Keris Stainton's Blog, page 54

My first book signing

I've been really rubbish at setting up book signings. When Della came out – 18 months ago! – I went to lots of bookshops and introduced myself and often they mentioned doing a signing and took my number, but they never called and I never bothered to follow it up.

Partly I think it was the fear of being the desperate-looking author alone at the table, customers trying not to catch my eye, and partly it was pure laziness. But then Holly at Waterstone's Arndale contacted me and not only was she really nice and enthusiastic about me coming in, she also pinned me down to a time. So last Saturday, Harry and I got the train into Manchester for My First Signing.

From the first time I mentioned it, Harry had said he wanted to come with me, but after about fifteen minutes he said, "I thought there was going to be a crowd and you'd be signing autographs…" Ah. Harry thought I was Jacqueline Wilson. He still enjoyed himself – I think (he did quite a lot of shopping!) – but he now realises I'm not as famous as he thought. Nowhere near.

After the signing, David and Joe joined us – Joe said, "Middy book!" when they saw me in Waterstone's – and we went to Las Iguanas for dinner (Harry's wanted to go there since we did his Brazil project and I told him there's a mural of Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue on the wall).

Then we staggered through the Christmas shoppers and drove back home. I didn't sell very many books (although a couple of the lovely friends who came to see me bought some!), but I really enjoyed the experience.

Books I've loved lately

How I Became a Famous Novelist by Steve Hely

I first heard about this book aaaaages ago and of course I wanted to read it on the basis of the title alone. But I started it and couldn't get into it so gave up. Then Catherine Ryan Howard recommended it so I decided to give it another go and I'm so glad I did. I really enjoyed it. It's very funny, lots of good publishing-industry jokes (though I don't think you need to be involved in the publishing industry to enjoy it) and, while I was reading it on the plane to LA, Stella said, "What are you laughing at?" What more recommendation do you need?

Lessons in Laughing Out Loud by Rowan Coleman

I love Rowan Coleman – she's an online friend – but I've loved her books for much longer than I've known her. In fact, I remember reading her first book and thinking this is what I want to do…

Lessons in Laughing Out Loud is a wonderful book. It's funny and sweet, but it's also sad and deals with a serious issue – actually a couple of serious issues – in a sensitive way. I loved it.

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Heidi was one of my favourite books growing up and I have very fond memories, so when I saw it was free for the Kindle I had to get it. I was surprised at how clearly I remember it and for about the first half I couldn't quite believe it had been probably 30+ years since I last read it. The second half I couldn't remember as clearly and there's a LOT of religion and Bible references that I have no recollection of at all, but in the main it was just as lovely as I remember. (And it still made me want to eat great chunks of cheese and sausage and bread and drink milk warm from a goat…) (Maybe not the goat milk as much as the rest.)

21 Century Dodos by Steve Stack

So this book is right up my street. Yes, I'm of the generation that likes to sit around reminiscing about the Walkman, Midland Bank, Texan Bars, typewriters, etc. It actually made me nostalgic about stuff I didn't even realise had gone: when was the last time you saw a Capri or a Vauxhall Viva? Everyone waved Woolworths off, but what about Curtess, Thresher, Mr Byrite?! It brought back lots of lovely memories and I really hope there's a second volume. (What would you want to see in it?)

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again by Frank Cottrell Boyce

I'm always a smidge unsure of sequels to classic books written by different authors, but Frank Cottrell Boyce is the author of one of my favourite books – Millions – and so I thought I'd give it a go. And I LOVED it. It's funny, sweet, there's a teeny bit of peril – I actually started reading it to see if I thought Harry would like it and then just read the whole thing. I'm sure Harry's going to love it too. (Haven't read it to him yet, because he wants to read to me – to get a certificate!)

Which books have you loved lately?

Click on the pics for links to Amazon. 

Friends*

Remember when I went on Vanessa Feltz's TV show and she mocked me for thinking my internet friends were real friends? Well I've been thinking about that lately, because my internet friends are, in actual fact, completely bloody fabulous.

I bring this up now because I keep having the urge to hug the computer and even I know that's probably a little bit weird, so I decided to blog about it instead.

Yesterday I did my first ever book signing. It was at Waterstone's in the Arndale and it was fun. I'll blog about that too when I get a chance. People came to the store to see me and support me and they were all people I'd originally met online (in fact, three of them I hadn't met offline until yesterday): Tom, Laura, Raimy and Liz (who I met via Twitter) and Sally*, who I met so long ago, I can't even remember where – I have a sneaking suspicion it may have been on a Yahoo list (ah, the olden days…). Even though yesterday was supposed to be about selling books (um… I didn't do much of that), the best thing for me was chatting with Tom, Laura, Raimy, Liz and Sally and I came home feeling very lucky that they'd taken time out of their day and fought their way through the pre-Christmas Arndale Centre crowds to come and say hello.

And then I got home and there was a parcel for me from Karen. I met Karen via Twitter too and she's just lovely – always smiley and supportive and generally all-round fabulous. I've never met her in real life, but she took the time, trouble (and expense!) to send me this:

How lovely is that?! Thanks so much, Karen. We love it!

