Most of my talks come around publication of a new book, but not all. I’ve got 2 this week (see Events). I like meeting readers! Ask me anything! There’s a book signing scene in the Chet and Bernie series – Chet’s first time in a bookstore. Dame Ariadne Carlisle, a writer of Christmas mysteries, will turn out to be one of the main characters in Up on the Woof Top – which you’re allowed to read even in spring.

Dame Ariadne Carlisle held no notes. All she had was a gold pen, a big fat one, dangling from the fingers of one hand. Here’s something crazy. I wanted that big fat gold pen, wanted it bad. Normally I don’t chew on metal, but I was sure that this gold pen would be charmingly springy to chew on, as long as I didn’t really chew but just sort of held it in my mouth, not too hard, not too soft, but just right.