Part Bangladeshi, Part Free T-Shirts

Hello to all my new readers. Just checked my emails and I have one from someone in Bangladesh. (Strangely this person has a hotmail.co.uk address. Incredible)

By the way, free 'Do You Know Who This Is?' t-shirts coming soon. If you want one email me at anyoneknowwhothisis@gmail.com. The only stipulation I have is that you don't try and sell it on ebay or give it to a Frenchman.

The Reading II - Update

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances I am going to have to move the reading numero deux to sometime next week. I've got loads of work to do this weekend and that, coupled with the fact that England are playing cricket, means I don't really have the time to put in an appearance. For those who emailed me saying they may come down I have emailed you back, sorry if I have missed out anyone but hopefully you will check this out before Sunday anyway. Have a good Friday and weekend everyone. Cheers.

The Reading II (A Sequel)

I've had a fair few emails since my attempt at an undercover manuscript reading in Borders the other week. Some of which have been complimentary, some of which not so much. But anyway, I thought I'd do it again. This time though it won't be undercover. It'll be very much out in the open. So next Sunday at 12pm I'll be in Hyde Park with a few sheets of A4 and a few beers. Basically I'm having a picnic. So if you want a few drinks, a sandwich or two, a game of Flicket (cricket with a flipflop) and a story about a bloke tracing his friend's clone, then this is the event for you. There are five of us at the moment (although four of them think it is just a picnic) so if you want to join us email me at anyoneknowwhothisis@gmail.com so I can get an idea of numbers and work out whether I need to bring a microphone. Cheers.

'Excuse Me Sir'

So last night I waited breathlessly in the travel section of Borders, Oxford Street, in anticipation of what was ahead. At 7.00pm I began my first ever reading. Thankfully there were people there to listen. Six of them! And I only knew five! Thanks to Emily for dragging along her work colleague, Louise. Before I reached the end of the first paragraph a guy in a Borders t-shirt walked up to us and began telling me that what I was doing was in fact "not allowed without prior consent from the manager". I apologised, asked to speak to the manager, was told he/she wasn't in and so we left. 

We made our way to a bar on New Oxford Street where I started my reading again. This time I wasn't asked to leave and it went pretty well. I stuttered and stumbled a few times but after a few Peroni's that was to be expected.

So, because a few people probably thought this was a bit of a joke and I was just making a load of random people meet in the travel section of a bookshop, I am going to do it again. I'm not sure where or when yet but initial thoughts point to a park - maybe followed by a game of flicket (cricket with a flip-flop).

Thanks to the six who came last night. I would have felt very embarrassed doing a reading to no one.

A Note About My Blog

As I am now trying to find an agent and also beginning to do little bits and pieces to promote my book by myself, I have decided to take a large amount of material off my blog. Well, nearly all of it actually. Those of you who have been following my quest for a while will know exactly what happened (nearly, there is some exciting stuff I haven't told anyone) but for those of you who have only just heard about my quest, well, I don't want to spoil it for you by telling you everything.

While I try and find an agent and promote my quest I want to keep what happened as secretive as possible. This might change, so keep checking back here for updates.

Undercover Book Readings

I was talking to my good friend Emily the other night. (She has just moved to London and is struggling a bit to acclimatise to the hustle and bustle of the big city so I just want to take this opportunity to say hi to her. 'Hi'. She'll feel much better now). So anyway, we were talking about 'Is This You?' the book, amongst other things. Things that I don't really need to share with you because they would bore you. 

Emily said, 'Why don't you do some readings?'. I said, 'Don't be stupid'. She said, 'Okay. I'm going to find the Ladies room.'

On my way home though I began to think about what she had said. There was nothing illegal about doing readings. There wasn't a rule to say you have to have your book published to do readings. So, I thought, why don't I do one?

And that is exactly what I am going to do. I am going to read from my book. To the masses. Or anyone who happens to turn up really. I'm going to try it out next Tuesday (1st July).

Meet me @ 7.00pm in Borders, Oxford Street. I'll be in the travel section, I think it's the second floor but check the signs. I'll read a bit of the book and then we can go to the pub. I have absolutely no idea what will happen, we might get asked to leave. If we are then please do exactly that. I don't want to start a riot. If it goes well then maybe I'll do some more. I can't promise I am going to visit the USA or Australia though, so for those of you who have been following my quest from far off places I am sorry. I may well look into doing a webcast for you though, so watch this space.

The Finished Book

Good news people. After weeks of slogging away at my computer I have finally finished 'Is This You?' - the book of my quest. I'm delighted with the result although trying to remember what I got up to eighteen months ago was a bit of a challenge! Now for the hard part. Getting it published.