This summer Wanderlust magazine marks the republication of my first book Stalin’s Nose on their Classic Journey page, making me their first living Classic Traveller (all the previous authors having checked out of life’s hotel and made their ultimate journey).  

This welcome (but premature) accolade reminds me of a story by fellow scribbler Dea Birkett.  A couple of years ago her book Spinsters Abroad was bought by Sutton as a launch title in their History Classics series. Excited, Dea called Sutton's publicity person to ask what they had lined up in the way of interviews. ‘God -- you're alive!’ was the reply. ‘I’ve never dealt with a live author before.'  Other writers included Noel Barber (The Black Hole of Calcutta) and Leonard Cottrell (Life Under the Pharaohs) -- all male and all dead. Sadly, the lack of experience dealing with the living did not help in promotion. But Dea’s consolation was the knowledge that she had become a living classic....

Likewise, my Wanderlust accolade doesn’t seem to carry much weight in Penguin’s editorial office (nor in fact does it move my bank manager).  That publisher has decided to let Falling for Icarus drop out-of-print.  Times are tough in the book world, and Falling for Icarus simply hasn’t been ticking enough boxes for Pearson’s bean counters.  The paradox is that — as all new copies are now sold out — second-hand copies of the paperback are selling on Amazon’s Marketplace for between £12 and £60!  Unfortunately for me — and Penguin — none of that dosh is shared with us.

You may not be able to buy the book for under £12, but you can try to buy the aeroplane for 99p!  Many of you know about my Woodhopper, the flying machine which I hand-built on Crete, the story of which is told in Falling for Icarus. Well, I have to clear out the house before our move to Berlin at the end of next month, and the new tenants don’t want a flying machine in the garage (how unimaginative...).  So sadly the Woodhopper has to go — through eBay!  I've opened the bidding today at 99p and want to draw your attention to sale -- not least because half the money raised will be donated to cancer home care charities.  

Click here for the link to eBay.

Apart from dealing in one-use flying machines, I’ve been involved with publicity events around the publication of Magic Bus in French -- cliquez ici pour les pages français -- and the republication in the UK, States and Canada of Stalin’s Nose, The Oatmeal Ark, Under the Dragon and Next Exit Magic Kingdom.  A flight of lofty adjectives took wing in France last week when Paris Match called me ‘le facétieux -- impish and mischevious — Rory’ (I can’t think why...).  It continued in Canada when the Toronto Sun ventured that I am ‘the greatest Canadian travel writer Canada has never heard of’ (my London bank manager must be Canadian too — he’s not read any of my books either).  In the UK William Dalrymple brought things down to earth with his Prospect article on travel writing and — err — me.

For those of you in and around Paris in late June, please note that the travel writing course which I teach with Dea Birkett will be held on Saturday 28th June at Shakespeare and Company. The next London Workshop is scheduled for Saturday 20th September and we’re back in Dublin on 22nd November.  These days are stimulating, fun, productive — and successful!  Three students have recently had their first travel articles published -- in the Mail on Sunday — and one has been short listed for the Bradt/Independent on Sunday Travel Writing Competition.  Hurrah for them!  If you'd like to join us, please check out

http://www.travelworkshops.co.uk

yours ever,

Rory

 

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