I've also received a Christmas present from my friend Gabrielle. I originally met her online too (and then met her in real life in Paris). I met Stella – who I've just been to LA with, did I mention that? – online too, back in the early blogging days. In 2007, I went to New York with my friend Lisa, who I previously hadn't met offline either. (When I decided I wanted to do a charity walk in New York, I thought about who I knew who'd like to do it too and Lisa sprung immediately to mind. So we met for the first time at the airport hotel. And we got on brilliantly, as I'd known we would.) And I also remember the generosity of online friends every time I use my Kindle…

In fact, I'd say most of my closest friends are people I originally met online. Luisa, Diane, Anne-Marie, Anstey, Erin, Stella (this is a dangerous game since I'm bound to forget someone…) and I just wanted to write this blog post – not to blow another raspberry at Feltz – but just to say how much I appreciate how lovely people can be.

* Every title I thought of for this post was cheesy (even cheesier than the post) so I gave up. Sorry.

Whisked away!

On Tuesday night we were supposed to be going out for dinner in Manchester with some friends*, but then David phoned and told me to pack an overnight bag (adding "Don't ask any questions…"). We got to the station and David bought the train tickets (while I bought a Twirl from the vending machine). His cunning plan was foiled when a platform alteration was announced and so I knew we weren't actually heading Manchester-wards at all, but were in fact off in the opposite direction. He didn't say, but I guessed that we were probably going to Lytham St Annes because we love it there. And I was right.

And that wasn't all, he'd booked us into Mode, which I'd mentioned a few times (but I didn't know he was actually listening!) and there was a bottle of wine in the room. The room was fabulous, with an ENORMOUS bed and a (titchy) balcony. We got a taxi to Lytham and had dinner at Bosco and then got another cab back (it was way too windy and cold to walk).

In the morning, I braved the cold and had a cup of tea on the balcony, watching the sun come up over the sea. It was absolutely lovely, and all the more fabulous for being a total surprise.

Thanks, lovely husband.

* Forgot to say that the friends had cancelled the previous week and David decided not to tell me, planning this instead. In case you thought we'd stood them up!

The Night Before Christmas…

I've heard great things about Scarlett Bailey's debut, The Night Before Christmas, and now that I'm done with NaNo I'm really looking forward to reading it.

And look at this: Santa, Maybe. It's a Scarlett Bailey advent calendar with a new chapter each day. Fantastic idea.

(Also? You can turn your own Tumblr into an advent calendar – it's really easy, honest!)

NaNoWriMoNoMo

So it's over. And I finished the first draft of Emma Hearts LA and I actually really enjoyed it. AND I have more story so I'm keen to get back to it (this is pretty much unheard of). But I'm going to take a couple of weeks off to read, catch up on TV and admin (and *cough* go to Disneyland Paris *cough*) before starting the second draft.

How did you all do? Maureen Johnson has some excellent post-NaNo advice here.

Boy quotes (Part 12)

Harry: "Please don't go to Los Angeles!"

Me: "Why?"

Harry: "Because you will be far, far away from me… Take me with you!"

Woken by a fly buzzing in my ear. Said if I could I'd "wring its tiny neck." Harry said, "But you don't know its phone number."

David just went up to check on Harry and found him clutching our wedding photo and sobbing. Children are even weirder when overtired.

Harry: "I don't like all this wet weather we've been having in Northumberland… but this hot chocolate is very nice on a day like this."

Harry just said that when he saw [a girl in a service station] pick up my book he got "cocoons" in his tummy. *cries a little bit*

Harry was just making me a cup of tea, dropped the teabag and said, "Oh! Fail…" They grow up so fast.

Harry is making a holiday packing list. So far it says "Wii, Pigeon game, Dell, camera, iPod Touch, Kindle, books, food." Kids today, eh?

I *heart* Easy A

Have you seen Easy A yet?

I didn't really know what to expect, but it's so good. Emma Stone is completely wonderful and it's got Stanley Tucci. I love Stanley Tucci*.

It's funny, sweet, charming and just all-round ace. Plus it left me with a permanent earworm. Altogether now: "I've got a pocket, got a pocket full of sunshine…"

Oh and it has this line:

Marianne: There's a higher power that will judge you for your indecency.

Olive: Tom Cruise?

* I saw Stanley Tucci in the nip on stage in New York (in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune with Edie Falco, who was also in the nip. Eye-opening.

Tiny tour of Lancashire

When I first talked to my publishers about book promotion, the thought of school visits horrified me. I was never good at public speaking – which, until fairly recently, had mainly consisted of doing "talks" at school. I've done a few now and while I still get butterflies before, I've found that I actually really enjoy it.

Earlier this week I did three visits to local schools – or rather, with local schools – the visits were actually held in libraries since the point was less about promoting me and more about promoting libraries. And, honestly, they were such fun. The teens were so enthusiastic and funny and quite a few of them were incredibly passionate about books and writing. It was really heartening. And it gave me quite a buzz.

So if you were one of the fab students I met at Barnoldswick, Skelmersdale or Lostock Hall libraries, please say hello. And thanks so much for Alison Turner for inviting me, chauffering me, buying lunch and passing on a bunch of American celebrity gossip magazines. So Kim Kardashian's going to rehab, eh?

Back to school

Today and tomorrow I'm off gallivanting around Lancashire doing school visits. And I'm full of cold. And, when I'm at home, I'm desperately trying to catch up with NaNo (I'm only *cough* 13,000 words behind…) so I thought I'd leave you with this.