Is Idle Tom Britain’s youngest publisher?
Today’s the day that, come this afternoon, Idle Tom the Publisher will find out if he is indeed Britain’s youngest publisher.
Britain’s youngest publisher? Surely he’s already got it in the bag!
"No Bill," he said. Sort of patiently. "It’s not a competition to find out who is Britain’s youngest publisher."
"Isn’t it?? I thought you said you were going to win the thing hands down!"
"No! It’s a competition to find out the Young Publisher of the Year."
"The Young Publisher of the Year? But what’s the difference between that and the Youngest Publisher of the Year? Surely if you are THE Young Publisher of the Year, then by definition you’re the Youngest Publisher of the Year?"
Forgive me. I was being - yes, I admit it - wilfully provocative.
He took the bait.
"Gaaaah!"
Honestly - I’d never heard the young pup so annoyed. (Notice, by the way, how I have refrained from using the word "youngest").
So I asked him. "What’s the problem Tommy? What’s the beef? Where am I going wrong? Are we going to start splicing hairs over dictionary definitions?"
"It is -" Idle Tom took in a deep breath. "A competition, a nationwide competition, to find the young publisher of the year - not, as you so facilely call it, the youngest publisher of the year."
"Is there a difference?"
"The emphasis, Bill, is on the publishing bit, not the age bit. They are looking for the greatest publisher in Britain who happens to be young - and not the youngest person in Britain who happens to be a publisher."
I mulled it over. A subtle point, you’ll have to admit.
"Rather abstruse isn’t it Tommy?"
"Not really, no."
"I mean is anyone really going to know the difference?"
"Look - let me explain one last time. It’s about publishing. Put the emphasis on the publishing rather than the age bit."
"Getting a bit touchy you know Tom. Is this whole competition thing getting to you?"
* Watch this space! Find out tomorrow if Idle Tom is indeed The "Young" Publisher of the Year - plus, of course, my very own exclusive interview from the man himself.