The Well-Tempered Clavier

Idle Tom the Publisher calls again. Sometimes I go weeks at a time without hearing from him.
 
I guess this month must be one of those times.
 
"Morning Mr Coles," he says. "Looking forward to Eton College on Wednesday?"
 
"Looking forward to it?? It’s going to be fantastic!"
 
"Excellent, very glad to hear it."
 
"So - don’t tell me. You’ve […]

Been a bit tied up this past week … editing Project X. This is the next book in the pipe-line that Idle Tom the Publisher has promised - promised - to have out by May 2009.
 
He’s even paid a very modest advance. Modest by my books - and most other authors, come to that. But […]

It turns out that while I have been visiting Sodom this past week, Idle Tom the Publisher has been … BUSY!
 
"You know how it goes," says The Idle One. "Bobbin’, divin’, duckin’, weavin’, schmoozin’, boozin’ -"
 
"Now that last one - I know you can do that," I said.
 
"Yep - anyway, been busy. Very busy. So […]

Just back from a week on Offa’s Dyke in Wales. Fantastic views. No screaming publisher. No screaming children, come to that. All in all, an excellent time.
 
"So how did it go, Mr Coles?" asked Idle Tom the Publisher.
 
"A great walk!" I said. "You wouldn’t believe it, but I’ve been to Sodom!"
 
"Sodom? As in the Biblical […]

And the mountain came to Mohammed …
 
Idle Tom the Publisher has paid a visit to Edinburgh and in between giving speeches to the local big-wigs, Tom had time for a couple of pints with me.
 
I cleverly decided to spike his beer with double vodkas to try and loosen him up a little. He was a […]

Imagine, if you will, the Three Kings’ pilgrimage, following their star on the way to Bethlehem to offer up gifts to the new-born King.
 
This, in a very small way, must have been the scene last Friday as Idle Tom the Publisher offered up his gifts to birthday girl Susan (who, as it happens, was fixed […]