Publication Day passed me by ...

I never dreamt that I'd miss a post on Publication Day but I was so busy on Thursday 12th replying to good luck tweets, answering emails and taking calls, I just never got round to it. Thanks to each and every one of you. You know who you are.

There are too many people to thank individually but a special mention must go to Peter James for his endorsement of The Murder Wall. Pam McIlroy for hosting a competition to win a copy of the book on my big day - and for her fabulous review. Likewise to Keith Walters and Miles Rambles for their wonderful reviews. Keith claims my book spoiled his manicure. My lawyers will refute that. Matt Ogborn also gets a mention for a special interview posted on Publication Day. Rebecca Leith for her fun Q and A on Friday. The Harrogate gang of 2011 for year round support: As mentioned above, Pam, Keith, Miles. Also, Mel Sherratt (thanks so much for the wonderful bouquet, Mel! Sniff.) Also Rebecca Bradley who snuck a mention of me on her blog when she thought I wasn't watching, Nic Ford who always makes me laugh and fellow Pan Mac author, Dave Jackson. Thanks also to Rhian Davies who nominated me for #fridayreads and has fun stuff planned. Watch this space ...   

I've spoken before about my journey. Blake Friedmann and Pan Macmillan are a dream team to work with. I've listed agents and editors, sales and marketing teams, art departments and publicists, typesetters, office bods and book bloggers. Well, the last two days have introduced another dimension altogether: the buyers, booksellers and counter assistants, most important of all - the readers. It really is a team effort.

My first signing was at Waterstones in Newcastle on Friday. I lost count of how many copies I signed (hooray!) but I had some surprise visitors along the way: my partner - well, maybe that wasn't such a surprise now I come to think of it! - my son and his partner, someone I knew from my screenwriting days called Keith who'll appear in book three as himself, and another Northern Writers' Award winner, soon to be published author, Niel Bushnell - as well as people who just knew people who knew me.

One lady came in because her daughter works with my son. She bought two books, had them signed, then disappeared. Half an hour later, she arrived back in store with flowers. I'd never met her before and I was so touched by her generosity.

I signed books for birthdays, for people visiting the sick, for girlfriends who couldn't make it because they were working, for loved ones who live faraway. One book enthusiast bought five copies. Good man! He asked me to write the first line of The Murder Wall, sign and date them with the publication date. He was meticulous about examining the books first, making sure they weren't damaged in any way. 

One customer asked me if I knew where the maps were! I didn't. A man in his eighties made the same mistake of thinking I was a member of staff. Realising I was an author signing, he apologised profusely. I told him not to worry, it was a genuine mistake. When I asked him if he liked crime fiction, he replied, 'Yes, but only the historical kind.' He came back some time later with a basket full of books - his summer reads -and asked me to sign a copy of the Murder Wall. I said, 'but you only like historical!' He told me I'd been so nice about his faux pas he'd decided to give it a go. We chatted for ages about his late wife and his amazing children.

A young guy came in. He pointed at the pile and said, I'll have one of those. Gary didn't like crime but he was an author himself. Smiling, he told me he knew what it was like sitting in a bookstore waiting for someone to buy your book. It was a lull. I wasn't sulking. Honestly.

Just as I was about to leave, a man passed me by and did a double-take. I know the author of that book, he said. And he did. I've only spoken publicly once and that was to the Cramlington Writers' Group of which Ian is a member. A published author himself, he went back to the counter and bought another book. Mine.

These were just some of the people I met at my first signing. They were knowledgeable, enthusiastic and they all loved crime fiction as much as I do. I was feeling the love and they made my day really special. Before I left, my son came back into Waterstones. I've not come to buy your book, he said. I came to buy SJToyne. Nuff said. After an amazing afternoon, it was back to earth with a bump.