Oh disaster! Borders UK (38 stores across country) has just gone into administration. I’d supplied them with books for some signings I did. They owe me a few hundred quid! Still, they’re still trading and looking for a buyer, so you never know. They were in talks with WHSmith, but that fell through. Sigh.
27
Nov
09
borders uk into administration
25
Nov
09
Waterstone’s Slough and Brighton
Well, two more stores now stocking my new book. Every little counts… no, hang on, that’s Tesco’s. Can’t get them to stock it, that’s for sure, cos their deal is sewn up by some outfit called Entertainment UK or something.
Meanwhile, I’m now onto chapter 7 of Necromancer’s Fall. Man, book 3 absolutely rocks!
19
Nov
09
Storm warning
Not much to post this week. I’m not doing a signing for a couple of weeks now – next one is Waterstone’s Bolton on 5 Dec. Still, might be for the best, cos all the rain that’s around would probably make travel a bit of a pain and might mean all the ol’ customers stay at home rather than coming out to buy books. I’ve found the best weather for signings is dry but overcast.
15
Nov
09
wigan, bnp and rugby
Well, did a signing at Waterstone’s Wigan yesterday. Sold 47 copies, which is my record at a signing by a fair margin. Could even have sold a couple more if I hadn’t been sat towards the back of the store till 2pm. They had some rubgy league player (Sean Long, I think was his name) signing in the prime position 1-2pm, you see. Local celebrity – queue out the store, there was.
Apparently, the BNP was meeting in Wigan yesterday too. I was worried there’d be some trouble, but didn’t see hide nor hair of them.
Next stop is another signing at Waterstone’s Bolton on Saturday 5 Dec, from 11am. Hurrah!
Three more stores have now agreed to stock Necromancer’s Gambit and Necromancer’s Betrayal. Every copy counts and all that. Good to see them on shelves before xmas, of course.
Big signing in Waterstone’s Wigan tomorrow! Meant to be sunny, if a tad cold.
11
Nov
09
Waterstone’s Bradford
Waterstone’s Bradford now agreed to stock both books. The guy on the phone checked my sales stats and said, ‘Oo! F*ck! We’ll definitely stock some. Don’t know why we didn’t pick it up before.’ Seriously, he swore, which I found quite amusing and endearing.
09
Nov
09
X Factor and object lessons
Well, did a signing in Borders York yesterday. First time I’d done a Sunday signing. It was all a bit fitful. And they sat me upstairs with the DVDs, which was all a bit odd. Still, I eventually sold 20 copies and met a few of me old mates from my signing at the store back in January: Charlotte, Beth (and Mr Defence League) and Matt White.
Next stop: Waterstone’s Wigan, from 11am on Saturday 14 Nov.
Meanwhile, I’m having to ponder Lucie’s exit from X Factor yesterday. Lucie was one of my faves and gave a flawless performance on Saturday. Clearly, quality is no longer the deciding parameter for success in today’s world. An object lesson to all authors, methinks, but a depressing one.
07
Nov
09
Twilight review
Finally saw the film Twilight this week. Have to say I quite enjoyed it. I’d heard it wasn’t as good as the book, blah, blah, but it worked nonetheless. It made the ol’ vampire shtick very contemporary, a metaphor for modern alienation, etc. Some very good dialogue in the first half of the film. And the Red Indian dimension in it was definitely working to keep vampirism’s ancient references. All round, pretty good. I’d give it 8/10. Siouxsie watched it with me and she was less impressed – didn’t like all the teenage angst stuff – bit annoying.
Hurrah! As you may know, Borders have stopped ordering books through the supplier called Gardners. That was causing me real problems with regard to getting stores to order my books. For book signings in Borders, I’ve usually been supplying the stock myself – right pain.
But clever old Borders York have managed to order my books through the supplier called Bertrams. So there’ll be a big stack of books for me when I do the signing on Sunday 8 Nov 09. Just the small task of selling them now.
Meanwhile, I’ve now finished chapter 5 of book 3, Necromancer’s Fall. It’s all hotting up. Onto chapter 6 now – and the introduction of a new baddie.
25
Oct
09
Borders York
Well, duly did the signing at Borders Manchester Fort yesterday. Strangest thing – the store was empty till 12.30. Never seen the like. Still, it was the last payday before payday and was probably the lull before the xmas shopping storm. Having said that, the staff said it was always like that. Hmm. Shifted 20 copies nonetheless, just took forever is all.
Next signing is Sunday 8 Nov, at Borders York from 11am. Sold loads there last year, so should be ok. First signing I’ve done on a Sunday though.
