Photographer comes on Saturday morning – only stays for about 45 minutes – a relief since I have a migraine and had a sleepless night. Pack up 144 books to send off which takes much of Sunday – but finish all the pre-orders.
The books ARRIVED this morning at about 10.30 and they look good (although there seem to be some missing – 2858 rather than 3000). I immediately send off the review copies that I have promised and buy stamps for the 100 or so that people have ordered directly from me. In the afternoon I go … Read more
Talk to the printers in the morning who are still vague about delivery times … and apologetic for not returning my calls. Do people realize how much this matters? However by the end of the day I get a call to say the books should be with me by 10.30-11.00 am TOMORROW. Nerve wracking and … Read more
A little more energy today so I get on a bus and go to Waterstones on Kings Road. Very fortuitously the biography buyer was someone to whom I once offered a job at the Travel Bookshop so she immediately said that of course she would order the book. The printers still say I should get … Read more
Suddenly think about WH Smith as a stockist. I telephone several times and the switchboard tries to connect me to a book buyer who actually left a month ago … but I do get another name and do manage to contact him. I also e-mail Waterstones, Bertrams and Gardners with the latest publicity news. Send … Read more
The third video is now on the site – I’m reading the prologue – but I never once look up from the text – so it appears I have no eyes …. A lesson for the future! Ask Waterstones in Notting Hill to order their copies and e-mail Waterstones HQ with info about publicity. But … Read more
Fiddle around with the website – manage to talk to Rupert and learn how to make more buttons – so now I think I can do most things on the website. Continue with my April project which is clearing out endless paperwork. So far have filled 2 bin bags. I do need something to distract … Read more
Did absolutely NOTHING to do with the book today – indeed I didn’t want to think about it as I’d spent an almost sleepless night worrying about the printers and as a result felt lousy all day.
Talk to Waterstones in Woking who sound positive. Join Contact an Author (www.contactanauthor.co.uk) which I read about in The Author. It will be interesting to see if anything comes from it – it seems to be a forum where people find authors to speak at various events. Printers now say the book won’t be available … Read more
Visit Waterstones in Chiswick on way back from taking car to be serviced. Check that Nielsens have got the fact that I’m being distributed by Central on their database – they have and it should be on all cds going out to shops from now on. No news from printers – I know there is … Read more