Bookshop cult heroes

Just wanted to blog about bookshop staff - and two in particular. These guys really are the unsung heroes of the town centre and many of them are completely mad too.

Let's take a friend of mine - let's call her Tiffany Darcy. This dynamic character is manager of a county town branch of a brilliant bookstore chain. She's an expert on everything from the pop-up kama sutra to Jane Austen and birdwatching. Generous to everyone but shoplifters, she always has a good word for the Big Issue lady outside her shop - and a particular soft spot for firefighters doing tin shakes. Will also be having signed copies of Decent Exposure which proves she has impeccable taste.

Also I must mention the staff of Sutton Coldfield Ottakars where I'm scheduled to take part in a new writers' night in October. They have promised wine, nibbles and a mention on their new blog.

More news soon about events and I'll post my cover jacket, complete with racy blurb.

Dangerous Liaisons

I went to the Bullring in Brum today and was grinning from ear to ear to see the first Little Black Dress books on the table at the front with all the chicklit. Nearly told a man tidying the shelves but restrained myself.

The last time I went to the romance section, an armed shoplifter was tackled to the ground and arrested. Today we got evacuated from Borders Starbucks because of a 'sinister' power failure. Today I asked if I would I get a refund on my cappuccino and a savage looking assistant told me coffee was the last thing I should be thinking about. Cheeky bugger - I can get very menacing without caffeine.

I was there for research purposes, of course, and also to get some shoes ( I am SO shallow) for the Headline 20th anniversary party on Thursday.

The party invitation was stylish, enigmatic and calculated to have any woman squeaking with anxiety.

Dancing, drinks and canapes - OK, that I can do.
7pm-3am - THREE am? Threeeee.......eeeek!
Dress: well.

Um... dress well?

Should I wear my abseiling outfit?

Hot Stuff

Whew...

Got back from Corsica yesterday where it was HOT. About 36 C in the shade every day. Far too sizzling to do anything except hot-foot it over the sand to the sea for a gentle swim or watch Mr Bennet windsurf or drink chilled rose wine. Therefore Mr B comes back tanned and toned and I come back tanned and about 5lbs heavier.

I also return more chilled and relaxed than I have been for ages even though I did write about 15,000 words of my new book, sitting on the beach, longhand. It's set in Corsica and there was ample inspiration. I even went for a dip in a mountain pool as research which was far more pleasant than abseiling on a wet BH Monday.

I also returned to find the page proofs of Decent Exposure in the post. Even though we got back late I had to look at them there and then. I think seeing my book in print at last was even more exciting than seeing the cover. I’ll try and post an extract very soon and also, hopefully, my website will be up and running. There was even an ad for one Julie Cohen at the back…

While I’ve been away. Little Black Dress has launched its website …it's great fun and very light-hearted so please visit www.littleblackdressbooks.co.uk to find out all about this gorgeous new imprint. The first books are in the shops now and the launch is being featured in the press.

I’ve also been invited by the very nice people at Ottakars in Sutton Coldfield to do a signing and take part in a New Writers Night in October. Dates and details of this event and the two launches, North and South, will be posted soon.

Happily, I returned to two rather nice cheques - one was from Jenny Haddon, chair of the RNA, with my returned NewWriters Scheme sub which I never got to use this year because I got published. (Big smiley) She also sent a lovely note congratulating me on becoming a full member. The other was my advance. Whoop, scream, rushes off to buy the entire Chelsea team and Chawton House.

On a final note I am having great trouble editing the links on this blog so here are some now!

www.littleblackdressbooks.co.uk

www.madaboutbooks.co.uk/ - The main Headline site for readers and authors

http://www.nelldixon.com/home.aspx - friend, author and book marketing guru and tea room expert

http://jessicaraymond.blogspot.com/ - ditto!

http://www.rna-uk.org/

And last but not least...to order your very own Will, sans clothes, click here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0755334612/026-7154101-8629239?v=glance&n=266239