News & Blog by Ray Martin
Read the latest news and bulletins, essays, features, opinions from our bestselling authors. Find out what's being said, debated, and discussed in the world of books and ideas.
Everyone has a story. And some amazing ones, too. That’s my conclusion after speaking to hundreds of people in book signing queues from Toowoomba to Tuggernong in recent weeks. I’ve had the chance to listen to their personal stories, many of them harrowing. Probably twenty people – maybe more – have leant across the desk as I’ve signed their book and whispered ‘Thanks for being so brave in...
The Canberra book-signing turn-out has been as enthusiastic as Shell’arbour. They crave aliens from the outside world down here. Aunt Karen let me sleep-in today, to a lazy 6.30am when my first interview came through. Brian - listed in my book as ‘the Favourite Brother in Law’ (or FBIL) - has come along as ‘driver cum bodyguard’ (although given his questionable physique he’s probably more lover...
Today, Wollongong, Shell Harbour and across the mountain to Canberra. It was quite a gallop, with Aunt Karen – the Random publicist – mercilessly driving the show. At least today Karen allowed us time between book signings and radio interviews to have a coffee, on the run. She restricted her donut intake to a mere five. Angus and Robertson at Shell’arbour was a triumph, with maybe a hundred...
By nature, I’m one of those ‘glass half full’ blokes. Optimistic. I always think I’m going to get a parking spot. And I do. I’m usually blessed with luck. But then Random House gave me Karen Reid, the company uber publicist, to travel with to promote my book! Just joking. Karen’s great. Well, as much as a super-efficient, hard-working, take-no-prisoners, slave-driver can be. There’s been...
