Editor's blog - A Jeremy Clarkson moment

When I first got a publishing deal, a nice lady at the publishers sat me down and said how wonderful it would be if I’d do some signings. “But don’t expect anyone to come,” she said with a wry smile and then told me about the time they’d published Clarkson (it may have been Wogan - I can’t remember). Anyway there was a massive publicity blitz behind the book, posters across town and a high profile signing in Waterstones on Oxford Street...

The hour of the signing came and Jeremy or (Terry) proudly installed himself behind the desk, picked up the pen and waited. Shoppers browsed, some of them pointed, the occasional one picked up a copy of the glossy autobiography from the piles scattered around the shop, read the back and then put it back down. The minutes passed, there was even a little roped of area where the queue was supposed to form. Only it didn’t. In an hour 3 books were sold.

Last night I suffered my equivalent of the Jeremy Clarkson moment. I was in Book in Bar in Aix to celebrate the publication of my new book - Rosé en Marché . I’d taken along some iced rosé and I’d spent the afternoon preparing a talk. On arrival the bookshop staff ushered me into a side room - they were just waiting for a few more people to turn up they said. I flicked through books and half an hour later than scheduled I walked into the room which had been prepared. The staff enthusiastically told me that numbers had doubled thanks to the wait. In fact they stayed fairly constant - since Tanya and Elodie had decided to go shopping rather than hang around. So I delivered my talk about the French markets to a throng of octogenarians (well four actually).

At the end I asked whether there were any questions:

“When can we have drink?”

“Yes, the poster said free rosé….”

Comments

[Evelyn Jackson]

Wow...that's an ego-buster moment, huh? So much for all the glamour associated with publishing a book and doing signings! If you ever do a book signing in Iowa, I promise I'll come and bring all my friends. Seriously...I'm eagerly awaiting the publication of Rose en Marche here in the States. I'm a fan! If I can't live in Provence, at least your books (and Blue Sky Living!) help me re-live the memories of being there. Keep writing!

[Sharon G]

I actually ordered the book through Amazon UK, read it and enjoyed it. I read your other books as well. It seems to me that the whole book signing thing is very strained. I am intimidated that this person actually wrote a book while I was picking my nose. It is not conducive to a conversation starter. I never know what to say.

Sharon G

[Maureen Emerson]

How fortunate to have logged on to Blue Sky Living this morning. My biography Escape to Provence was launched last month in Valbonne,in the Alpes Maritimes (our old home of twenty-two years). I am now in the process of exploring the possibility of giving a talk/book signing at Book-in-Bar at Aix in October, so thank you for relating, so amusingly, your experience there – most valuable. Maureen Emerson, Sussex, UK.

[Rachel Pommier]

I red your Extremely Pale Rose a year or so ago and loved it. My husband is a winemaker in the Rhone Valley and makes two types of Cote du Rhone obviously and Cote du Vivarais (We actually live in the Ardeche.) His however, are extremely dark roses, it's his speciality, rose for red wine lovers. He made his first 'pale' from the 2007 vintage and he described it as like the blush of a white rose petal. I had to giggle as it's still a bit dusky. Anyway, I enjoy your writing and will soon be reading you other books.

[BobTaylor]

According to the Telegraph this morning the french now drink more rose than white,is this true?

[Donni Betts]

Your story of your book signing in Aix made me chuckle. My husband and I authored several books of poetry (and one childbirth book) in the 70's and 80's, and suffered through innumerable signings. It's pure misery--like waiting to be asked for a dance at your first junior high mixer! Thanks for sharing.

[Donni Betts]

I forgot to add how much I love your books and have shared them with friends who feel the same. Keep writing!

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