We're not meant to judge books by their covers but most of us
do. Which is why I can't resist showing off the latest paperback
cover for Sacrifice. This is from Sweden, where the title
translates literally as "Prey", and I think it could be my
favourite so far.
No other publisher thought of putting linen-wrapped strawberries
on the front cover but I think it works brilliantly, managing to be
both menacing and intriguing.
I've just come back from a PR visit to the north-west, where I
made good use of linen-wrapped strawberries to demonstrate my life
as a writer. It's not enough anymore, you see, that people like me
write. We also have to talk. To people who've made a special effort
to hear what we have to say.
I gave two such talks last week, in Blackburn and Haslingden
libraries. Both very carefully scripted. About two thirds of the
way through, (just after we put the snake away), I start to read
from chapter 11 of Sacrifice, acting it out as I go. I take Tora
down the cellar steps and crouch with her to the linen-wrapped
parcel, about the size of a grapefruit, oozing scarlet liquid onto
the stone cellar floor. I unwrap the parcel, just as Tora
does, to find….strawberries.
Get's em every time! Well, those who haven't yet read the book.
Then, when they're all still giggling, I produce the pig's heart -
virtually indistinguishable from a human one, and slap it on the
table in front of them.
I blame Tess Gerritsen. When I was asked to do my first talk, I
had no idea how I was going to fill the hour, but I had heard that
Tess travels with a shrunken human head and uses it to liven up her
presentations. Brilliant idea, I thought, what can I travel with?
Awakening was just about to come out so the obvious choice was a
snake and a young friend of mine just happens to have a pretty and
obliging corn snake who's rather taken to his personal appearances.
My local butcher supplies the pig's heart and my son the fake blood
that adds the extra bit of menace to the package of
strawberries.
I enjoyed talking to people in Blackburn and Haslingden, but the
highlight of the trip was probably being a guest on BBC Radio
Lancashire's Sally Naden show. Fellow panelists were Carmen
Parkinson of the Referral Institute and Carole Roberts, a
psychosexual therapist. Well, you can imagine what set the tone of
the entire two-hour conversation.
Later in the week, when I'd managed to get erectile disfunction
and menopausal dryness out of my head (a couple of treats Mr B and
I are really looking forward to) I popped into my old school, now
the Darwen Aldridge Academy, where I met head-teacher Brendan
Loughran and the lovely learning resources manager, Janet Arnott.
They made a huge fuss of me and Glam One (who came along for the
trip) and asked me back in September to be a role model for the
students.
Friends I've mentioned this to find it hilarious. They're just
jealous. It's a great honour. And one I'll be delighted to
accept.