My Death's Shadow tour is almost at an end. I flew over to Birmingham on Tuesday, then did an event there on Wednesday. It was sold out, so I was playing to a packed house in a theatre in Central Library. It all went nice and smoothly, and I was signing for nearly two and a half hours afterwards. Bas and I then had a very nice Indian meal with Geraldine, my publicist -- but it was very filling!! We all waddled home and I pretty much collapsed onto my bed!!

On Thursday morning we were driven to Hay On Wye for the Book Festival. This was my third appearance there. I got a very big crowd, and like at Birmingham, I did what I think is my best event -- the Cirque Du Freak scene, the Lord Loss scene, Q&A, then an extract from the first book of the four book series I'll be releasing at some stage when The Demonata finishes. Those are the scenes I most enjoy reading out, and the ones which work best with a large audience. I do try to work in other extracts and little plays when I tour, to keep things fresh for myself, but when I just want to have fun and entertain, that's the tried and trusted format!!! I signed for 2 hours after the event, then we went for dinner with Gillie (one of my editors), Bas's parents (they were in Hay on hols), my publicist Sam, and Derek Landy, the author of Skullduggery Pleasant. It was my first time meeting Derek, and we had a good old chat over dinner -- he's a very cheery soul. I'll have to try to read the book soon ...

Today we got the train back to London, I checked my email, we went for a walk, had a new painting delivered and hung, then went to see Marguerite, a new musical by the creators of Les Miserables. Oh dear. If you can't say anything good, don't say anything at all!!! I don't see it having a long run -- it's poe-faced, badly paced, weakly written, and the songs are completely forgettable. Les Mis it ain't!!!!

Oh, one last thing -- I found out when I was on the road that Willem Dafoe has joined the cast of the Cirque Du Freak movie!! He's one of my favourite actors, from way back in films like Platoon and Wild At Heart, so I'm delighted to see him in the film. He'll be playing Gavner Purl.