Beware of the flowers?

So, it happened. I am now a published author. The fact that in order to become so I had to publish the book myself matters not one jot. “Summer In The Cote D’Azur” is now available at all good bookshops in Valbonne, which means the English Book Centre , by mail order from me or shortly I hope via Amazon. Please be certain that I will let you know as soon as it is. I will also shortly announce a dedicated sales website where you will be able to buy books on-line.

It seems that I got away with my speech. The fact that I left out half of it and got some of the rest of the content muddled up, mainly because I could not read my notes as vanity (already on display in the publishing sphere) precluded my wearing of reading glasses, seemed not to have been noticed by the happy assembled throng, which included my friends from Currencies Direct.

Matt Frost from French Mortgage Xpress, one of my sponsors for the book launch lunch, introduced his far more famous brother Stephen to introduce me. Stephen is a seriously funny man. His ten minute talk was a  fearfully difficult act to follow, especially for a nervous public speaking debutante. The day before at lunch at Capricio, nervous at the prospect of speaking to nearly 90 people, I had sought his advice about what to do on the day and whether he could offer any tips . “Keep it short and convince yourself that everybody wants to hear what to hear what you are saying”. As a confidence booster this was not a great deal of help. Well, I kept it short, mainly for the reason stated above, as to the convincing part, well, I remain unconvinced.

John Otway was in inspired form playing a handful of songs including the 7th best song of all time (according to the BBC) but I am not entirely convinced that the small French contingent, including the deputy mayor of Valbonne, quite understood the lyrics of “Beware Of The Flowers ‘Cause I’m Sure They’re Gonna Get You, Yeah”.

A staggering number of books were sold on the day, including 5 bought by Peter Bennett from Blue Water, who took my advice about buying some as Christmas presents. I had suggested that they might make a good present for people you don’t like, but I suppose customers may come into that bracket. The alternative, that he wanted to give some of his customers something brilliant and witty to celebrate the forthcoming festive season, and very good value at just 12 Euros was something with which I am sure the Wingco would take exception.

Yes, the Wingco was there to witness the “”ghastly” publication being born, but as he had previously made clear, he was there for the lunch rather than the book.

The Brague in full flood

Sadly, all the pictures I took on the day failed to come out, so today’s picture, rather than being one from yesterdays triumph is of the Brague river in serious flood at the weekend. However please don’t think that’s an end to it,
many photographs were taken on the day and I shall track them down in the course of time.

There will however be no respite, no rest for a tired but happy novelist. That nice lady decorator has a plan to stop the house being flooded and I am fearful that the cement mixer will be pressed into service, which can only mean that a man who was yesterday enjoying huge literary success amongst his friends will today be labouring at the cement mixer. How the mighty have fallen.

Chris France