Why the title “Stir Crazy”? Not because I watched the film (Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder – excellent) this week, but until yesterday, I’ve been stuck indoors for what seems like an age.
Because of the book, I’ve heard from some people I haven’t heard from in a long, long time. Firstly, I got an email from my former boss, who’d been told about Karma from a ex-colleague (who’d heard the Mike Parr interview, and read the Sunday Sun article). The former had looked me up on the internet, and discovered my website. In turn, she’d passed this info on to another colleague who also contacted me through my website – as well as being a surprise, this also translated in to a few extra sales! They were going to buy from Waterstones in Newcastle, but I was forced to point out (again) that no-where in Newcastle, Gateshead or the Metrocentre stock the book, despite it being a) by a local author and b) set in the region. (ooh, reading this back, I sound a tad bitter, don’t I?)
Secondly, I was contacted through Friends Reunited (or bloody Friends Reunited, as Paige would say) by an old classmate. I logged on to the account we’d set up for our school reunion so I could reply, only to find that my sneaky little friend (who shall remain nameless) had contacted ALL of the people in my year at school to tell them about the book!!! I must admit that I was annoyed at first, but I know her heart was in the right place…
Then I decided to give things another go with the Libraries Service (as you’ll remember, I hit a bit of a dead end last time). This time, however, I got several nice emails, saying that they would order some books, and also that I could participate with the local Reader Groups – I love the idea of doing this, but am not quite sure what they will expect from me. I’ve never been to an Author Event before, so don’t know what the procedure is… Looking forward to finding out, but a bit nervous, too.
On Tuesday, I heard from ME NorthEast, who’d been approached about a feature about ME – to cut a long story short, I said I’d be happy to talk to the reporter about the condition, and promised to ring her. I did so immediately, before I chickened out, and she didn’t have a clue what I was talking about. I felt a bit silly and wondered if I’d got the wrong end of the stick (as I sometimes do) but she said she’d check it out and get back to me. Haven’t heard anything yet…
My haven’t I waffled today (don’t answer that: it was rhetorical). BTW, I found out where my delivery of books came from: I was the runner-up in Trashionista’s Jane Austen competition. I’m unexpectedly enjoying It’s In His Kiss by Julia Quinn ( http://www.juliaquinn.com/books/kiss.htm ) which, in my opinion, has the best unintentional double entendre I have seen in a historical romance novel. First line of chapter seven, if you’re interested (email me if you’re that curious)!
PS Quick plug for the forthcoming British Divers Marine Life Rescue’s Marine Mammal Medic Course. As a non-diving, water-phobic, non-swimming Medic, the least I can do is encourage other, more useful, people to attend. If you’re interested and can get to Tynemouth, keep Saturday 28th July free and visit this webpage: http://www.bdmlr.org.uk/pages/main.html – click on the ‘Training’ dolphin/link. The course is both interesting and fun, and the instructors/existing Medics are a great bunch! Despite my physical limitations, I was never made to feel less than part of the team, and I’m grateful for that! Health-permitting, I’ll be there, lending a hand/being a hindrance/eating chocolate biscuits (delete as applicable)…