Sandstone Press

The latest from the mullet book tour

Posted by Simon Varwell on 5th March 2010

Sometimes I almost forget I have a book out.  In the midst of a really hectic period at work and lots going on elsewhere in life, the publicity around “Up The Creek Without A Mullet” is just one more thing to chuck into the mix.

It was suggested to me the other day that it must be “surreal” to now be a published author.  It’s not - it’s just busy.  When I get the time to think about it.  Such hecticity (is that a word?) makes me fear I am not doing enough to keep the book going, but one thing I am doing is the tour around Scotland, dates for which you can see on my website.

Following the launch, a little over a month ago, I spoke to the Highland Literary Salon, and then on Tuesday of this week did a reading at Blackwell’s in Edinburgh. Both were great fun, both were a chance to see old friends and meet new people, and both were a chance to learn a great deal about the way I read and present the book. 

Three more dates are left, though my Aberdeen reading today was cancelled due to stock problems.  The store has five copies of the book in stock, meaning they obviously at least had faith in me to produce more than five sales, which is nice.  Hopefully this will be rescheduled.  Stirling follows on Thursday, and Glasgow the following Wednesday.

More lies ahead though - there may be further readings elsewhere that I can tie into work trips, and the forthcoming ebook availability will allow me to ratchet up the international marketing possibilities too.  I constantly reassure myself that with the ebook, publicity around the likely sequel next year, and continuing benefits from word of mouth, the book will be a long, slow burner.  At least that’s how I excuse myself for being too busy to do more right now.

Though of course, “more” is never enough.  And simply to have a book published and widely available is a privilege and a very special thing.  I think I would even consider sitting down for a minute and basking in that fact.

If, of course, I could find a spare minute…