Answered lots of fan mail on Sunday night. There's still lots to get through, but at least I'm making SOME progress!!! Got a good night's sleep, then went over to Euston to travel up to Birmingham for the third day of my UK tour. Met a new Collins publicist, who was travelling with me -- Emma. Very nice, knowledgable and enthusiastic -- as, indeed, all of the Collins publicists have been over the years!!!!!

The day was fine as we left London, but dark clouds gathered as we closed in on Birmingham, and it was snowing hard when we pulled in. We went to our hotel, had a drink, then were met by a photographer and his assistant, who were there to take a photo for the SFX piece. We stared out the window at the swirling snow. They wanted to do the shoot in the hotel, but the Malmaison staff member on duty refused permission. So they suggested doing it outside the futuristic-looking Selfridges building instead -- the only problem was the snow ...

We decided to give it a try and drove over to Selfridge's. While Emma sheltered inside, I posed on a snow-flecked balcony while the photographer shot me from below. It was difficult, given the ever swirling snow flakes -- and it got even more difficult when a group of kids on the balcony above decided to use me as a target for their snowballs!!!!! After a direct hit, I turned and subjected them to a very crude hand gesture -- childish, I know, but instinct kicked in!!! Luckily they saw the funny side and, after returning the gesture with much laughter, they moved on, probably to mug some little old granny. Bless the young rapscallions!!!!

Eventually we got some (hopefully!) good photos. The cameraman and his assistant returned home, while Emma and I went to Borders in the Bullring for the first signing of the day. Unfortunately the weather caused havoc and only a handful of people turned up -- the first time in a few years that I've had a truly poor crowd at a UK event. But this was the first time in almost six years that I've been a victim of bad weather, so I guess I can't moan too much -- I've got off pretty lightly so far!!!! I signed LOADS of stock there, so anyone in Birmingham who wanted to come but couldn't make it -- don't worry!! If you get down to Borders within the next week or two, you should be able to buy a signed copy of any of my books.

There was a panicked phone call after the signing. I was due to do a large event in Hales Owen. Almost three hundred tickets had been sold for it (many people had to be denied, since demand outweighed the capacity of the hall!!). But because of the weather, loads of fans couldn't come. A couple of bus companies, who'd been supposed to bus in large groups, cancelled because of insurance risks!!! It looked at one stage as if NOBODY would be able to make it!!!! Ros, the organiser, offered me the chance to cancel, since it wasn't certain whether I'd be able to make it out to the event in time, even if anyone got there. But I said I'd give it a go and we'd see what happened.

Ros's daughter, Becky, drove me and Emma from Birmingham to Hales Owen. It took much longer than normal, but we got there before the scheduled start. There was a small group gathered in the library in the school -- the event was supposed to have been held in a hall, but since there were so few people, Ros had decided to move it to a smaller venue. We decided to delay the start of the event by a few minutes, in case any others trickled in. And then ... somehow ... out of the snow ... fans began to arrive!!!! The library quickly over-filled, and Ros had to shift everything back to the hall!!!! We gave it a few more minutes, and then I started. There were still lots of empty seats, but 100 or more people managed to make it through in the end!!!! I was amazed and delighted -- these truly WERE hardcore Shansters!!!!!

I did a long reading, answered lots of questions, then signed stacks of books. It was a pity so many fans couldn't make it through, but the night had threatened to be a complete disaster, so in the end it was a wonderful surprise of an event -- one of my most memorable ever!!!! And, for those who couldn't make it -- I'LL BE BACK!!!! I promised Ros to do my utmost to return in 2006, and those who bought tickets for the event will be able to use them next time round. More info to follow when we sort out the details later ...