One of the wonderful perks of doing my tour is that I get to travel around Britain by train. I love trains. I find them hopelessly romantic (but then again I would, wouldn’t I?). They seem to transport me not just from place to place but somehow also from time to time. I take plenty of reading with me, and my ipod, but I end up just staring and staring out the window, thrilled to see the countryside rushing past me, making up stories about the people I might glimpse as we hurtle past their windows, and generally getting lost inside my own head — a very good place for a writer to be. By the time we entered the countryside surrounding Bath I was in a totally mesmerized state, enthralled, excited, enchanted. I had forgotten how extraordinarily beautiful a place Bath is, it had been so long since I’d been there. And just an hour and twenty minutes from home. Shame on me.
So my outlook on life and our world was quite positive as I waltzed into the bookstore, toting my posters and my pens. I marched up to the person at the till and announced “Hi, I’m Sue Guiney,” as if that declaration alone should have been enough for everyone to start scurrying around me, shaking my hand, offering me cups of tea. But no. What I received was a blank and troubled stare. So, I continued. “I’m here for my book signing….Tangled Roots….” “Uh, um, well, just a minute. I’ll call the manager.” What followed was a rather tense twenty minutes of excuses, I didn’t knows, I’m so sorrys. Then the manager disappeared while someone else pounded the computer madly and I stood fuming. Eventually she came back with…believe it or not…an unopened box of books. They were there in the stockroom, just as the distributor had said they should be, but for whatever reason nobody knew about them. But, as they say, all’s well that ends well. The box was opened, a table and chair found, a display created, tea offered!
And there I sat for two hours, mostly alone and smiling, sometimes chatting with
staff, sometimes waving at babies. It was a beautiful Friday afternoon and the shop was empty. But I persevered, hounded down likely readers and forced my way into selling 3 books (the best yet) while having a few lovely conversations with some customers about a whole range of topics. By the time I left (having signed the rest of the stock — that’s 18 books!), I was feeling great again and, as my very funny husband says, declaring victory and heading for the bar. Actually, I first took myself for a little tour of the Roman Baths, then back to the hotel were I fell into a coma-like sleep before my excellent dinner (remind me to blog about dining alone on the road – I have it down to an art!).
I woke up to an absolutely gorgeous, sunny day and another short but sweet train ride to Bristol. The staff in Bath had been so mortified by their snafu that they had called the Bristol store in advance to make sure they were expecting me, and they were. Greetings, displays, tea, all offered right off the bat. Even my wonderful publisher was there to greet me! And within ten minutes, the manager approached saying “Here is already one of your fans come to meet you.” Now, I had a couple of friends who had said they would come by, but the person following was not one of them. Nor was he known by the publisher. He was, indeed, actually a fan. Someone whom I had never met before, but who had been reading this blog and had decided to make the effort to drive a rather long way to meet me and buy a signed copy of Tangled Roots! I was dumbfounded. Ok — I know this is what the whole thing is supposed to be about after all, but really — I was so astonished, and thrilled, and grateful and amazed. Thank you, kind reader!!
Off to a very good start. But then I realized that a sunny Saturday afternoon is the death knell for a bookstore. It was empty. No one in the fiction department. An occasional straggler hovering briefly around the “For Father’s Day” table. So I chatted with my friends who did come for a few minutes. My publisher and I caught up on some shop talk. And then — you know the drill by now — I sat, I smiled, I waved at babies. I was about to be thankful for the one book I had sold and declare victory when some people began to trickle in, a few here, a few there, a few likely strikes. Then in the last 15 minutes — 2 more sales! Bristol’s tally: 3 sold, 18 signed, plus some great conversations with the staff and the possibility of talking to the book club they are starting. Yes, another victory and another piece of evidence for the “you never know” department.
And, to top it off, I got back to London in time to see my younger son’s band play at his school’s Battle of the Bands concert. They ended with “Roadhouse Blues,” and needless to say, they were awesome! Victory was ours. The bar awaited.
I love Bath and I love travelling by train too. It sounds like a great and successful weekend.
Riding a train across the countryside of England would be unbelievably fantastic. And congratulations on the book signings–triple threat! It really makes me want to get a book out, just so I can do this. Of course, here in New Mexico there’s not much green countryside like you find in England, and the train only runs a short distance, but whatever. Maybe I would just have to do a book signing tour in England! I know my wife would gladly come along 🙂
I think your positive attitude makes everything even more special. I love getting these insider tales of what a book tour is REALLY like. I love travelling by train too. Have you started an electronic fan club yet? Perhaps now is the time…
Your picture and comment about travelling by train have reminded me of the period just after I moved to the UK in 1975. I worked for a computer manufacturer in Central London; one of my customers was in Bristol, and the “Inter-City 125” as it was called was brand new and went to Bristol at a speed of 125mph (for most of the way). In addition, my customer was almost directly across the street from Bristol Temple Meads; what fabulous service. My son did his engineering degree in Bristol so I am fairly familiar with the place and it was nice to there again.
Thank you for the great description of my visit to your book-signing. I was very pleased to meet you and it was well worth the journey.
I see you link to the “Short Story Review”, so I assume you must have met Tania Hershman (who comments as “Titania”) when you went to Ireland for the Writers’ Retreat.
Having read the introduction and the glossary in your book, I think it will jump to the top of my reading list.
Again, thank you for the good words.
I feel the same way about trains – I still remember my excitement as a child when we went across the country (LA-NY) on the Superchief – that train smell! I still love trains for teh reasons oyu do – and congratulations on getting through your book signing with such panache – it was a good career move to wave at those babies – they’ll grow up feeling that you’re an old friend and will buy all yours books.And come to the signings to say hello. fans of the future!
I love trains too although had a love hate relationship with them when Chris and I were dating. I was in London and he was in Manchester – I used to long for Friday’s when I would get on the train and it would take me to him and I used to despair on Sundays when the train would take me away. Blimey….not thought of that in years!!
On another note – are you planning to do any book signings in Scotland? Glasgow for instance?
C x