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
I was literally about to press the send button with the the PDF files off to the printers, when I rechecked something and noticed a mistake in the index – but in the nick of time I was able to ask Antony to correct it. I got in a complete state as to whether I … Read more
The first video blog is on the website – I am going to try and put it onto Facebook – but that might be beyond me – we shall see … Failed but I have no idea why – Facebook says it only supports videos with the following extensions which includes .mov (which mine is). … Read more
The proofs did arrive yesterday with plain white colours. The three copies from York Publishing services, which they’d done for me for free, and which arrived a couple of days ago had the proper cover – if only I had found out about them earlier. Do the VAT return and send off review copies to … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more