Bodies, bodies everywhere

For the past few weeks, and the next couple, it feels as if I’ve been/will be on the road or on a train for as many hours as I’ve been in the office.

So far in the last fortnight, in addition to the usual 50-hour weeks we self-employed persons seem to commit ourselves to, the itinerary has taken in London twice, Buxton also twice, Sheffield and last night Cambridge. (For blog-followers on the other side of the Atlantic, that’s not London, British Columbia, or Buxton, North Dakota, or Cambridge, Massachusetts; I’ll travel to most places to promote books, but I prefer to get home to sleep in my own bed. I’m fortunate to live right slap in the middle of England, so I’m less than three hours from most places I need to get to.)

Last night was Cambridge, for Bodies in the Bookshop, the annual gathering of crime writers in a beautiful bookshop right opposite one of the city’s historic colleges. It was less of a crush than usual, I suspect partly because of the awful weather, but also because the book tables were scattered around the shop in abstruse corners like Economics and Fine Art, instead of crammed on to the fiction floor as in previous years. The jury’s still out on whether it worked; when everyone is jostled together it creates a buzz, and you can’t not talk to people when you need to apologise every ten seconds for standing on someone’s toe.

But buzz or no buzz, Bodies still does sterling service as an event at which authors and readers can meet informally over a glass of wine, and the readers can discover new series and characters to fill the gaps between their favourite authors’ books. Three of our authors were there, big smiles firmly pinned on, signing pens at the ready.

My own role at Bodies is purely supportive; the authors do the work. The first time I went I didn’t know a soul apart from the Crème authors; four years, several crime writing conventions and twenty-odd books later, it’s starting to feel like a chance to meet up with old friends.

Stephen Booth was there, and told a great tale of one year he was at Bouchercon. He was approached by a fan of his wonderful series set in the Peak District, the beautiful countryside which surrounds the town I live in. The fan had bought Stephen’s latest and was keen to have it signed; Stephen, being a thoroughly nice and very modest kind of guy, signed his name, then pointed out Ian Rankin standing across the lobby. 'Who?' said the fan vaguely. That was when he realised he was more famous in the USA than Ian Rankin. UK-based blog-followers will understand why this was a matter of great amazement to him.

Natasha Cooper was there (we’re back in Cambridge at Bodies in the Bookshop now in case you’ve lost track, and who can blame you if you have?), and asked if I was going to the Harrogate Crime Festival this weekend. I’m not. After my 1000-mile fortnight and another upcoming, I need to sit down. And catch up on the laundry, restock the deep freeze, visit my mother…

I also passed Lizzie Hayes on the stairs several times, said hi to a former Crème author who has reinvented himself with a new name and a two-book deal with HarperCollins, and got the chance to chat to a lovely lady called Rose Melikan. I sampled her wares through a goody-bag freebie from Bouchercon 2008: a late 18^th century romp, full of spies and blackguards, set against an English background so richly realised that it took me by surprise to discover that she’s American.

Rose has a lot in common with our own Roz Southey: they both write about the 18^th century, though opposite ends of it; they both have a real talent for setting the scene; and they’re both academic historians who enjoy a visit to the lighter side in their fiction.

Our own authors, Roz, Kaye Hill and Mary Andrea Clarke, made some new friends, sold a few books and also took the chance to some catching up. And as well as their own books, we sold three copies of Criminal Tendencies, our anthology in support of breast cancer charities. If I could figure out how, I’d put in a link to a great review for it in Publishers’ Weekly, as well as this gem from a little closer to home. http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com/review.html?id=8103 Thanks, Shaz; you’re a good ’un. Glad you enjoyed it.

Enough with the shameless plugging. Sorry, but I love that book.

Bodies in the Bookshop was a good night. Next week, Bodies in the Library – our latest murder mystery evening.