Its always a great thrill when you meet one of your heroes and today I did just that. The adventure and historical writer Wilbur Smith is in London to promote his new novel ‘Those in peril’ and he was signing books at the Waterstones branch in Leadenhall market, in the heart of the City. Having worked in publishing and arranged signings in the past, which are often not that successful I thought I could just roll up a few minutes before the start and get my book signed but as I turned the corner into the market and I was amazed to see a queue running the whole lenght of the street. Having checked it was the queue for the signing, I was told I had to go into the shop and buy the book first. On the way in I saw the man himself sitting behind a table in the corner of the shop, chatting to the punters at the head of the queue and signing books.
Back outside, and talking to people in the queue around me, I was surprised to find that this was not such a big deal for most of them. A couple had joined the queue, just because it was a queue and had bought the book and were having it signed as future present for a relative. Another was buying it for his wife. I gave them a potted biography of Wilbur Smith, all of which was news to them. The Waterstones staff, two girls who were keeping track of the numbers, had no idea who Wilbur Smith was, had certainly never read anything by him and their only comment was, that the books all looked rather long. Overall is was a smartly dressed crowd, tending to middle age and 90% male.
Finally, I was at the top of the queue. Wilbur shook my hand, I told him I‘d read all his books and thanked him for so many happy hours of reading. ‘We’ve obviously connected’ he replied as he signed my book with a big fountain pen. Connected was a bit of an understatement, I’ve crossed whole swathes of Africa inspired by the characters in his books, but how can you convey this in a few minutes? I’d bought my camera and people standing around who I assumed were minders from the publisher, were happy to take a picture. A young Asian woman who had been sitting next to Wilbur, jumped out of her seat so I could sit down. I later realized that this must have been his wife – Mokhiniso. The guy taking the picture messed up the first shot so took it again. ‘If this was a Lion, you’d have had by now’ quipped Wilbur. Then another firm handshake and I was on my way.
I’ve seen a picture of Wilbur Smith in a bookshop, as a young man, promoting his first book ‘When the Lion feeds’ which must have been around 1965. So here he is all these years later, he knows that getting out there to promote a book is all part of the job, and he’s a hard worker. In an age where even people with no talent can be celebrities, it’s gratifying to see over an hundred people were prepared to stand and wait to meet an author. Booklovers are still out there.
As Wilbur Smith is now in his seventies, you have to wonder how many more books we will see. I had never imagined I would meet him, so to have done so today is something I will look back on with satisfaction for a long time. And now to start the book...
Finally, I was at the top of the queue. Wilbur shook my hand, I told him I‘d read all his books and thanked him for so many happy hours of reading. ‘We’ve obviously connected’ he replied as he signed my book with a big fountain pen. Connected was a bit of an understatement, I’ve crossed whole swathes of Africa inspired by the characters in his books, but how can you convey this in a few minutes? I’d bought my camera and people standing around who I assumed were minders from the publisher, were happy to take a picture. A young Asian woman who had been sitting next to Wilbur, jumped out of her seat so I could sit down. I later realized that this must have been his wife – Mokhiniso. The guy taking the picture messed up the first shot so took it again. ‘If this was a Lion, you’d have had by now’ quipped Wilbur. Then another firm handshake and I was on my way.
I’ve seen a picture of Wilbur Smith in a bookshop, as a young man, promoting his first book ‘When the Lion feeds’ which must have been around 1965. So here he is all these years later, he knows that getting out there to promote a book is all part of the job, and he’s a hard worker. In an age where even people with no talent can be celebrities, it’s gratifying to see over an hundred people were prepared to stand and wait to meet an author. Booklovers are still out there.
As Wilbur Smith is now in his seventies, you have to wonder how many more books we will see. I had never imagined I would meet him, so to have done so today is something I will look back on with satisfaction for a long time. And now to start the book...
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