Categories: uncategorized
Date: 26 October 2006 20:39:43
.... all my troubles.. etc etc
Actually I'm not big on that song (I was always more of a George Harrison/John Lennon sound of the Beatles man myself). So; yesterday then.
Where did we leave the story in Balamory?
Was late for Philip Ardagh, guttingly. Both wifey and I thought the start time was 2.30. Mad dash in, found the car park we wanted unavailable, got to the 'leccy and then found out we were way late anyhow. This week has not been the best for staying on target.
But what we saw was aces, would love to see a whole show by him. Lots of fun to be had. Nice one Mr Full Beard. Wifey and daughter bought a couple of books and got them signed, his assistant recognised me from the same page of the book fest brochure and we had a nice chat... Was good fun and I look forward to being third in line to getting to read the further Eddie Dickens books.
Then got home from that, then out to meet the signer for the Accidental Author night*, then back to eat, then out again to set up. So by this time I'd been into and out of Guildford on the bus five times. Got value for money out of my £3 all day local travellor ticket.
Got to the Guildhall to set up at 6.30. Fiona and hubby had been there for a while prior and met Councillor Powell who I've met at a couple of other youthwork shindigs who had come to apologise in person for not being able to stay, which was pretty nice. In the end she stayed for the reading of The Big Book from the Big Book Draw and that was the perfect way to start the night. Then we moved into chat about youthwork and artwork and writing books accidentally, split up by a ten minute drawing lesson which did go down well and then, just as the Guildhall clock struck 8 I asked if there were any questions and there weren't so we finished nice and early :)
The problem with these things is that I've no idea as to either what I said nor how well I said it. Also any plans I ever make on what to say evaporate from my mind as soon as I step on stage... Despite cue cards I made it all up as I went along pretty much. Wifey kept holding up signs that said "tell them about ..." this or that which was only moderately offputting and I learnt a little about things I would and would not do if I did this sort of thing again (which I hope I will get the chance to do so... Already in my calendar is the plan that I can aim to release book 3 at around the same time as next years Guildford Book Fest.... Assuming they ask me back).
The only one upset for me was that a few people who aimed to come could not at the last moment and that none of the youth groupers came, which is the same thing as last time with the 100hours concert. Dissapointing, but there you go, that's the way it turned out. I did have a lovely mental image ofthe place containing some teens that would add to the colour of the venue but this time was not to be....
Apart from that and feeling so nervy that I could have vomitted both before and after (too posh a surrounding to even consider that though) it seemed to go OK. Funnily enough I was then teaching today to a class and that was dead easy. Funny how some things you just get used to and some things you don't.
Righto, time to log brain off for the night. Thanks to those who sent messages or comments of support. Did seem to go OK but didn't have the nerve to speak to the Waterstone's guy who was there to sell books so didn't find out how he thought it had gone. I hope they liked it as that's the next target for me, a little but more on the mainstream side if possible. We'll see, as with all these things. After all a 26.3% chance is not to be sniffed at eh?
*small note on the signer although I think I'll come back to this. The day before the show I found out that someone had volunteered to sign. Too late to get any deaf audience members who had probably way given up on me by that point, but I asked if she could come along and help sign the two readings. Patricia was absolutely amazing: a Spanish sign language user staying over here and working with challenging behaviour kids who, in between two stints of working, still found time to come along and help me out. Outstanding. Not only that but her signing of both the Big Book and the reading was ace and I was delighted to see it as a part of the show. Prior to the night she had shown some signs of nervousness: which is perfectly fair enough as she was signing her second language into her fourth language (Spanish/English/Spanish sign/English sign) and yet, when it came to the doing of it she'd asked me to pause occasionally to help her get her bearings if needed and basically the pauses were never needed. Brilliant stuff and I'm hugely grateful to her for the help. If every reading of the book could be signed I'd be delighted.