At altitude

Meeting galacticos

Afraid it’s not the major piece this week as that was bumped from the magazine by world events. I always suspected the Ayatollah was a bad guy – this just confirms it.

But a rich week anyway. Thursday night I went to Temple for what I thought was a self-help book. All book launches remain completely magical to me but I did not expect this particular one to be especially cool. Then I walked in and was met by the full roster of LRB galacticos.

One grandee asked my name then said “Yes, I think so, yes.” It might have been a totally thrilling affirmation that they had read me. If so then I wish they had been a little clearer. The delivery left pretty widely open the interpretation that they felt I needed help to remember my own name. If not quite the emphatic anointment one hopes for, though, still very exciting.

I heard a lot that it was nice to meet a young journalist who seemed happy. But I also kept hearing how it was so sad that writers now had to exhaust themselves with podcasts and social media. At that I winced; that very afternoon I had ordered a state-of-the-influencing vlogging tripod ring light and clip-on mini bluetooth microphone!

But I was glad of my investment as soon as the next afternoon. I was at my desk when suddenly I received a text asking me to read at next Friday’s Soho Reading Series!

I instantly said yes, though I was also instantly pooping my pantaloons. It will be my first ever reading. When I was awarded Best Haircut in school I had to make my way to a stage for my trophy, and as the auditorium watched me go up the muscles in my cheek got hot and started spasming.

Soho Readings are a much bigger deal than best haircut. Hopefully I’ll keep my cool. Thanks to my new recording equipment you will all be able to see for yourselves. But please come in the flesh if you can. I’ll appreciate any support. It’s next Friday in Dalston and tickets are here.

Thanks folks and see you next week. I hope you have a nice weekend. I’m off to write an exciting review and to watch nerve-hardening YouTube simulations of audiences laughing at me. Word count tally rally in the comments. Thanks as ever for all the support.

GM