereas one printer was cheaper unsewn – their sewn price is huge making another printer a better option. This must be decided on Monday as I need finished copies by the end of March.
Check that all the corrections have been inserted and then spend far too long trying to design an order form. I want to get 2 A5 sheets on the same A4 paper. The text is easy enough to swivel – but the pictures aren’t. I nearly drive myself mad doing this kind of thing – but finally give up and do it as an A4 flier. Take a proof copy of Venus to John Sandoe’s bookshop and give it to Johnny de Falbe – evidently somebody has already asked for it.
Check the new index – a few very minor mistakes. Go and meet Midas and take them 36 proof copies. They are enthusiastic about the book and think it’s got much potential. I was right to think I couldn’t go away in the near future – I need to be around in case anyone wants to do an interview… Rupert comes back in the afternoon and I watch the films he’s made for YouTube – unfortunately his computer is more or less broken so they are fairly distorted – but basically I think they’re good and get across the right message. He’s told me a new way to do my blog – so let’s see if it works …
Rupert arrives on the dot of 10 and he films me in the bookshop for YouTube – it goes pretty well I think – very few re-takes. Then – guess what – the proofs arrive BUT only 50 copies – not the 70 I’d asked for and there had been a panic this morning about the size of the cover I’d provided as a JPG – so I end up getting the books with a plain white cover. Then like a real cottage industry I spend the afternoon – sticking a postcard on the front of each and a label with ‘Uncorrected Proof – embargoed’. I send out 5 copies to Borders, Waterstones, Blackwells and 2 internet sites. Most of the rest I am taking to Midas tomorrow. Antony also sends back the index – so rather a satisfactory day.
