Diligent (okay, compulsive) soul that I am, I stumbled into the house and checked my e-mail. To my delight, the redoubtable Roger Morris had sent pictures of Shock and Awe in it's natural habitat. Here it is perched in Goldsboro Books (signed copies, I might add--DHL works wonders).
Sharp-eyed readers will note that it is in the company of Michael Stephen Fuchs' latest tome, Pandora's Sisters.
Here it is in Waterstones Oxford Street, though it has abandoned Mr Fuchs in favor of John Irving.
Roger also saw it in Foyles, though he had to make them drag a copy from the back (and they apparently insisted that it was entitled Smite the Waters--c'mon, who'd give a book a crazy title like that?) Borders suggested it might be on one of their shelving trolleys. In other words, London bookshops work about like US bookshops.
But no matter. I've seen it on the shelves (unless Roger has done some very crafty Photoshop work. He is in advertising in his spare time, you know...) But it's good enough to fool me, so I'm off to bed.
Thanks, Roger.
11 comments:
I prefer the scenery in Waterstones (not to insult Fuchs' book - he reads this blog, doesn't he?), if only because the novel titled "Death Message" makes me giggle. Especially with what appears to be either a remote control or a cell phone on the top cover. Was the original title "Death Text Message"?
As for Photoshop, I've worked with it a bit myself, and I don't see any of the tell-tale signs. The second picture looks the most difficult to fake. The first, though, I'd be more suspicious of. The books don't appear to be in alphabetical order, and there aren't any depth cues except for another copy of S&A behind the first one, which is not something that occurs for the other books in the photograph. That, in addition to the lack of a "Signed by the author" sticker... The plot thickens!
Looking good, looking very good...
I've done something cruel and foolish and you'll probably never forgive me. I've tagged you in a sort of shame pyramid game. Go to my blog to find out what it's all about. You can ignore it, obviously, but I hope you're tempted. (And if anyone would like to volunteer....)
Nice! Front-facing, too.
Sorry to be self-centered, but this really makes me want to be published, too. To see the book on the shelf.
No, there was no photoshopping involved. I wouldn't know how to. I guess bookshop workers in England aren't that hot on the order of letters in the alphabet, or something...
(Can't think of any other explanation.)
Hi Charles--
Oh, that's a particularly challenging one! I accept...but this will require some thought.
Hi, Sam--
Yes indeed, a picture is worth 10,000--wait a minute, what am I saying? Am I trying to undercut our profession?
Lawrence Block (whom I quote a lot because he has said so many quotable things) observed that writers of fiction are all egomaniacs who also want to maintain plausible deniablity. We want to say, "Look here! Look at me!" but also reserve the right to say, "But not really..."
BTW, do you have a blog out there somewhere?
Hi, Roger--
Ah, but we know you advertising folks are crafty. Isn't your firm the one that faked the moon landings for NASA?
The photo Jake is wondering about is probably the New Arrivals at Goldsboro Books, and since David Headley handsells almost everything, I'm sure he arranges things for his own convenience. The MNW large crown octavo format makes it fit neatly into some spaces...
On the other hand, I do love alphebetization because it makes for such unlikely neighbors. On my own bookshelves, Roger Morris is proceeded by a whole slew of Moores (Christopher, Lorrie, and Susanna) and trailed by Toni Morrison. I wish I could get all of them together--that would make for a magnificent but offbeat cocktail party.
The best conspiracies are those with plenty of evidence but no basis in reality.
Forgot to congratulate you, David. And it does look great on the shelf.
"The best conspiracies are those with plenty of evidence but no basis in reality."
That's not a bad first line for a novel, you know...
I'm delighted! Sorry it's taken me so long to reply but I'm broadband-free in my mother's house in the deepest Midlands. You'll be distressed to hear that S and A isn't in Waterstones at Wolverhampton.On the other hand, neither is Lolita Or The GRapes of Wrath. Or Sons and Lovers. I rest my case.
Hi Charles--
I am indeed distressed.
Do you think a "Banned in Wolverhampton" sticker would up sales elsewhere?
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