…far from it.

This is the first time one of my books has been spotted in a second hand bookshop (Bolsover Castle Books, UK, to be exact) and was spotted by a pal who sent it me.

You might think an author would feel deflated, seeing their baby tossed aside so but, in all honesty, I’ve been kinda looking forward to this moment. I think a lot of authors do.

Look at that copy of The Keep Within. Look at its bent corners and frayed edge. Thats a well read book. Its tale has been through someone’s eyes and has played out on the stage of their imagination.

I get a lot of warm satisfaction from that. I did my job. And I get even more satisfaction to have my work sat amongst so many brilliant authors. To quote Coleridge, ‘I am as a peasant in a room full of dukes’.

This copy of TKW has done all one can ask of a trade paperback and, instead of just sitting on a private shelf unread, gets another chance on the high seas of second hand sales.

Good luck, brave little paperback! I hope you make someone happy.