Book launch

A Face Full of Snow

The book launch for my new book: A Face Full of Snow got off to an excellent start at the Merchant Adventurers Hall in York on Saturday, there was even a covering of snow to tie in with the theme! York was full of Christmas shoppers for the St. Nicholas fair.

On Sunday I was at a new venture: Pure Genius, at 3-5 Grape Lane, York. Snow fell most of the afternoon, giving a beautiful backdrop to my new book, where Iver No-Idea gatecrashes Eric's skiing holiday.

Getting home was quite a challenge. One of York's busiest days for Christmas shopping was hampered by the snow - so a big THANK YOU to Phil who picked me up, and drove me home through the gridlocked streets. It took 2 hours to get home, a journey that should have taken about 15 minutes.

Hot off the press

I often wonder which is the most exciting part of writing and producing a book. The initial spark of inspiration, the moment when the characters start to take shape in written text, and then get a face through the illustrations, they're all landmarks along the way, or is it seeing the books in all their glory for the very first time?

Yesterday was lucky enough to arrive to collect my books while they were still being finished off - there was a heap of them on a pallet, more on a table, and yet more going through the guillotine to be trimmed and finished, for me this was a very exciting moment, to watch the final stages of the making of my books. Then they were packed, hot off the press and loaded into my car, ready to be launched at the weekend at St. Nicholas Fair:

Book launch: A Face Full of Snow - there's even some snow around to mark the occasion!

Merchant Adventurers Hall, York - Saturday 10am - 4.30pm
Pure Genius - 3-5 Grape Lane (Swine Gate quarter) York - 10am...

Another print run needed!

But I'm Not Sleepy is still my best seller, and stocks are getting low, and as I've now added another book signing event at the end of the month - 27th November at The Merchant Adventurers Hall, York, I've asked the printers for a quote for another print run...

Books selling like hot cakes...

I passed the reindeer in their paddock on the way into The Farm Shop Christmas fair on Thursday, they looked up as I drove slowly past, maybe they thought I was bringing food...
I had a a good day, people are really getting into the swing of Christmas shopping now.

Another day another fair - Friday saw me book signing in the Guild Hall in the centre of York, it was a quiet day, but with the weather as it was, who could blame shoppers for staying at home... Saturday more than made up for it though, with a very busy day. My first customer of the day was a little girl who emptied out her handbag onto the table, and counted out her own money to buy a book - how adorable is that?

Book signings

I've got a busy week this week, starting with a Craft Fair at The Farm Shop, Wigginton Road, York. 11am - 3pm. I'm hoping to catch sight of their resident reindeer on the way in, and maybe even start my own Christmas shopping at the fair, there's always something exciting that you wouldn't find in the shops.

Another self publish book into profit

I did 2 weekends of successful book signings at the end of October and took But I'm Not Sleepy into profit after just 15 months!!

But I'm Not Sleepy is currently my best seller, and I'll be needing another print run in the near future. People are attracted to the title, what parent hasn't heard those words at bedtime? Once they start to turn the pages they're drawn to Lucy and her antics, and of course the growing number of sheep, and Down boy the sheepdog who just wants to round them up...