Double Signing Today

 

Yes. It's today we have our
double book signing.

A Horse in the Bathroom - Derek J Taylor

and

Lost in the Flames - Christopher Jory

excellent reads with good feedback already

(see our Reviews)

From 10.30 am till when hunger strikes.

A Horse in the Bathroom Q 5

Tony

I see your next book has a similar approach by looking at the English and their addiction to heritage. When can we expect that to be in the shops?

Derek

I’m three-quarters way through writing the first draft, so the aim is publication in summer of 2013. I’ve just come back from a research trip to north east England. When you drive up the A1 motorway, you suddenly see a sign that says, ‘Welcome to County Durham, Land of the Prince Bishops.’ Who the hell the Prince Bishops were, I’ve no idea, but the Durham Signs Dept obviously realised we’re all suckers for anything that sounds historic.

(It's provisionally called Big Beds and Battle-axes see - http://www.derekjtaylorbooks.com/#/working-on/4554235311 )

A Horse in the Bathroom Q 3 & 4

Tony

Is the rumour true that you were bribed not to mention the real name of 'The Venice of the C*t*w*l*s' ?

Derek

I couldn’t possibly comment (Well, at least not until Maggie’s been released by the hostage-takers).

(Bourton on the Water is not actually named in the book but there is a village that sounds decidedly like it. I'll not spoil Derek's joke by giving you its name - you'll have to buy the book for that)

Tony

Your background of journalism under fire in the world's trouble spots is very different from writing about the villages and characters of England. What prompted the change?

Derek

The onset of age and cunning.

(Derek's answers being so short, it was easy to squeeze two questions in. There's one more for tomorrow and then, of course, it's Saturday and both he and Christopher will be at the shop, signing books)

A Horse in the Bathroom Q 2

Tony

In my review, I've suggested a comparison with 'Three Men in a Boat' rather than Bill Bryson but did either influence you at all?

Derek

If I could write like one other person in the world, it would be Bryson. I love his blend of fun and fact. Jerome K Jerome’s ‘Three Men in a Boat’? I’m now going to make a confession never told before. When I was 14, I copied out a short, little-known, very funny story by Jerome about his dog, and submitted it to the school magazine as my own. Nobody spotted the theft, and it was published. I shall be punished for it one day. But the incident must indicate a deep-seated admiration for JKJ’s style. I’m flattered by your comparison of ‘A Horse in the Bathroom’ with anything he wrote.

(I'm a big fan of J.K. Jerome but, though I have a few books more than 'Boat' and 'Bummel', I cannot remember a story about a dog. There's Montmorency, of course - Tony)

A Horse in the Bathroom Q1

Now it's the turn of Derek J Taylor to answer some of my penetrating questions on his book, A Horse in the Bathroom

Tony

What made you feel that a book about a rebuild would be so good for carrying such an amusing look at some of the Cotswold villages?

Derek

A friend of mine accused me of suffering from ‘Lark Rise to Candleford’ syndrome. He meant I had a nostalgic yearning for life in a rural paradise. I laughed it off, but then started to wonder if he was right. And anyway,- I asked myself - is village life in the 21^st century so perfect? I decided to find out.

The other book

Don't forget, we have another author coming next Saturday too.


Derek J. Taylor will be here signing his very popular paperback,
A Horse in the Bathroom.

Reviews for this and for Lost in the Flames are now on the blog.

Just click on the Reviews link on the right.

Signing error

If you receive your copy of

The Bourton/Moreton/Stow/Chippy Times through the door in the next few days,

you will notice that the twits at

Cotswold Bookstore have advertised

a book signing on 23rd May.

Of course, it should read 23rd June!

2012!

That's when Christopher Jory will be signing Lost in Flames and Derek J Taylor will be signing A Horse in the Bathroom.

Christopher will be bringing with him an original bomber jacket used by an RAF airman in the war, some pieces from a Lancaster shot down over Holland, a small navigational 'computer' used in Lancasters, a photo of the airman to whom the book is dedicated and perhaps copies of one or two of his letters.

Derek will not be bringing the horse.

Book News 44

Our latest Book News is now in the shop containing our thoughts on The Iron Will of Shoeshine Cats by Hesh Kestin, Gods of Gotham by Lindsaye Faye, Geekhood by Andy Robb and The Mystery of Wickworth Manor by Elen Caldecott.

There's news of our next book signing - a double with Christopher Jory's Lost in Flames and Derek J Taylor's A Horse in the Bathroom.

A first for us is the inclusion of a piece of poetry. Local poet, cartoonist and character, John Curtis, has a new book of poems out called On White Horse Hill which contains many insightful poems on the Cotswold Landscape. I confess to not being particularly enthusiastic about poetry but I really enjoy John's work.

If you'd like to meet John, he is often in the shop on Tuesday and Friday mornings at about 11am. We wonder if enough people would be interested in a poetry reading by John, perhaps one evening at a cafe in Moreton-in-Marsh? Please let us know.