The proofs didn’t arrive on Saturday – but they came today. Being a novice I panicked when I saw that every other page was blank – so I rang up Butler and Tanner immediately and they reassured me that when they are doing a proof, they can’t print on both sides. The pictures also look … Read more
Try and set up a day in Oxford next week – but no one rings me back. In fact leave many messages today that get no response … very frustrating. Paul Vlitos has done a really nice introduction for donowdo.com – it won’t go up until the beginning of May though. Depressing day weather-wise transmits … Read more
Full of energy this morning and do all kinds of things that I’ve been putting off: let Nielsens know I am moving my other 2 titles to Central, start the organisation process of getting them there. Sort out a complicated accounts issue with Bertrams which I’ve been putting off. Talk to the London Review Bookshop … Read more
Rupert comes round to help me with advice as to other ‘social networking’ venues. I slept so badly last night that I don’t take much in – he’s off to live in Canada at the beginning of May. Help. Achieve very little during rest of day – not sleeping is really the worst. Woman’s Hour … Read more
Meet Margot from Midas at a studio in Margaret Street to record a video for Meet the Author with David Freeman. He does no takes and I talk for 1 min and 47 secs and then that’s it. Am concerned that there are ums and ahs and that I don’t say enough about the book. … Read more
Send out Advance Information sheets (AIs) to the 90 or so bookshops without e-mail. Fix the Telegraph interview for the beginning of April. Get in touch with Gardners about them stocking the book – very positive conversation – I send them a proof.
I was away from my computer yesterday. BUT in the morning had checked with the printer that they could open the book files ok. Evidently there is one photograph on p.11 that is in the wrong format – but they can adjust it. I drive to Abingdon to stay with a friend and visit the … Read more
Go to the Kew Bookshop and then to the new Kennington Bookshop (where Nick Creagh-Osborne ex-Travel Bookshop works) – both very nice independents. It’s encouraging that these shops seem to be flourishing. When I get back I discover that several more of my huge mail out have been rejected – sometimes its been my typing … Read more
The advantage of my Freedom Pass is immense … I jump on and off of tubes and buses with impunity … today I went to the Kilburn Bookshop – Sarah Austin an ex-employee of the Travel Bookshop works there – very nice to see her – and they ordered a ‘pile’ of books. Then I … Read more
Go selling the book to Foyles on the South Bank and Crockatt & Powell in Lower Marsh – both say they will take it. Do fiddly things when get back – so not a very productive day. The computer crashes and have to rebuild the database which always freaks me. The Halfway to Venus group … Read more