authors: them and us?

[Geoff_N]

Excerpt quoted from Andrew Taylor in the Winter 2010 edition of The Author: the Journal of the Society of Authors

Mr Jonathan Franzen, the distinguished American novelist, was in Britain for the launch of his new novel, Freedom. Nothing seemed to go right for his visit. First his UK publisher, Fourth Estate, was forced to recall 70,000 copies because they had allowed the text to be set from uncorrected proofs. Next, tube strikes delayed the author's appearance on Radio 4. Worse was to come, though reports vary as to the details. During the official launch at the Serpentine Gallery, a thief seized Mr Franzen's 'signature spectacles' and ran off into the darkness of Hyde Park. He'd left a ransom note, demanding £100,000 for the safe return of the glasses. The author appeared 'unruffled' though his vision was 'significantly impaired'. Rather than pay the ransom, the newspaper told its readers, Mr Ranzen chose to have another pair sent to him from his home in the US. (He should have gone to SpecSavers – Geoff)

The Telegraph was able to add that a man had jumped into water nearby, a police helictopter had been called to search for him, and an arrest had been made. In the Booseller, Horace Bent revealed that a member of the publisher's sales team dashed off in pursuit and was there when the police cornered the thief (presumable soaked by then.) The thief yelled that he was a better writer than Franzen. The salesman snapped back, 'No, you're not, you'rea f**ing d*ckhead.' Mr Bent commented sadly, 'I fear the age of the salon has now well and truly passed.'

What a different world we lowly writers lead!

Geoff

[QBall]

If I had specs stolen, I would go to the nearest pub and get glassy-eyed!