1: Why is "Shades of Grey" being releasing in America before the UK. As an Englishman addressing a British Author,Ýit strikes as peculiar.

1a: Not wishing to answer my own question, but presumably publishers decide such minutiae?

2: Are we (your loving and adoring fanbase) going to see another Nursery Crime Division novel?

3: There was a third question about your possibly visiting the Edinburgh Book Festival. But, having read a bit more of your website it's clearly not something you have the power to decide. However:

3a: Is it a pain in the *posterior* to be shuffled around the country (and indeed world) at the behest of your publishers? For a writer, who presumably is happiest when writing, does the endless publicity tours and appearances grate at all? I hope you are adequately recompensed for the hours that must be spent on the road travelling between these locations.






1: Why is "Shades of Grey" being releasing in America before the UK. As an Englishman addressing a British Author,Ýit strikes as peculiar.

In the grand scheme of things, one week after the other is considered 'the same time' as regards poached sales. Sometimes the UK is first, but they are so close it means nothing - and I am in fact, published by two different publishers, and my nationality would not count for anything.

1a: Not wishing to answer my own question, but presumably publishers decide such minutiae?

We decide it together. Generally, publishers publish as soon as they can when it comes to 'quick turnaround' books like mine. For the serious writers to whom a publication is a momentous event worthy of seasonal fanfare and award potential timing, they publish at the 'best time they can'.

2: Are we (your loving and adoring fanbase) going to see another Nursery Crime Division novel?

Yes; I'm just not sure when. It depends on how Shades of Grey takes off. If it is Uber-popular, then 2012 may see SoG2 after 2011's TN6. I'm not sure. There's one more book in the series, at any rate.

3: There was a third question about your possibly visiting the Edinburgh Book Festival. But, having read a bit more of your website it's clearly not something you have the power to decide. However:

I've spoken there three times. I just didn't have a nbook this year, so I'm not that current.

3a: Is it a pain in the *posterior* to be shuffled around the country (and indeed world) at the behest of your publishers? For a writer, who presumably is happiest when writing, does the endless publicity tours and appearances grate at all? I hope you are adequately recompensed for the hours that must be spent on the road travelling between these locations.

No, it's actually very enjoyable - and I often get good ideas for books when travelling. No, it isn't paid. It's part of the job. Some days I wear my writer's hat, other days my promoter's. Both fit equally well.



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