Staying in a library; a prize is offered

I am going to a wedding in New York in July, and have booked myself into a hotel that thinks it's a library. The Library Hotel on Madison and Vine is organised according to the Dewey system of book classification. I have booked (sorry)a 'petite single' so presumably will find myself sleeping in a tiny room devoted to The Borrowers, or Little Grey Rabbit. The wedding is on Saturday July 16 at the New York Botanical Gardens. A prize book of the winner's choice to the value of £25 to the reader who guesses most nearly the name of my room. NB There can be no dirty tricks because I myself do not know and will not know until I check in on the evening of Fri July 15 the name of my room. And I may be offered an upgrade to - what ? The Diary of a Provincial Lady? Mrs Dalloway? Miss Buncle, Married.....

Book publisher in Moffat

A warm welcome to Pocket Mountain books who have moved into Moffat just in time to take part in our October event all to do with provenance and terroir.

A message from Melvyn

Marilyn our Moffat Book Events administrator managed to buttonhole Melvyn Bragg at Keswick's Words by the Water yesterday, and he gave her the following message of encouragement:"6th March 2011
I am very happy to be associated with the literary festival in Moffat and wish it the best of luck.
Melvyn Bragg"
How brilliant!! Well done Marilyn and thankyou Melvyn.

The Lady

I had time to flick through a January issue of the Lady magazine in the doctor's waiting room yesterday (I'm fine, or will be after a period of supervised recuperation). I had read about the vigorous re-invention by Rachel Johnson (sister of Boris)of this reliable old standby for mother's helps and holiday lets. I found several articles of great interest, including a fun-sounding holiday island in the West of Scotland for 9-15 year olds so I have taken out a subscription. I have also contacted Rachel asking if she would be interested in a step by step or blow by blow account of how we got Moffat Book Events off the ground.

World Book Night (a day or two early)

An email from the organizers of World Book Night this morning informed me that 48 identification numbers had been allotted to each copy of the Spy Who Came in from the Cold I thought I was going to distribute tomorrow evening (March 5th). I rang The Heatherghyll hotel in Crawford to discuss this last minute change of instructions. A voice answered the telephone. The proprietor is away all weekend. 40 of the books have already been given away. Yes, I agreed, it's a bit late now to give numbers to the remaining 8 copies. Saturdays are quiet anyway. OK. OK. Bye. Bye.

Moffat Book Event flyer

Here is the flyer for April 16!

Bookmark

The beautiful shiny green bookmarks have arrived ready for our Moffat Book Event on Sat April 16 - see? Sad news today, that Jane Russell has died aged 94 at her home in California. What is the connection between a book event and Jane Russell, you may ask. Well, the answer is that Jane's boyfriend Howard Hughes not only invented the uplift, cantilevered, underwired - ie engineered - bra. giving her that memorable cleavage, but he also designed and built the Spruce Goose, a vast transport plane, out of that self-same spruce which goes to make the paper books are printed on. We also have a great design for our flyers in time for Marilyn to distribute some at Keswick's Words by the Water Literary Festival on Friday. I hope to join her there myself to hear Michael Frayn speaking about his latest book, a memoir. I read that John le Carre will be on the platform in Trafalgar Square with other famous authors to celebrate World Book Day and World Book Night, March 4 & 5. I am distributing le Carre's The Spy Who Came In From the Cold to long distance lorry drivers in Crawford to mark the occasion.