The best is yet to come…but they don’t get much better than this. Read the great review of Abide with Me by Ian Ayris http://ow.ly/8IRxB
January 27, 2012
January 17, 2012
Why Foyles will Not ‘Abide with Me’
Occasionally life throws up disappointments. Some huge, some small. Sometimes the smallest of disappointments can be the most frustrating, especially if decisions are made “on instinct” with no real basis or foundation. Today Foyles “England’s legendary bookseller” in Stratford decided “on instinct” not to have a book signing with Ian Ayris. It’s doubtful that they will stock the book. True, this is entirely their decision and their right. What disappoints is this decision was made from the store in Charing Cross, a million miles from Ian’s heartland and the hub of Ian’s excellent debut novel, Abide with Me, which is set in London’s East End. Stratford is the perfect place for a book signing where the demography is right, the support is right and the media would be a friendly ally. The decision today shows that Foyles are not interested in the real people of Stratford and the surrounding area. If they really want to know about the area I urge them to read Abide with Me. It may do more for their sales than they know.
Maybe Foyles are only interested in the new money in the area. Maybe they are only interested in the Olympics and what it can do for the area. Much like all successive governments.
I dare say even the present incumbents in power would be happy to sweep away the past, the history. Hence the Marathon route will avoid exposing how the shameful neglect of the area is still written large in towns like Aldgate, Bow, Stratford, Forest Gate, East Ham, Manor Park, Poplar, Limehouse, Hackney, Stoke Newington.
My ‘gut instinct’ is that the real people in these areas will continue to be the forgotten people. People who rarely are given the break they need. Foyles will need to be in the East End a few more decades to gain a real understanding of the area, so today’s decision from Charing Cross can maybe be understood.
It would have been great to have a signing in Stratford. For Ian, yes and for me as the publisher of Ian’s book. I was born in Forest Gate, schooled and lived in Stratford. Ian and I understand what it takes to make people notice you.
So thank you Foyles for your understanding and your instinct.
January 12, 2012
Another great interview with R.C. Bridge
Another great interview with R.C. Bridgestock. Consequences is out soon http://ow.ly/8rCYW
A Dropped Apostrophe But What Does It Really Mean
Waterstone’s has become Waterstones, the change is hardly perceptible but behind it there is a canny move by James Daunt to erase the past and Tim Waterstone to boot.
The bookseller rather confusingly is reverting to the original Baskerville typeface dispensing with the last rebrand which saw it adopt a lower case ‘w’ within the logo. “Waterstones is an iconic brand deserving of a capital W,” said Mr Daunt, but obviously not an apostrophe.
The irony of course is for a major book chain to adopt a grammatically incorrect form of spelling of it’s (note the apostrophe) name. There is a real brouhaha stirring up in the world of apostrophe pedants but as rather correctly pointed out if MacDonald’s and Sainsbury’s can get it right why can’t Waterstone’s.
As I mentioned in the opening paragraph there is more to this than English grammar. Mr Daunt clearly want to stamp his own mark on the book chain. I can’t help but think though in this case he may have been misadvised. An apostrophe so it seems, is a simple thing in a complex world.
January 11, 2012
There is a rumor that Abide with Me is a
There is a rumor that Abide with Me is a bloody good book…it’s more than a rumor. The great reviews continue coming. Out March 19 published by #caffeinenights http://ow.ly/8oXwr
January 8, 2012
Take advantage of the European VAT reduc
Take advantage of the European VAT reduction on #caffeinenights eBooks at Amazon.co.uk http://ow.ly/8lEq9
January 7, 2012
more updates and more on the way at #caf
more updates and more on the way at #caffeinenights: http://ow.ly/8l5V3
December 17, 2011
December 16, 2011
The 2nd top 5 #caffeinenights book of th
The 2nd top 5 #caffeinenights book of the year! http://www.lucaveste.com/2011/12/eric-beetners-top-5-books-of-2011.html
December 15, 2011
1m kindles being sold every week for the
1m kindles being sold every week for the past 7 weeks. Christmas Day may be the biggest eBook sales day of the year!
