What The Hell...

I've been so careful while writing this blog. I started it to chronicle the life of a writer, the ups and downs and ins and outs for whoever may need to know. But with a blank screen in front of me and a maelstrom of inactivity around my latest book, I've found it really hard to say what's really going on - both inside my head and the dark world of bread-and-butter publishing. What if the marketing people were to read my blog? (Yeah right; if they can't be bothered to read the book they're supposed to be punting, they're hardly likely to read this). What if it sounds too negative? What if it affects my future relationship with the industry? What if...? What if...? What if...?

Publishing is an industry that puts all its efforts into the top 20 authors on its list. That's it. Ok, ok. So, the result is that the rest of us haven't a hope in hell of getting the marketing people to read our books before they fling them like mud at the wall they call a press list, to think laterally about tying it into any major TV series featuring its subject which might magically and, some may say, spookily come out almost exactly at the same time. Nor may they think that perhaps the local press supporting every other event in its annual food festival might actually be interested in an interview with a visiting author.

Look, it's no great surprise that I'm just going to have to do it myself. In fact I've had lots of fun already. Ok, so the publishers didn't actually get any books to Ludlow, Glynde or Abergavenny Food Festivals (my current and former home towns for God's sake)but The York Food Festival was a hoot. And getting the press coverage was a matter of a couple of last minute phone calls by the event manager and me. BBC local radio rarely turns an author down. And once the publisher's PR girl got over her spluttering defensiveness , I think we realised that we're on the same team with this one.

So what else do I need to do? My mate, Ralph Blum whose best-selling The Book of Runes is launching a 25th anniverary edition this year, ploughed through a book of booksellers which he borrowed from a mate in publishing sales when it first came out. With a (very good) mate (on shared royalties), they rang just about every major bookseller in America to give them a personal rune reading over the phone. So blown away were they by the runes' oracular advice, they became his own sales team. Result: a best seller.

With The Jamie Oliver Effect out there while Jamie's Ministry of Food on Channel Four revoltionises Rotherham's eating habits, the sun is already shining on my little contribution to the food debate. But will I personally ring every bookseller in the UK to remind them? Will I go into every bookshop I pass and sign copies, raising the value to the reader? Will I organise more literary events with my new chums who I collect on my way? Well, maybe, yes. Kate Lock, author of Confessions of an Eco-Shopper with whom I shared the York literary dinner and I already have a plan. We shall feast (locally and seasonally of course) around the UK, wining and dining our eco way into the public's hearts, and selling a few books along the way. It's not such a hard life, is it?