Birth of my Book

Three years ago I wrote a book entitled Mr Nice and Mrs Marks.

I had nine months in which to write it which made me think that having a book published is a bit like giving birth. A nerve wreaking and joyful experience combined. And no going back.

Interviews on numerous radio stations throughout the UK followed publication. The Guardian, the Daily Telegraph and many other UK newspapers carried feature articles or interviews with me.

Much to my delight I received the following e-mail from my publicist at Ebury Press.

You´ve been selected for Book of the week in the Sunday Express Magazine to run early May

My first publicity schedule is below:

PUBLICITY AND EVENTS SCHEDULE (April-May 06)

MR NICE & MRS MARKS

Tuesday 25th April
TELEGRAPH INTERVIEW – Tom Lennard
GUARDIAN FAMILY – Emma Cook – to run 6th May
Sunday 30th April
11am PHOTOSHOOT for Guardian
Tuesday 2nd May
MAIL ON SUNDAY
Venue: Hotel room
Tues/wed or thurs morning very very latest
Thursday 4th May
2pm THE TIMES T2 LOVE ETC
Interview in Brighton
Saturday 6th May
10.30am LOOSE ENDS BBC RADIO 4 – pre rec
with Ned Sherrin
BBC BUSH HOUSE, Aldwych, London WC2.
Studio: S6 -
Wednesday 10th May
9.30am Good Morning Wales, BBC Radio Wales, Cardiff,
in Brighton
12.30pm Lunch with Ebury
Thursday 11th May
8.25-9am BBC RADIO WALES – LIVE
Confirmed Down the line from Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London WI Studio: 1R
NB: go to reception and they will direct you to the studio.
10-10.30am BBC RADIO LEEDS - live
Confirmed Down the line from Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London
Studio: IR
10.30-11.00amBBC RADIO NORTHAMPTON
confirmed Down the line from BBC
1.30-2pm BBC RADIO BRISTOL - live
Confirmed Down the line from BH
3.15pm BBC RADIO KENT - live
Confirmed
Friday 12th May
11.30 at night BBC RADIO LONDON - live
12-1am 35c Marylebone High Street, London
Confirmed To review the papers with another guest and talk about your book
Tuesday 16th May
11.10am BBC RADIO NOTTINGHAM – live
Confirmed Down the line from Broadcasting House, Portland Place. London WI
7.15- 7.30pm RADIO EUROPE
Phone interview from Brighton
Thursday 18th May
10-11am RTE RADIO DUBLIN – GERRY RYAN SHOW
Confirmed Down the line from Broadcasting House Portland place, London WI
18th June
Train tickets for judy – if late needs a hotel
Kulture shock bookshop – street fair in Norwich
Date to be confirmed
Trip to Ireland
To be confirmed.

This schedule was continually added to. I had magazine interviews with Harpers, Marie Claire and various other women´s magazines. I travelled around the UK doing book signings. The organisers of the Daphne du Maurier Literary Festival in Cornwall invited me to give a talk.

From April to the end of July I lived a hectic schedule and then it fizzled out. My publishers had moved on to promoting their next book.

For me, who is intrinsically shy and had found all the publicity and interviews to be a nerve-racking experience, it was with a degree of relief that I returned to my home on the island of Mallorca.

Once back here all the local magazines, newspapers and local radio stations interviewed me until that too petered out.

Without all the media exposure book sales slowed. During the time of writing the book, its final editing and promotion, Ebury had become to feel like parents. Guiding, directing and advising me.

Back home in Mallorca I felt abandoned. Ebury had new children now.

“You should be promoting your book,” friends would say.

“How?” I would ask.

To which I would receive a bewildered look and no concrete advice.

Do you have any advice?