Flashing through the proof bound copy didn’t show any
glaring mistakes, I wasn’t about to read it thoroughly all the way through,
I’ve done that so many times already. I know it was my last chance to pick up
mistakes, but I was prepared for a product slightly lacking in perfection. That
wasn’t quite the way I viewed it at the time, impatience ruled I must admit,
seeing the first print run roll off the production line was my only focus. I’d
timed my return for the books release only to find it delayed by a month, my
main concern was not to delay it any further. That proved a touch rash; the
first copy I picked up, the first page I perused, glaring at me from the page
was the first mistake. It’s not the only one, though they don’t come thick and
fast by any stretch of the imagination. It has to be sorted, before a second
print run, and despite being so familiar with the story I still feel I should
read it as a printed book. (Photo: Penrhyn Quarry across the valley - Bethesda, North Wales)
Most of my time has been spent organising the promotion of
the book, tackling the local media and booking venues to host the book signings
were relatively easy really. The story has had plenty of publicity locally,
which stems right back to Cai and me leaving for our amazing father and son
adventure through the Americas. In some ways the publicity has come back to
bite me on the arse, Cai’s demise has provided the sensationalised aspects of
the media interest. I don’t want to sell the book on the strength of losing my
son, but there’s no denying that it’s what makes the story special. It isn’t
just the story though, the telling of it has to be done skilfully otherwise an
inspirational story could turn out to be boorish, or cumbersome to read. Over
the years I’ve read a phenomenal number of books, I have a wide range of
interest and form clear impressions of a good author when reading their work.
It doesn’t matter how good a story line is, it must read well to be a success. So
I guess it was with baited breath that I waited for feedback once it went on
sale. (Photo: A walk down the valley - Nant Ffrancon, Nr Bethesda)
First things first though, I had to sell copies! Impatience
again ruled the roost, I booked venues and arranged interviews with local
reporters before there were actually any books available. That’s me all over
though, impulsive and once I get an idea in my head can become a little
obsessed about it. It was rushed, I should have taken more time, allowed more
time for advertising, but it had been five years in the coming. Friends and
family were always going to be amongst the first customers, they were also
going to be the least likely to give damning criticism, especially after being
given a copy free gratis. It was the public interest I had to attract, which is
why the first book signing was arranged at the Bangor public library, I was
also lucky enough to have a TV crew agree to cover the launch. Unfortunately
rain stopped play, Aberystwyth flooded and the cameras decided that made better
news than a local author’s debut publication. (Photo: Llyn Brenin towards Nant Gwynant, Nr Capel Careg)
I must be honest the number of books sold was a bit of a
disappointment, at all three venues. You have to start somewhere though, more
important were those rare moments where a real connection was made. In the
library a random passer-by was asked to pose for a photo with me, and what a
strange occurrence. Sitting down she asked what the book was about, so I
explained about my motorbike ride through the Americas, the mileage, the basic
route. Only when turning a book over did she notice the photo of Cai and me,
she asked about who I did the journey with. That was the moment I had to be
totally open and honest, “that’s my son, he lost his life in an accident at the
very beginning of the journey”. At which point she dropped her own bombshell,
having lost her brother recently she’d come in the library looking for
something on bereavement, to help her to deal with her loss. So it wasn’t
necessarily about the number of sales, if only one person in Lhotse’s situation
found inspiration in my words it made all the writing and publishing
worthwhile. (Photo: Book launch, with Lhotse - Bangor Library)
