Had another pair of fantastic schools on Friday, with very long lines of students wanting their books signed. School events normally don't result in large sales, so the last few days have been a very welcome reversal of usual trends -- but because of the unexpected surge, I came close to running out ot sharpies, and had to make a quick dash to Woolworths between events to re-stock!!! I also did another long signing session in a shop in the afternoon, and was there for two hours. Fabulous!!!

I expected to wrap up the tour (or at least the main part of it -- I still have a few events scattered throughout the rest of the month) with a sold-out event at the Polka Theatre this Saturday. I've been there a couple of times before, and each time it's been a sell-out. And it's been a few years since I was last there, and the books have grown far more popular in the meantime. So I felt fairly confident that I'd be playing my last event to a packed house. But we heard on Friday that sales had been poor and the theatre wasn't even half full when I turned up today!! It just goes to show, there's always the potential for a weak turnout, no matter how popular your books are or how splendidly a tour is going. It was a pity to end the tour with a relative disappointment, but I never let small number interfere with my routine, and I went to to treat those who had turned up to 3 readings (including an extract from my four book series), answered more questions than I normally would, and spent longer signing than usual. I always appreciate it when you guys turn up to see me, but I appreciate it all the more when you come to a sparsely attended event! So rather than mope about those who don't come, I try to give extra value to those who DO!! Although it wasn't quite the rowdy finale I was hoping for, I definitely enjoyed it, and I think those who came enjoyed it too.

Apart from today's event, it's been my busiest tour ever. I've gone on longer tours in the past, with more events and signings packed in, but this has featured the biggest crowds, the longest lines, the most books sold and signed. Every day has been jam-packed, and I've rolled back to the flat exhausted but delighted, late every night. It's amazing to receive such incredible support, and the tour has flown by in a hectic, happy blur. I'm lucky to have such dedicated fans, and as long as you guys keep turning up to show your support, I'll do all I can over the coming years to carry on touring and meet as many of you as is feasible, sign as many of your books as I can -- and strangle as many of you for photos as possible!!!! But for now I'm off to relax for a bit (going to see Derren Brown tonight -- he always puts on a good show!), before hitting Athlone next weekend, then Birmingham, Hay and Listowel a bit later in the month!!! Thanks for the memories, Shansters!!!!!!!