The Oxford Times gave us some press coverage today - thank you Maggie Hartford! There is a picture of the cover of Imagine Oxford and details about both of our books and link to this website. I am preparing for the influx of orders as Oxford folk rush to order these "must have" books to their collections...

I seem to be having a dry run for old age...at least I hope it is a dry run. After my torn ligaments back in May I am - finally - now mobile again. However I have now lost my hearing. I have become completely deaf in one ear and, whilst this may have a positive side, the negative seriously outweighs it. I have religiously been pouring warm olive oil in my ear several times a day but even after this warm-up exercise ear syringing was unsuccessful...more oil, more waiting, more missed gossip until they will make a second foray. I am unsure what happens if this mission is unsuccessful - do I remain deaf? Meantime I am "re-assured" by my friends to watch out for the next sign of ageing and to stock up on Tena Lady! Such reassurance I could live without....Friends? who needs 'em?
In theory, now I am shut off from the world I should be able to settle down and write undisturbed. But reality inevitably is somewhat different..I prowl like a restless animal, constantlly attempting to clear my ears, constantly disappointed...Instead I settle into the next Mark Billingham novel and wait...

It has all been rather a shock since we received our books just how much time is required to sell them. Apparently, I read that 80:20 is the ratio of successful selling to writing which seems pretty depressing. But on we go...and we are selling some books. Both books have a very different market in our perception. Imagine Oxford we hope will suit the home crowd and its visitors and can be marketed relatively locally. Tell Tails is for animal lovers wherever so of course a much bigger potential audience but far more difficult to tap into.
Anyway here we all at one of our Thursday meetings feeling good about our books and longing to get them out there!