We have sort of entered into a dialogue with Michael regarding books, reading and tee shirts... as you do. The outcome is a quite funny exchange that should pass those rainy days at work. Read the unabridged emails here (OK, we have edited slightly... I’m sure you don’t want to know what the weather is like in the Florida Keys... :)

Michael:
You have BookLore t-shirts?

Nigel:
Ye, we are having some printed for a reviewer day out at a book convention thing - Terry Pratchett.

What size are you? If we have any left I'll send one over. Good for publicity if you can get on the news wearing it.... 'Author in t-shirt publicity stunt stands on head outside congress' sort of thing* :)

*The author of this email has no responsibility for the actions of the recipient, however litigious.

Michael:
I'd love one, a large if you have one. Because of shrinkage I always go large. And I promise not to invite any bad press while wearing it. Unless it is ridiculously bad, sensational, way over the top tabloid fodder.

Nigel:
A quick note to let you know that the tee shirts have been ordered and should be here next week, including a large one reserved for your good self.

Michael:
[Half finished email making very little sense… ]

Michael:
The first one got away on me. I accidentally hit send. Premature sendulation. I get so excited, I can't help myself.

Nigel:
Hehe, I know what you mean... Posted the tee shirt, hopefully with you in a few days if it survives customs.

Michael:
Received the tee shirt today. Looks great. Thanks again and I will try to get photographed some place interesting wearing the infamous BookLore logo. I will surely wear it to the track at least once (Saratoga Racetrack) and in the pubs of Saratoga Springs. Money people from all over the world are here for August to bet the ponies.

Nigel:
Event went very well... with serious quantities of beer drunk and not a drop of rain (most unusual for England)

Michael:
Glad it all went well. Here in upstate New York it has been tropical. Hot and rainy with humidity index at 83%. For three weeks now. The changes look good and I've been wearing the t-shirt around town explaining what BookLore is.

Nigel:
Has anyone given you any feedback when you say what BookLore is?

Michael:
[Totally blank email]

(I’m not sure whether this is comedy genius or if Michael really does have a serious ‘premature’ problem. Ed.:)

Nigel:
Not Premature sendulation again? :)

Michael:
I don't even know how it happens. It's so sad. I have to start thinking of baseball or something when I'm doing emails, try to calm down, distract myself.

Maybe there's some kind of group therapy or something for folks suffering from this embarrassing condition, premature sendulation. I have good refractory time though :)

Michael:
When I tell people about BookLore they invariably say, "I'll have to check that out." I hope they really do. I will continue to campaign tirelessly on a shoestring budget to make BookLore a household name.

It's amazing when you find out that so many people in your life do not read books at all. "I don't have time", is the common response. They'll have time to watch four hours of TV every night though.

My mom is eighty and is a voracious reader of romance novels, but she thought my books were "a riot." You've gotta love your mom. My best friend to this day still has not read either of my books. He bought them, but "doesn't have time to read". How can you not have time to read?!

In his defence I will say that he is a single parent, works long days for UPS and comes home to three small boys. I think he's waiting for the movie, illiterate, lazy bastard (just kidding:). He did say however that he has it in the bathroom by the toilet for anyone else's reading pleasure. Thanks so much.

Nigel:
We have exactly the same problem here. We obviously talk to people about books, at say a party, since reading is by far our biggest hobby. (We are not too bad, we don't bore too many people to death... six at the last count, however, the double glazing salesman might not count as he was checking his sales figures at the time and I for one am convinced his brain imploded of its own accord).

We are always amazed when people say they read nothing at all. We try and explain how when reading a good book we don't even see the words, it just sort of flows through the brain (hope this makes sense or you are probably sitting there thinking 'Mad').

Can't convince then though... I think you are either a reader or not.

We hope you have enjoyed this little insight into how two blokes, thousands of miles apart, using technology costing billions of dollars, can still talk complete b%*?!cks…

Michael McGan and Nigel - 15th October 2003