Book signing at Waterstones, Windsor

This photo was taken in January 2010.

About two weeks before this book signing, I popped into the shop to see how another author was doing his signing. I felt I needed all the help I could get! I was dismayed to see that he was really struggling to make an impact. He was wandering around, trying to attract attention, then doing his best to get people over to his desk, to buy a signed copy of his book. Of course, I bought a copy, duly signed.

I decided that, to make more of an impact, I would dress up in a DJ and bow tie, so that I would look quite different from the Saturday shoppers. What's more, I would get my wife to support me by doing the wandering around, trying to get the attention of potential buyers (she's a natural salesperson, which I am not), so I could stay at my table, and just chat to shoppers and sign the books, when requested. I would have been well out of my comfort zone if I had had to do it.

My wife was similarly dressed in a tuxedo, black trousers, dress shirt and trilby hat (she looked great) - and she soon learned to spot which shoppers might be interested.

This tactic proved very successful, so in the end we had three signings in Windsor and one in Maidenhead. Sadly, The Fifth Day is no longer available from Waterstones, so I hope you'll buy it on Amazon.