Books and cakes and flowers, and tea at Bloomsbury

    My goodness, my head is in a spin after a day of gallivanting yesterday. I was in London to have tea with fellow literary bloggers at the premises of Bloomsbury Books. We met some authors as well as members of staff from all parts of the publishing process, heard about very exciting new titles and - for my part, at least - revelled in being in such a bookish (and flower-filled) atmosphere in a very beautiful building. Thankyou, Bloomsbury, for everything you laid on for us - the array of cakes was most impressive - but especially for the warmth of your welcome.

    Now, knowing that I would be spending nearly ten hours on trains from Edinburgh to London and back in the course of the day I thought carefully about what reading matter to put in my bag. Size and weight notwithstanding (it's a chunky hardback), I had to take William Boyd's Waiting for Sunrise because I had only thirty pages to go and was desperate to finish it (and was to be meeting him at tea), and then so as to achieve greatest reading choice with minimal bulk I took my Kindle to do me for the rest of the journey. But here's the thing: I finished the Boyd before the train had left Scotland and I could not then start another novel - rather as there is silence in a concert hall when the last notes of a marvellously played piece are dying away and there's a moment's stillness and contemplation before rapturous applause begins, so I could not break the spell of the book by moving straight on to something else. It would have been unseemly and unthinkable, and that, as they say, speaks volumes.

    Later I'll tell you about the other authors we met yesterday and give you plenty of advance notice about their books because I'm sure they are ones you'll want to read, but for now I'll say a brief word about Waiting for Sunrise (post proper to follow soon) and give you the chance to win a copy.

    The story begins in Vienna in 1913 and features a young English actor, Lysander Rief (William Boyd is very good with names!), who takes up with a rather 'fast' girl called Hettie Bull and as a result gets embroiled in ever more complicated missions of espionage and wartime adventures of a Buchanesque but distinctly raffish nature. The book is complex, intricate, beautifully plotted with a very strong narrative drive; it's thrilling, inventive (more on that to come) and just a terrific novel, so if you'd like to read it, please put your name in the hat by leaving a comment telling us, just for fun, what you are waiting for - it could be a big thing, a small one, anything, nothing! There are no geographical bars to entry as I can post the book anywhere in the world, so please do enter. What are you waiting for?!

Comments

[Elaine]

I already have my copy and met the author at Bloomsbury yesterday with Karen (a great day) so am not entering, obviously, but please please do - this is a simply stunning book

[adele geras]

Yes, I'm up for this! What a gorgeous day it sounds, at Bloomsbury yesterday. Lucky bloggers, all of you!
I loved Ordinary Thunderstorms.

[Tracey Berry]

I simply cannot wait for 4am on 27 April when I will literally be dancing out of my front door whilst dragging my swimsuit and shorts filled suitcase. Manchester airport, here I come, ready for my journey to Turkey where I will be spending 19 nights enjoying the sun, sea, cocktails, fab food and great people and all this for my 41st birthday - cannot wait - sooooooo excited! xx All I need now is a book to enjoy reading on the plane .......

[Dark Puss]

I'm waiting eagerly to see the draft sketches of a new pen and ink-wash drawing I have commissioned from M'Lady Charlotina (aka Ulorin Vex).

[Alana]

I am waiting for the chance to leave work, get home, curl up in bed with a book and maybe drift off for a bit of a nap while I'm at it. Right now the thought of being horizontal is enough to keep me counting down for the next 8.5 hours...

[Claire 'Word by Word']

I am waiting for next week when the winter school holidays start because this year we are actually going to have a holiday which we never usually do in February. Actually its a kind of working holiday, we are housesitting for a friend and have to heat dinner for her elderly parents, but its going to be such fun, because they live in a 500 year old Chateau. I may even be inspired to write a story! Certainly I intend to read, but what should I be reading, living in a Chateau?

[Geraldine]

I love William Boyd's books and can't wait to read this one.And what am I waiting for ? My next cup of coffee and chocolate along with a book. Heaven !

[Darlene]

Four of my favourite things in one blog post title, how lovely! And I've been wondering how long it would take me to whip out to Scotland via the train...quite a journey, but one of these days I'm going to do it.

I'm waiting for my husband to arrive back home from a trip to London! He's in the air as I type.

[Tracey]

I am waiting for my husband to get over his cold, he has been coughing, sneezing, blowing his nose and keeping me awake for seven days!
Please pop my name in the hat!

[tillywinny]

Yes please put me in the draw for William Boyd-love his books.#
I am waiting to meet him at the Aye Write festival in Glasgow in March.
Crossing my fingers now!

[jodi]

I am waiting for our first significant snowfall which, according to the weatherman, will happen this weekend. Calling for 4-8 inches. It will be short lived however as the temps will be in the 60's by Thursday.

[Florence]

I've never read anything by William Boyd but you've certainly whetted my appetite!
I can't wait to have my flat to myself for two whole weeks so that I can get in some writing time - not an easy thing to manage when there is a flatmate around to provide distractions!

[Simon T]

Wasn't it a fun day!

[Carol in Maryland]

Please enter me in your drawing. I am excitedly waiting for my first trip to Scotland in September!

[margaret46]

You make the book sound irresistible-please put my name into the hat-thanks.I'm waiting for tonight as we are going away for the weekend to The Devonshire Arms near Bolton Abbey.

[Elizabeth]

The first thing that came to mind when I read, what are you waiting for, was how soon can I stop wearing winter boots!! Our winter in Canada has been unusually mild but I am so ready to stop dressing for the cold. I would love to read this book. Thanks for the draw.
Elizabeth

[sherry]

I'm waiting for an opportunity to read that book!
and the appearance of snowdrops here.

[Rosie H]

I am waiting for the safe arrival (DV!) of my baby in August. I'm sure this novel would help me get through the long wait ...

[Simon (Savidge Reads)]

Oooh I have a signed one of these coming, so no need to pop me in the drawer, as Alice kindly set me one aside. I was coming, then work got all grumpy and so I couldn't - so disappointed not to meet you there! And of course all the other lovely bloggers. Huff!

[Georgina Glover]

The book sounds terrific. I'd love to read it while I'm waiting for the gardening year to begin.

[Rose]

I'm waiting for something witty to pop in to my head so I can write it down and then win the prize. Alternatively, in the words of my daughter to all her friends at College - on the eve of the whole group choosing one out of the 15 proffered projects - "please choose me"!

[Moira]

I'm waiting for some bread dough to rise. Sitting knitting in the meantime. A return day trip from Edinburgh to London is not for the faint-hearted. Glad the trains played nicely for you.

[Mary Ronan Drew]

I'm waiting (and not very patiently) for Helen Rappaport's A Magnificent Obsession to be published in the US. I've pre-ordered it on Amazon but it's not to be released until 13 March. Meanwhile I have time to read the Boyd book, which I heard about on Elaine's blog and which sounds very good.

[Deborah]

I have loved William Boyd since reading "Restless" - so please place me in the draw. I am waiting for a black amaryllis to flower that is sitting on my kitchen table...

[Nan]

Waiting for the first tomato in the garden.

[Julie Fredericksen]

I am waiting for the seven books I ordered through a special offer to rejoin the Literary Guild. I closed out all my book-of-the-month club accounts in December, in a snit about money (or lack of it) and then realized I needed to have at least one club to keep me in the loop. The rejoin offer was very generous - I got 7 books for just over $20.00. (But I would certainly have room for one more book!)

[KarenB]

I'm waiting for spring.

[cindy]

I'm waiting for the weather to get warmer and lighter, so I won't have to put warmth over every other consideration when getting dressed in the morning, and can enjoy some sunlight after work.

[Claudia]

I'd love to read the new Boyd, please put my name in the hat. I'm waiting for the day when it will be warm enough to sit on my balcony for the first time this year. Oh and for Hilary Mantel's new novel;))

[Freda]

I'm waiting for the number 50,000 to come up on my word count as I write my first novel with NaNoWriMo (the rest of the world do it in November, but I'm doing it in February because it's my least favourite month!) I'm at 37,037 and 12 days to go....then I could take the time to read Waiting for Sunrise!

