More Irritations from Idle Tom
It’s time to introduce another member of the Legend Press staff - the lovely Emma.
Now Emma is considerate, thoughtful, diligent, efficient, has a very good ear for prose, and, in almost every respect is the polar opposite of Idle Tom the publisher.
Sometimes it truly feels as if Idle Tom is the work-experience boy, just loafing around Legend during his gap year. And somehow, through some malign curse of fate, he has been left in charge of my book.
Anyway, I had an e-mail on Friday from Emma, which I will now reproduce in full. She was just giving me the list of people who’d RSVP’d to the launch in Alresford.
It captures both Emma and Idle Tom exactly.
“Hi Bill,
“Just to give you an idea of some of the people who are coming – these are all the names who have sent an affirmative RSVP by email. Tom told me today that he’s also had quite a few phone-calls but he didn’t record the names so you will have surprises turning up too, plus extra people who probably haven’t RSVP’d at all I should imagine!
“I hope it goes well, am very sure it will!”
How very typical of Idle Tom: “He’s also had quite a few phone-calls but he didn’t record the names …”
This, I assure you, is what I have to put up with on a daily basis.

November 19th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
I feel your pain.
I had breakfast with the lazy swine on Friday morning. He spent two hours talking about himself then made me pay.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
It’s probably because I was on the other line to you dealing with your ‘infernal blabbering’. I thought I would briefly resort to your language then just to show I am consumate in all styles.
Tom
November 19th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Just finished reading your book, came to say ‘grats but can’t believe your new character! Idle Tom!! That wouldn’t be Tom I’ve-got-more-nominations-than-you’ve-got-karate-trophies Chalmers, would it?
November 20th, 2007 at 11:00 am
Lee - what is it about Tom boasting about all these rotten competitions that he’s never won? I’ve never heard of the serious adult competitions, let alone the ones for “juvenile” publisher of the year and this year’s “kiddy” entrepreneur.
November 20th, 2007 at 11:53 am
I did actually discuss a little while ago having a trophy cabinet built. It’s fair to say Coles that if the magpies were out looking for silver they would quickly flock to my window having left behind your dust-ridden shelves occupied very sparsely with make-your-own tin trophies put together by family to maintain your adequate self-esteem.
And if we move onto age, I’m afraid Josie that William would even struggle in the karate field due to his rickets and gout playing havoc. But at least he’s managed to write a half-decent book…
November 20th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Idle Tom - haven’t you got some homework to do? I’m surprised your English teacher allows you to fritter away so much time online!
November 20th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Yes Tom, you’re supposed to be reading all those submissions. Ktsh! lol