Waterstone’s Book Signing, Wakefield

I ended Book Week with a signing at Waterstone’s in the Ridings Centre, Wakefield. As I had arrived early I had a quick coffee first at Cafe Lavazza. While waiting to be served, I noticed the man in front of me had a fabulous tattoo snaking up and round the back of his neck. Being the nosy mare that I am I couldn’t resist asking him (politely – he was a big bloke) about his artwork. ‘I love your tattoo,’ I said, ‘what does it mean?’ With disarming honesty he replied: ‘It means I’m an idiot.’ Turned out it was his ‘midlife crisis’ tattoo. Bless.

On then, to Waterstone’s. Book signings can be humbling events for authors. Unless you’re DEAD FAMOUS the notion of people actually queuing to have a book signed is optimistic, some might say deluded, so I took my duster and can of Sheen along in case the staff needed any shelves dusting. Happily, thanks to Roz, in charge of the children’s section and Wendy, the children’s librarian for Wakefield Schools’ Library Services, word had spread and I had a steady stream of customers to keep me cheerful. Also, thanks to my quick thinking earlier that morning, I netted a few extra sales of ‘There’s only one Danny Ogle’ by displaying my Huddersfield Town scarf on the table. Sadly, it didn’t prevent Town from losing to Millwall, defeated by yet another goal in extra time. Come on you guys, this isn’t funny any more. We’re going for the play-offs, remember!!

Anyway, here are some shots of some of my customers. If any of you would like an original copy of the shot, write to me via my publishers at OUP, Little Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP.