Mailings

So today, all these fine new books mentioned in previous posts are waiting patiently in boxes downstairs to be despatched to all those who might perhaps be interested in them. Reviewers, booksellers, academics and others who might be interested are all on the list - which can go on for pages. There are also our reps and overseas agents, authors etc. All leads to one hell of a postage bill.

There is also the covering letter to write. The problem is trying to attract the attention of people who get around fifty books, AIs and jackets in their mail box every morning, their nightmares must be filled with floods of books, my shelf runneth over, the pages are watching me and other bibliomares.There's a great story by Julio Cortazar about books consuming the world, I forget what it's called.

In any case the temptation to hype the book into oblivion - in around forty words - is overwhelming. 'This is the greatest book that you will ever read ever and to prove me wrong you'll just have to read it and then write a review won't you?' but neither can one afford to underhype them - 'Well it's a good book, you'll enjoy it. Won't change your life or anything.' isn't going to do you any favours either.

Today's problem is that I'm peddling three very disparate books: Kokoro by Natsume Soseki, The Demanding Dead by Edith Wharton and Loving Mephistopheles by Miranda Miller - couldn't be more different in terms of time, place or subject matter. The only bonus is that I (and all those here) genuinely believe in that there is something in each of these books that might just improve your life, even just a little bit. Hmmm . . .