Tour De Europa

When I toured across Europe for promotion of a recent published book, I  anticipated some sort of confrontation between my own values of what a  book launch should be, perhaps a theatrical presentation, and  traditional publishing values alongside the usual audiences and  critics.  In fact, the book tour was a thrilling experience for me, the  book sold well, the audiences were enthusiastic and everyone involved  worked incredibly hard to present a structured launch in venues of  varying sizes – even some of the critics liked it. Chris Henson  travelled with me on the entire tour.  This book is a record of it.  Preview

Versus America

When I undertook my first ever meet and greet tour throughout America  during 2016, I asked Chris Henson to accompany me with the idea of  eventually producing some sort of picture book with text in a similar  vein to his previous book Tour De Europa.  In America and back  in Europe, he followed me with a notebook jotting down everything of  interest he witnessed.  In the end I agreed he could write a more detailed account than I first imagined. The book you are holding is the  result.  Reading the manuscript for the first time, I was, yet again,  horrified.  Am I really that critical? Do I really have many demands? Do  I seem to be always eating? Do I always complain? Am I self-obsessed  and so frequently rude?  Do I discuss money and snipe about other people  quite so much? Apparently yes.  Perhaps we will learn as much as anyone  else who reads this book about me. Preview

Up Against It

The official tag.
An account of my publicity tour to advertise a book  and musical workshop by Chris Henson recorded in words and pictures, as  we travelled and promoted.    
The unofficial tag.  

Up  Against It is the book that possibly, finally puts a writer under the  microscope following the launch of a book.  A creative analysis of  promotion, it examines topics such as what it takes for a book to get  read, the encouragement it entails and what lays behind the scenes of  everything promotional.  As well as a keen critical edge, the book along  with its predecessors Tour De Europa and Versus America gives dialogue, gossip, scandal and word for word conversations are unearthed  and reexamined.  

In an attempt to uncover the heart of sales. Up  Against It rummages frantically through an impossible film script, a  publishing dinner, various book signings, radio interviews, a recording  session, a London rehearsal and the launch of a theatre workshop. It is  also a partial history, respect and love of friendship. 

Preview