What I left out earlier in the week was the fact that on Tuesday I’d been on Radio 5 Live with Victoria Derbyshire. On Saturday morning I did Saturday Live with Fi Glover – the most nervewracking radio to date – not least because I realised that so many people I knew would be listening … Read more
Waterstones put in their core stock order – books are being sent to 150 of their shops – mostly one copy to each – but it’s a beginning. Do a phone interview with Three Counties Radio film programme – although inevitably they ask about the film – I am actually able to talk about the … Read more
Another good review in the Daily Mail by Kate Chisholm – its not on the Mail website though – so can’t put it on-line. No other reviews over weekend – although keep checking online. My Amazon sales ranking fluctuate but go up to 2290 at one point and then Amazon are out of stock… Infuriating. … Read more
Review by Byron Rogers in the Spectator – not sure what it’ll do for my reputation as he starts it off by saying I threw a kettle at him … (it’s true – I did!) – but the review is very flattering.Do live interview with Radio Manchester and recorded interview with Radio Jersey – both … Read more
On Bank Holiday Monday go and do some super-market shopping for the launch. Catch up on e-mails etc. On Tuesday a friend helps me to take the books and soft drinks to John Murrays in Albemarle Street where the launch kicks off at 6.30pm. It goes really well I think – a great turnout of … Read more
‘Me and My travels’ appears on the back page of the Escape section of the Observer. I do a telephone interview with Claire Saul for My Weekly – which apparently has a circulation of 500,000. Write to Bookforce who have belatedly sent me an invoice for my proof copies. Instead of a 2-3 day turn-around … Read more
The books are starting to arrive in the bookshops – Sarah Austin from the Kilburn Bookshop asks me to go and sign their copies which I do willingly. Gardners send me an order which I redirect towards Central and My Travel Companion arrives at Central. I get a text from my sister to say that … Read more
I took a copy of the book round to Colin Thubron – his quote on the front has made a lot of difference. Do a telephone interview with the Observer (there should be something in the Escape part of the paper this Sunday). They need a colour photograph – luckily I remembered I had had … Read more
Get some very nice letters from old friends and in the evening a wonderful bunch of flowers. Send out a bulk e-mail to many friends alerting them to the book and telling them where to buy it. Do live interview with Radio Cambridge and the first question takes me completely unawares – the interviewer asks … Read more
My sister rings to say that there is a review in the Sunday Times. It doesn’t appear to be in the on-line edition – so here it is in full: ‘In 1957, aged 10, Anderson’s childhood was abruptly brought to an end when she was diagnosed as having cancerous lumps in her arm. A prominent … Read more