Blood Marked Pages by Iain Cameron

Author:Iain Cameron [Cameron, Iain]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Calibre
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

THIRTY

‘I loved your last book, Ryan. DI Broughton grows on me more every time I read another one of your novels. I trust the latest one will be just as good.’

‘I hope you like it. To whom would you like it dedicated to?’

‘Can I just say though, I wasn’t sure about the ending of the last one.’

It was approaching the end of Ryan Allison’s book signing at the Cheltenham Book Festival. The small lady with the white curly hair and intense expression was last in the queue. It had been an exhausting session. Not only was his hand sore from writing, unaccustomed as he was to wielding a pen since all his books were written on a laptop, his jaw ached from smiling so much.

He hoped his frustration at still sitting there when all the other authors had disappeared, and even the folks at the big table were packing up, didn’t show. He valued all his readers, and back in the day when he didn’t have a deal and couldn’t give away his books free with a Mars bar, he vowed if ever he became successful, he would never treat his readers with disdain. However, this little lady was attacking the ramparts of that hallowed principle with a large siege engine.

‘It should have been that slime ball Josh who caught the 7mm slug in his gut and not Gregor. I liked Gregor.’

‘I’ll take that point on board for the next one.’

‘Oh, my goodness, is that the time? It looks like everyone has left. I don’t want to keep you Ryan, but could you dedicate Don’t Look Back to George, my beloved husband. He loves your books as much as I do.’

‘I’m glad to hear it. Of course, I will.’

‘He’s in a care home now. Even though his mind is clear, his legs have gone. Thankfully, he can still read, and he’s read all your books. I’m sure he’ll love the new one.’

‘I’m sorry to hear he’s not well,’ Allison said. He handed the book back to her.

She clasped it to her chest, and thanked him before walking away.

Allison waited for a moment or two, expecting her to return because she had forgotten to say something else. When she didn’t, he sat back in his chair and blew out a long blast of air.

‘I thought she would never leave,’ Katy said.

‘Me too, but looking on the bright side, we must have sold a shedload of books.’

‘We have. Which means your decision to stay over this evening is more than justified.’

‘Many times over, I should think.’

He considered his next question with care, not wanting to sound the least bit suggestive. He was a forty-six-year-old man and didn’t want his twenty-two-year-old publicist thinking he was trying to come on to her.

‘Are you driving back tonight?’ he asked.

‘Yes, I’m afraid so. Our budgets don’t stretch to a hotel room. I have somewhere else to be in the morning.’

‘Another day, another literary festival?’

‘Something along those lines.’

He picked up his things and extended his hand. ‘Goodbye Katy, many thanks for all your help and support.

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