http://www.lukebitmead.com en-gb lukebitmead.com 2006-10-22T00:00:00Z lukebitmead.com http://www.lukebitmead.com/page2.htm#5250 It was a great pleasure to meet lots of my fellow Oxford dwellers last saturday at Waterstones. Many thanks to Martin for looking after us and to Phil for helping set things up and particularly Scott Coning for making it all possible. See the gallery for photos. 2006-10-22T00:00:00Z http://www.lukebitmead.com/page2.htm#4967 With some pride I am going to be the first new author to do a signing at the amazing Waterstones store at William Baker House in Oxford this coming saturday 14th October. As usual champagne and nibbles will be available whilst potential customers check out my debut WHITE SUMMER. All welcome Kick off is at 12 noon. 2006-10-9T00:00:00Z http://www.lukebitmead.com/page2.htm#4455 A big thank you to Terence and Kate for generously arranging the signing at their wonderful trout farm. It was a lovely evening and I enjoyed meeting couples from Japan and Germany holidaying in The Cotswolds aswell as nonholidaying locals. Many thanks to the book club members who came along see photos and Tom and Jenni from The Wilts and Glos Standard. 2006-9-15T00:00:00Z http://www.lukebitmead.com/page2.htm#4269 Deborah Wright bestselling author April 2006Great stuff. Wonderfully witty and sexy. Roundtable ReviewReading White Summer is like a breath of fresh air. www.roundtablereview.co.ukedition3fictionsummer.html Fitzrovian NewsImmensely readable entertaining for both the male and female audience. Leicester MercuryLuke Bitmead has produced a novel of wit and pace. Emily Jolliffe BBC Oxford RadioWhite Summer is a pageturner punctuated with humorous incidents that will ring true to all men and women. www.bbc.co.ukoxfordcontentarticles20060725bookreviews.shtml Essence MagazineA sparking debut from an author with an eye for detail and wit. 2006-9-7T00:00:00Z http://www.lukebitmead.com/page2.htm#4194 Before a few weeks lay off from Ottakars they probably need a break from me I went down to Lymington this time with my parents to sign copies of White Summer for all those who missed the opportunity in Poole. Again it poured with rain but that didnt stop people from battling in with brollies and anoraks to take a look at what we were doing and to indulge in a quick drink. Lucie the manager there was a charming host and was quick to tell me where the gents was when another rogue bottle of champagne exploded soaking me from head to foot. After five minutes of using the hand dryer I returned to make the first sale of the day looking I hope like nothing had happened. The afternoon flew past as I got talking to the enthusiastic book buyers so the incident was soon forgotten. I might have to write an updated version of Calamity Jane Rides Again Thanks again to all the staff at Ottakars and to the people who bought White Summer. Never fear I am working on the sequel 2006-9-2T00:00:00Z http://www.lukebitmead.com/page2.htm#4193 Hight Wycombe is a funny old place. As you drive in you see a big viaduct which is fun but there are no signs to the town centre. I had to make a quick phone call to the Ottakars store to find out exactly where to go but with Tashs expert driving skills we eventually made it and went through the usual routine of pouring out the champagne and waiting for Tom to arrive Always late that man. just kidding. The day went well and even though it was pouring with rain we still had a good load of customers. In fact it worked in our favour because when the downpour was particularly hard it trapped people in the store making them easy prey for the charm offensive Thanks to all the staff at Ottakars there and probably the best photo of the tour so far check out the gallery. 2006-8-19T00:00:00Z http://www.lukebitmead.com/page2.htm#4192 Its always fun to get away to the seaside once in a while so when the chance to do a signing down in Poole came up I jumped at the chance. I went down with my girlfriend Tash and we stayed the weekend in a hotel in Bournemouth. With the signing either side of a two night stay we enjoyed some great Asian food at Funky Sushi the first night and had a delicious Indian at the Taj Mahal just up from the coast in Poole after our day spent at the Ottakars store. Dee the manager was delightful and we managed to convince the lovely customers that White Summer was the book to make them laugh. Hope youre still laughing now guys 2006-8-12T00:00:00Z http://www.lukebitmead.com/page2.htm#4190 Neither Tom nor I had much of a clue where St. Neots was when I asked to do a signing there but were pleased we went. Its near Cambridge by the way Jacqui and Hannah who looked after us were delightful the table where all the copies of White Summer was set up was right next to the till so we could pounce on any likely looking punters and we had a good giggle through the afternoon. I dont think any champagne exploded on us during this trip either which is something of a rarity 2006-8-5T00:00:00Z http://www.lukebitmead.com/page2.htm#4189 The signing at Ottakars Epsom was the first event I did on my own and I realized there how much Tom does when hes with me. Handing out flyers is a useful way of getting people through the door Dont worry though I still sold plenty of books and enjoyed handing out some champagne whilst also quaffing the odd glass or two myself. Thanks to everyone who came and hope youre enjoying the book. 2006-7-22T00:00:00Z http://www.lukebitmead.com/page2.htm#4188 The next signing we did was at Ottakars Banbury where Mairi looked after us brilliantly even supplying me with a gourmet sandwich at lunch time. Now thats what I call service Thanks Mairi and sorry it took so long to work out how to spell your name 2006-7-15T00:00:00Z http://www.lukebitmead.com/page2.htm#4164 I thought it might be a fun idea to do a book signing in a bar as lots of scenes in White Summer are set in various establishments which sell booze. If you look in the gallery of photos you can see we all had a lot of fun at Joes Cafe in Summertown Oxford. 2006-7-13T00:00:00Z http://www.lukebitmead.com/page2.htm#4163 Book signing number two was at Ottakars in Chippenham. Thanks to Jim for putting on a great event. We met some lovely people and drank champagne and cranberry juice through the afternoon with our new frriends Richard and Zowie. We all got along so well that I even ended up staying the night Looking forward to going back next year. The best bit of the day however was when Tom opened the first bottle of champagne and it showered him and the books 2006-6-17T00:00:00Z http://www.lukebitmead.com/page2.htm#4162 Wednesday 7th June was the day of my first book signing an event put on by the Ottakars in Cirencester. It started at 6pm and when the doors opened people came flooding in. The promise of some free champagne always does the trick I had a great time and was thrilled so many people came to pick up a copy of White Summer. I followed the successful signing with dinner at The Wild Duck at Ewen with friends and went home fat and happy. Thanks to Peter Vicki Octavia and Daphne for all helping to put on a really successful event at the store. 2006-6-7T00:00:00Z http://www.lukebitmead.com/page2.htm#3266 I am thrilled to have White Summer published. After a great night at the Radisson Edwardian Grafton Hotel on Tottenham Court Road where various states of drunkeness were reached though I stayed amazingly sober the book reached the shops today. Thanks to everyone for coming to the party and thanks to everyone who has bought or is thinking of buying the book. Take it easy. 2006-5-27T00:00:00Z