The London Book Fair

Day 1
Travelling:

Oh my! The trouble started as I got to the station. "Don’t go" I hear a strange man shouting at me. I turned round to find that the trains where not running normally.
Luckily my father had not driven off and took me to another station to start my journey.
It was a peaceful train ride with 18 stops and full people of every nationality world wide.

I decided to get off at Earls Court station instead of going on one more stop, as waiting for the next train seemed non productive. I decided to walk to my hotel. I seemed to have forgotten I had the case from hell, dragging along behind me.

I walked, and walked and finally came across the exhibition centre. I could see a large hotel away in the distance and prayed that it was mine. The case had now become a cement filled trash can following behind me. Or that is what it felt like.

Eventually I found the "Lily" hotel old but perfectly formed. I got to the reception desk and announced my arrival. I watched him look and look and look on every piece of paper for Jacky Rom. I was not worried as I had a receipt. He eventually allocated me a room, and with a smile I asked him where the restaurant was. "We don't have one" he replied.

I was not happy as i had picked this hotel specifically so i did not have to out and look for somewhere to eat. "Oh well" I thought it was easier to stay than find somewhere else.

I took my key and trundled my case up what seemed like 200 hundred steps. But it was actually only 6.

My room was as far away as was humanly possible. I opened the door and took one step inside which actually put me at least a third of the way to the farthest wall. In fact the room was so small it resembled the smallest cabin on a rather old Cruise boat. Steerage they used to call it.

I sat down on the bed and smiled, this was the start of a great adventure. Let the adventure begin!

Off I decided to go to find somewhere to eat. After walking for at least a mile passed at least 20 eateries I decided that I did not feel comfortable enough to sit in any of them alone. Instead I walked passed my hotel to the next large looming building The "Ibis" Hotel. I could see from the outside there was a Irish pub and a restaurant inside. "That will do" I thought to myself.

I ordered some food and sat down, no sooner had I settled myself when 4 people turned up and sat at the table next to me, they handed out there "Book fair" badges and proceeded to chat about how they would handle the days ahead.

They were Australian and I strained to hear an little snippets of information I could about the business of "Books" but no matter how I shifted my ears and eyes all I could hear was the beginning and ending of words, nothing that made any sense.

It was time to leave, I had a busy day ahead of me and a book t o sell. I walked off down the road to my hotel and got ready for bed. Wondering what the following day would bring

Me "The Author" I had written a published a book.

Now it was the time to tell the world about it.


Day 2

The Gerbil Warren

It was 6am and after a very disturbed night in a strange bed i finally decided I could not sleep any longer. It was up and on with the TV . There was only a choice of 4 channels and each time I turned over I had to move the aerial slightly to improve the picture.

Eventually at 7.30 after watching the most depressive news channel, I decided even though the world was in a steep decline I had to place my chin high and chase my dream.

But first I was off to breakfast. I had to walk down into the depths of the hotel to find the restaurant. I entered and just stood there wondering if I should just sit down or wait to be seated. After about 2 minutes which felt like 2 hours I seated myself. Immediately a waitress appeared with a glass of juice in hand and offered me a very garbled, infinitely foreign English breakfast.

In about 20 seconds a plate of well worn Egg sausage and beans turned up. It was gulped in about 5 mins and I was off to Earls Court to The London Book Fair.

I walked the 2 minutes down the road and entered the impressive Earls Court main entrance. I checked my ticket and proceeded to go to Entrance 2,
My very own entrance.

I walked up towards the door and a very kind lady dressed all in black with an official looking badge ushered me over to a waiting queue. "Authors over there" she instructed as if we were the lowest of the low. mmnn I thought to myself.

How very strange. Was this how my day was going to pan out.

We did not have to wait very long and off we all trotted into the auditorium. I made my way through to the children’s publishing area. I walked round, once then twice and once again. The thought to myself what am I doing here. I felt rather like a Gerbil in a warren of tunnels not sure where to go.

I wasn’t sure what to say, why I was here and what I was looking for. I had to regroup. I needed a plan.

So off I trotted to the New release stand where my book was on display. Eventually I found it and felt rather proud as I walked towards the stand and saw my book in all it's glory surrounded by lots of other books.

I stopped and chatted to one of the guys working the stand. He was very complimentary about the book and that gave me the confidence to go forward.

I watched a seminar, walked a bit more and then found out that somewhere upstairs you could make appointments to see Literary Agents. THAT’S IT! That’s what I came here for.

I made my way upstairs and immediately found over 200 little stands where 2 people sat opposite each other in deep conversation. I was ushered to a desk to try and book any appointments I could, to see anyone who would see me. As I got to the front of the queue the lady virtually laughed at me as I asked to see anyone who dealt with Children's books. Not a chance she spluttered, they were completely full. "Can I leave my card in case anyone cancels" I tried as a last resort.

She took it politely and I turned and left.

I was off to the Authors Lounge, the place she recommended as all the meetings were full. I walked what seemed to be another half a mile to get to the lounge which was run by "Author House". I knew all about Author house as they were one of the companies I contacted before publishing my book. but! I desperately wanted to sit down and their seats seemed so inviting. So I started to chat to a very handsome Author House rep who proceeded to tell me that he couldn’t help me as I had taken my book just as far as they could but, I should meet Gareth another Handsome man who was sitting chatting to another Author.

Gareth was a media consultant and after chatting about my book, he seemed very interested in helping me to get on TV, Radio and into the press.
For the first time that day i felt i was making progress and it was worth coming.

We traded details and i was to wait for a quote from him to do the job the only blot on the horizon another amount of money to find but this time it seemed that it was a big step. One i so want to take.
My next appointment was with Karen who runs a great website www.kidsstoriesonline.com.
We met at the Pizza booth and chatted like we had known each other for years. After about one hour we went together back over to the New title stand where she took a couple of photo's of me to put on the website (book in hand) Well you can never turn down a photo opportunity.

We parted ways and walked about a bit then proceeded to go back to the hotel. After a little rest i was off again to get something to eat.
I ordered a burger and chips and was given the dryest, over cooked well worn plate of food. No wonder the Americans think we can't cook. It WAS DREADFULL.
But it filled a hole.
And now, back in my temporary bed I am typing away telling you all about day 2 at The London Book Fair.

Day 3
The Return

Well here we are on day 3 at the book fair, except I didn't go back. I am currently on the train trying to get home. The central line is non existent and everyone has piled onto the district trains.
I woke up this morning tall fresh and ready to go, but as I go to EARLS COURT, I decided not to go in. I stood outside and looked and thought "is it worth it".
No! I decided and got onto a train.
Maybe next year I will feel more at ease at the fair but for now. My London Book fair experience is over.

By Jacky Rom