A great man who knew how to brag better than I do
It’s the evening of January 1 2012 and I’m sitting on my sofa after a cracking new episode of Sherlock. Right now I’ve got that familiar doom-laden hangover which, I trust, will be replaced by the usual sense of invincibility tomorrow morning when I wake with a clear head.
There’s been lots of exciting stuff around The English Monster in the last few weeks, so I thought I’d hoover up some things and stick it in a blatantly self-promotional post to kick the year off.
- The English Monster is Goldsboro Books’ February Book of the Month. If you don’t know Goldsboro Books, you should: it’s a beautiful shop in Cecil Court, off the Charing Cross Road, that specialises in signed first editions, and I’m honoured and chuffed beyond measure that my book’s been blessed in this way. The official publication date is March 1, which means the book is exclusive to Goldsboro for the month of February. And they’re only selling signed editions. So if you want a copy early and would like my illegible scribble on the frontispiece, either pop in or head over to their website to order.
- Two newspapers have now made The English Monster a pick for 2012: the Sun described it as a “brilliantly imagined historical thriller” and, today, the Independent on Sunday have picked it as a book to watch in the coming year, calling it a “visceral debut.” Gosh. I’ll take that.
- I’ve got a new Facebook page here, which you can Like from the box on the right-hand side of the page.
- And finally Foyles have just picked my book as one of their books to watch in the first half of 2012, with the following superb description: “a festering and fulsome tale that zips along very satisfyingly”. Can I have that my epitaph, please?
That’s more than enough self-puffery for now. Have a wonderful New Year, and I hope 2012 brings you peace and prosperity. I leave you with this delightful thought from David Brin on Twitter this evening:
May 2012 be a year of restored science, confidence and calm, adult negotiation… and a renewed sense of delight in the future.