[m]

I'm waiting for my date and walnut loaf to come out of the oven.

[Claire]

I'm waiting for my husband to come home so that we can have supper together. It's only cottage pie but I'm getting hungry....

We both enjoy William Boyd.

[Deirdre]

I'm waiting for some better walking weather! My training has been seriously effected by the cold and damp!! I'd love to take a chance on winning this book - it sounds super!

[Carole]

My friend and I turned 50 in January, and we decided to celebrate by meeting up in Paris in June, when it should be warmer.

[Joy Simpson]

I am waiting for slightly warmer weather to start sowing vegetable seed for my allotment this year. I normally sow my tomato seeds during half-term week (this week for us) but it has been so cold that I just can't bring myself to do it. I am also waiting to kill all the whitefly in the greenhouse as well, if I am honest. And the cold weather will do this for me.
I need a book to tuck up with whilst I wait for warmer weather. William Boyd would be perfect.

[Erin]

I'm waiting for my son to get home from school.

[Rebecca]

I have been waiting for Winter Break, but now it's started (about 2 hours ago!), I am waiting to head to Portland, Maine, for a weekend away with my best friend who lives 8 hours away from me! (Also waiting to fall into a nap, since I am exhausted!)

[Barbara MacLeod]

Thanks for flagging this up. I see he is at the Mitchell Library Saturday, March 10th at 6:30 pm. Now that I have learned about him I must get a ticket to hear him speak.... Oops ... I see it has Sold Out!

I guess that means I will be waiting until he comes to Glasgow again!

[kimbofo]

Don't include me in the draw, Karen, I just wanted to say I'm sorry I never got to meet you properly/talk to you yesterday — I ran out of time and then I had to dash out to another event out in Bethnal Green! Hope you had a great day.

[Nancy]

Add me to the "draw" too. I am still waiting to make my first trip to Scotland - it's not on the horizon but is never far below the surface in my mind.

[Nancy]

Oops! Forgot to add that you had my attention with the mention of 'espionage' - so, the book is something I would like.

[Lynda]

I am waiting for tomorrow! I have the whole delicious day to myself to do whatever I want to do. It WILL include losing myself in a book!

[Sandy]

Your question reminded me of 'Waiting for the Miracle to Come', which is one of Leonard Cohen's fine songs.
More prosaically, I am waiting for 2x4GB memory sticks for my PC to stop the crashes while working in Photoshop.

The book sounds great and I will buy it if my random number does not come up ;)

[Laura]

I have not read anything by William Boyd, but you have whetted my appetite, please enter me in the draw. What am I waiting for? - the Curlews to arrive. I live in the Yorkshire Dales and they should be here any day now, the oyster catchers and the lapwings are back already.

[Victoria Corby]

I'm waiting rather prosaically for my husband to go out and buy printer ink as I'm making book cover bunting for our book club's 10th birthday party next week and there isn't enough for 100 book covers (even sized down).

[Margaret Powling]

I'm waiting for spring ... for ligher mornings, for the daffodils to bloom (just one solitary one out at the moment, he's all on his own) ... and I'm waiting for the DVDs of Upstairs, Downstairs, the mini series shown on TV Christmas 2010. I had hoped they would arrive prior ot the new series starting this Sunday, but unfortunately they haven't.
Not read any William Boyd but would love to read this.

[janetd]

Please add me to the draw. I am waiting to see if I will have my first grandchild this week.

[Judy]

I am waiting, with some trepidation, for an operation on Wednesday, followed by some weeks of convalescence. I have loved William Boyd's books for ages and his new book would be a wonderful treat when lying on the sofa!

[Cornflower]

Wasn't it a super event? I'm so sorry I didn't get a chance to talk to you, Kim - despite the fact that it wasn't a huge gathering, there were several people I didn't get to at all. Next time, perhaps!

[Cornflower]

I hope all goes well, Judy.