Monday 12 April 2010

Out and About

Forgive me for sharing my quotation from Jeffery Deaver with you again. I'm so proud of it!
"CUT SHORT is a stylish, top-of-the-line crime tale, a seamless blending of psychological sophistication and gritty police procedure. And you're just plain going to love DI Geraldine Steel."


Lately I've met some really friendly book folk like the lovely Helen Hunt. (No, not that Helen Hunt. This one isn't a film star. I'm talking about the real Helen Hunt, known to some as Helen M Hunt. She took the time to come all the way to Henley to my book signing on Saturday. Luckily CUT SHORT had sold out by 1 o'clock (apologies to the lady I wasn't able to sign for - why is there always more than one customer wanting that last copy?) so Helen and I were able to go out for coffee together, trailing our poor uncomplaining spouses along in our wake. Helen is the writer of many short stories that have been published in magazines but more of that later. Yes, there's another interview in the pipeline! Here we are together. (I'm the little one who looks like a tortoise.)

I have more photos - and more interviews - on the way.

My schedule from now now until the launch of ROAD CLOSED in June:
17th April - Waterstones Uxbridge signing
24th April - Waterstones Windsor signing
25th April - Waterstones Harrow signing
1st May - Heffers Cambridge signing
5th May – Verulam Writers Circle talk
15th May - Waterstones Winchester signing
21st May - CrimeFest Bristol talk & signing
29th May - WH Smith's Watford signing
1st June – Thames Valley Writers talk
2nd June – Westfield Library London bestselling crime writers panel
5th June - Waterstones Watford signing
12th June - Waterstones Bedford signing

Hope to meet you when I'm out and about.

And now - just because I can - WATCH THE TEAR!

Cut Short by Leigh Russell


And now I have to end this chatty post on a sombre note. I discovered through twitter about half an hour ago that another fantastic independent bookshop, NINEVEH in Havant, is under threat. Last year Nineveh hosted events for Havant Literary Festival. I was thrilled to be invited to participate and gave a talk to a lively and interesting audience. The event was very well attended so I know there are many people in Havant who are passionate about books. Please, if you live If you live in Havant, and value books, don't let this bookshop vanish.

16 comments:

Emily Cross said...

Hey Leigh,

Thought I'd let you know i got your book, thanks for the autograph :)

Hopefully have review done soon (if i can pry it from my mother's hands (she loves crime fiction) :)

Val Ewing said...

Bookshops should always be a staple in our lives.
Turn off the TV and pick up a book!

I haven't had a TV since 1998. I've devoured books like crazy since then.

Wonderful quote by Deaver, another of my favorite authors!

Leigh Russell said...

Hi Emily - thanks for letting me know! And drop me a link when you've done the review so I can tweet and post about it! Love the purple hair, by the way. Hope your mum enjoys CUT SHORT.

Leigh Russell said...

Hey Val - It's a real worry, the independent bookshops disappearing so fast. I'm very excited by hte quote from Jeffery Deaver - and so is my publisher.

Charles Gramlich said...

Busy busy it sounds lke. Cool, though.

Leigh Russell said...

Yeah, Charles - a bit too busy but a lot of fun!

HelenMWalters said...

It was so lovely to meet you too. I really enjoyed our chat about writing.

Leigh Russell said...

Hi Helen, you look great in the photo. I'm having awful problems finding a decent sized photo for festivals etc. My paltry picture is too small for Crimefest but I don't know how to download anything larger - it's down to the camera on hubby's phone. I suspect my photo in the Crimefest brochure is going to be teeny but I can't say I care! I'll just have to reconcile myself to being a munchkin.

Mel said...

Sounds like you are going to be very busy! Hope the bookshop survives, the last independent one here went last year, such a shame.

Leigh Russell said...

Independent bookshops are closing all the time, aren't they? It's such a shame - and very worrying. After what happened to Borders, if Waterstones goes... No, I won't go off on one. I'm trying to be positive. It's the only way.

Jilly said...

I have ordered a copy of 'Road Closed' so I'm looking forward to reading it.

Middle Ditch said...

My, you are very busy. Good to see this

Leigh Russell said...

Thanks Jilly. I hope you enjoy it.

Leigh Russell said...

Hi Monique - I see quite a few of my readers when I'm out and about these days, which is always lovely, but I still remember my first meeting with a fan - you!

apcpage said...

Hi Leigh
Thank you my signed copy of Cut Short (Waterstones Tunbridge Wells)
I very much enjoyed it.
Have no fears. I just know that Road Closed is going to be just as popular. Can't wait for it to hit the book shops. As long as you keep writing them, I'll keep reading them
Adrian

Leigh Russell said...

Thank you, Adrian. Hope to see you again.