They ran out of chairs! Yes – when we held the official book-launch of Some Kind of Synchrony at Waterstones in New George Street Plymouth we started with the 45 chairs from the Costa end of the upstairs set out nicely for the author-interview at the book-shop end.
Lee, manager of this Waterstones, had created a lovely display of my books and set two leather chairs in front of this, nicely angled as per a chat-show with the audience seats in a neat block in front of us.
The bubbly and nibbles we set up on a table off to the side and then we waited.
The audience began to arrive. To begin with I knew most of them; I had invited lots of friends and acquaintances to help me celebrate the launch of the novel. It was so exciting to greet people as they arrived. Soon it was obvious that Lee would need to put out the reserve folding chairs… but the audience continued to grow, with people I did not know swelling the numbers. Eventually all the heavy armchairs were manhandled over from the Costa end as well so that most people could have a seat. … even so, some had to remain standing.Now the audience was not confined to a block in front of the set up arrangement, but ranged around the top of the stairwell (and therefore behind a large pillar) so, to make sure that the most people could then at least see and hear me while I talked I abandoned the seated ‘chat-show’ format and took to standing at the far end of our space. I find I like standing to talk – probably from years of teaching!
I ought to be able to remember everything I said… after all I had primed Simon, who was conducting the interview as well as there to add his own insight into the venue, with suitable questions, but I can’t! Everything is a bit of a blur … did I say ‘this or that’ then… or when I was talking to the journalist at the Tavistock Times earlier that same day?
One point I know was made … Some Kind of Synchrony is largely based in a Newspaper office and so is the story within the novel, and I had done my research for this at the Western Morning News. This particular Waterstones is housed in what was the original Western Morning News building – making it the perfect place for the launch of this novel!
So at an opportune moment Simon Parker, who is an editor with the Western Morning News and an author in his own right, painted a verbal picture of what that very building we were sitting in was like when it was the Western Morning News building and he was a young journalist. You could almost smell the smoke, hear the clatter and recreate the surrounding as he described them.
The time seemed to fly – I know that I really enjoyed myself (once we got going – bag of nerves before) and feedback seems to indicate that my lovely audience did too.
A very short reading to finish up and we were breaking open the bubbly – or rather others were as I had the honour of signing and dedicating books! I even had a queue at one time!
If you came along – thank you – an author is nothing without readers and neither is a book launch without friends and readers to share it with.
Eventually I worked out where and who the people I did not know came from, mostly friends and acquaintances of friends, and asked for my thanks to be passed along to them for coming … all except a young man with a long-ponytail who had his copy of Some Kind of Synchrony dedicated to Daniel (his name I presume) and who, at the time, I assumed was a friend of my nephew. Seems not, so whoever you are Daniel – thank you too for coming along!
Finally I have learnt three things from this event – and you all know how much I love to learn – a day where I have learnt something is a day well spent. One, from a question put to me about setting aside time to write… that I have been looking at this all wrong. I managed to write my first (never to be seen again) novel in short half hour blocks. Even if I can not manage my ideal of two hours uninterrupted I should ‘go for it’ in any half hours I have – these exist where the two hours slots are elusive. Two, I always knew I used my hands a LOT when I talk (it has been commented upon on numerous occasion) and isn’t about to change, but flicking through the photographs taken by Krissi on the evening I had not realised how many funny faces I pull as I talk. Now, having not realised it I probably can’t do much about it – but trying to find ‘nice’ pictures to post was tricky! And three – I am blessed with lovely friends who are willing to support me when the call goes out – and that is a blessing indeed.
Did you come along? What were your impressions?
Did you have a question you wished you had asked? I can answer now….
Do You want to know about the next book launch when it comes up – just let me know by email and I’ll send you an invite 🙂