Book Tour Missive #16, London!

I got to my hotel early, and though my room wasn’t ready, there WAS a room, if I was open to a different floor? Of course, I said! This one hadn’t occurred to me.

So what! I’d slept on the plane and I was in London! I walked over to Mallow in Borough Market and had the sort of lunch that makes one forget about being a basement dweller.

Then I walked to the closest Daunt’s and found my beautiful despondent lady. Right next to the wonderful Andrew Sean Greer, no less! You should bring both our books on vacation.

I walked about 12,000 steps and bought myself this white shirt. What I SHOULD have bought was another six layers, because it is rainy and cold but oh well. It was time to take myself on a date.

One of my favorite tourist traps. And then what to do with a free night? Why not roll in the aisles??

I’d gone to see Cole themself do it off-Bway, so it is hard to compare!! Catherine Tate was very good and I laughed a lot but it also felt (forgive me) a little bit like seeing Hamilton with an all-white cast, you know what I mean? Sorry sorry sorry.

The next morning, I was on a mission. Good breakfast. I walked 45 minutes to the closest Ottolenghi. Welcome to the oatmeal review, porridge.

Two different kinds of blueberries, nuts and seeds and granola and maple syrup. I could eat this everything and never get sick of it. 10/10. You know what? 11/10. And I don’t even like meringues but look at these babies.

Okay, off to work! My editor Clio and I hopped on the train and went to Kent, to see the most beautiful girl in the world, Fleur Sinclair, owner of Sevenoaks. Look at how good my tiny tote bag looks with Fleur’s dress. (To be clear, this was a present for Fleur, she just happened to be wearing the perfect dress to match it.)

Fleur and I had a wonderful event, full of women who talked to me about boybands. NKOTB, yes, but also Take That and Boyzone! You see, this book crosses international boundaries!!! That’s three countries worth of boybands right there!!!

Then we went straight to the offices of Hello! Magazine (!!) and I recorded a podcast with the extremely charming Ateh Jewel, I will post the link when it goes up in a few weeks.

Ateh also has a makeup company because of course she does, and gave me some delightful new cream blush, which will no doubt make me look more awake as my jet lag begins to pull me to the ground. But I don’t have time for jet lag, because I’m off to my next event, at the fabulous BookBar in Chelsea! Owner Chrissy Ryan talked to me about American Fantasy and owning a bookshop and the room was FULL and I sort of couldn’t believe it. I’ve always sold well at home (not counting Laura Lamont, lol, always good to give yourself somewhere to grow from, IMHO) but in the UK, it’s been, well, not quite like that. It was really heart-warming to have two bookstores full of people! Thank you Fleur and Chrissy for being such truly excellent and generous hostesses.

Also, my first grade teacher came. Are our eyes open? No. Do we look happy anyway? Yes. Shout to to Mrs. Whitehead, who lurks in this newsletter and never comments. Comment away! It was so lovely to see you!

I also imported one of my besties all the way from Los Angeles. You may remember Priyanka Mattoo from my Orange County event or her excellent newsletter or from her new book which you should preorder! Here is she blurry with love and apple crumble.

Then I took a double decker bus home and sat all alone on the top deck, at the very front, like my own personal London video game. It rained the whole way and my shoes got soaking wet and I bought a Union Jack umbrella and then left it on a train. Easy come easy go!

Truly truly truly thank you to everyone who came, and to my publisher at Michael Joseph for zipping me around. It’s been a lovely whirlwind, and I do relish the opportunity to wear my green stripey jumpsuit to match the UK jacket.

Next stop, Bath!