Yesterday, I drove through the snow to visit the Eastgate Centre in Inverness, where I was due to sign copies of, appropriately enough, Eastgate, the fourth (and final) Bob Hoon book.
You never know with these sort of events if anyone is going to bother to turn up. I’m still haunted by an event I did for my children’s books in a Glasgow branch of Waterstone’s a few years ago, when literally nobody entered the shop the entire time I was there. One of the staff members brought me a bowl of sweets and suggest I use them to entice children to come and talk to me, to which I replied:
“1. What children?
2. No.”
Fortunately, when I turned up at Waterstone’s Inverness, I was told that a queue had already formed at the signing table, so I knew I was going to get at least a handful of people, which was a big relief.
What I actually got over the course of the next couple of hours was a line of 60-70 lovely Logan and Hoon fans, some of whom had travelled literally hundreds of miles to come say hello. One even made me a cake!
The lovely Lisa with the cake she made me
I’m not sure how many books I ended up signing, but it was more than I expected to. I also managed to give away some of my big stack of bookmarks, which has created a little bit more space in my office.
You see, last year, I fell into a bit of a trap on the bookmark printing front. I was ordering a few to give away at signings, and became a victim of the printers’ pricing strategy that means the more you buy, the cheaper they become.
One hundred bookmarks were something like £20. Not bad.
But five hundred were only £25. Four hundred more bookmarks for just an extra fiver? Too good a bargain to pass up, surely?
And then I scrolled down and discovered that five thousand bookmarks would only set me back forty-odd quid.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, I now have about 4800 bookmarks in my office.
Here’s some pictures from the day – first, a Tweet from a reader who came all the way from Edinburgh for the signing, and then a little gallery of pictures I took.
I’ve had a lovely day in Inverness today and look who I met in the Eastgate Centre. Thank you for being so kind and patient JD. Mind you, I did keep an eye open for rogue Santas. JD Kirk @JDKirkBooks pic.twitter.com/G37gWVwgzF
— DingbatScot (@DingbatScot) December 10, 2022
If you were able to do a book signing in Cheshire or thereabouts, my husband and I would definitely be there, we both love the Logan and Hoon books. Please save a bookmark for me, I collect them 😃x
Finished Eastgate last night and as usual, I loved it. Glad the signing went well, but in better weather, maybe you could come a bit further south so we can meet you in person to thank you for all the entertainment you’ve provided over the years. West Dunbartonshire and surrounding areas NEVER get these events, but out last book shop shut years ago, so no surprise really. Anyway, thanks again and I’m eagerly waiting Logan’s next escapade in the New Year. Happy Christmas to you and your family. 🎄
Ahh i loved it… being out in civilisation for a day (from caithness) and my birthday and getting the book signed. I really should leave caithness more often 🤣 its good for my mental health
As can be seen in the photos you ‘kindly’ posted above I t was such a pleasure to meet you on Saturday in the ‘scary’ Eastgate Centre and I’m happy to have helped reduce your bookmarks by 4. I can’t believe I missed seeing the amazing clock but I was a bit distracted by a crowd of Santa hats until I realised they were carol singers, whew! Still, that’s a good reason to revisit when I’m next up that way.
I’m really looking forward to book 16 in February but forgot to ask you how the Heather Filson book is progressing. I quite warmed to her in City of Scars and the plot layout sounds great.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a very productive 2023. Zooneighbour 😊
Absolutely brilliant book, loved it! I’m glad you’re day in Eastgate was a little less adventurous than Hoons!
Please don’t make this the last Bob Hoon book. He is the best!
We need more Hoon please JD!
Really!! is this the end of Bob Hoon???? Not sure I could cope without a regular dose of this wonderful character and his priceless vocabulary. One more at least please.
Love all the logan and hoon books and have recommended them to loads of friends.
If there was to be a TV series I wonder who they would cast for these characters. It would most definitely be shown after the 9 o’clock watershed I’m sure. Food for thought eh.