Russell Kirkpatrick's Journal
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Window Dressing
23-Feb-2007
A few weeks ago, Linda the dangerous shop assistant from Pennys Book Store, my local book store, was talking with me about promoting my latest Australian and New Zealand release, Path of Revenge.
One of us - I think it was me, but it might not have been - jokingly suggested that I sit in the shop window for a day and write, so people could see a live author. I was disconcerted to see how enthusiastic Linda was about the idea.
They've already done up the window with a promotion ...
![Display [main]](../images/gallery/main/62.jpg "Display [main]")
... all it needs now is for me to be sitting in there, writing on my computer.
Yesterday I agreed. Linda has already spoken to the media, who will be in attendance on the day. The day - and I'm already having second thoughts - is the Wednesday after next. March 7th. I'll be in the window all day.
Now, all you have to do is think of a good title for this live display. Hop to it!
Comments
So calling it the "Come and laugh at Russell day" probably isn't going to help your confidence - although it might make me attend.
Actually if you really do need a title, I would think it should be simple and descriptive - "a writer in residence" or "a writer at work". Alternatively you could play on the fantasy angle - "Building a fantasy" or the like.
Actually if you really do need a title, I would think it should be simple and descriptive - "a writer in residence" or "a writer at work". Alternatively you could play on the fantasy angle - "Building a fantasy" or the like.
The first thing that came to mind was 'How much is that author in the window?' but there are any number of cliches that could be reworked. Off the top of my head:
'Novels written while you wait.'
'Never mind the quality, feel the width.'
'People who live in glass houses shouldn't use Windows.'
- Yes, I know that doesn't apply to you, but its apt.
'Writer's Block: Defenestration 'r Us'
and lastly one for you ... 'Shhh ... Author at work'.
Sorry, probably not much help. I'm in a strange mood. If I think of something real/better I'll add it later.
Phill.
'Novels written while you wait.'
'Never mind the quality, feel the width.'
'People who live in glass houses shouldn't use Windows.'
- Yes, I know that doesn't apply to you, but its apt.
'Writer's Block: Defenestration 'r Us'
and lastly one for you ... 'Shhh ... Author at work'.
Sorry, probably not much help. I'm in a strange mood. If I think of something real/better I'll add it later.
Phill.
Why does this make me think of a particular story by Kaaron Warren? Maybe you should call it "The Glass Writer."
Please blog more photos for those of us who would otherwise miss the amazing experience.
Please blog more photos for those of us who would otherwise miss the amazing experience.
Important question for Linda: what price tag are you putting on Russell while he's in the window? Does his Lego come with him?
ROFL!
You've so got to rock up in pjamas, and spend the day playing tetris.
You've so got to rock up in pjamas, and spend the day playing tetris.
Never mind the quality, feel the width.'
Love that one.....poor Russell, nervous???? thats a new one. What he doesn't know is that the lock is on the outside of the door....in other words MY SIDE.
Love that one.....poor Russell, nervous???? thats a new one. What he doesn't know is that the lock is on the outside of the door....in other words MY SIDE.
Excellent suggestions, keep them coming! Phill, you were in a mood, weren't you? The best I'd thought of was 'Showroom Dummy'.
Gillian, will you buy me if I come with my lego?
And Linda, shall I tell the class what you threatened to do to me while I'm in the window?
Trudi, we don't want it too like real life, do we ...
Gillian, will you buy me if I come with my lego?
And Linda, shall I tell the class what you threatened to do to me while I'm in the window?
Trudi, we don't want it too like real life, do we ...
While I'm in the mood.
'Today Only: The Very Latest from Russell Kirkpatrick'
'Today Only: Auditions for fictional characters'
'Starving author: Will write for money'
'Russell Through the Looking Glass'
'Today Only: The Husky One'
Bad! Bad Phill. Back in your closet.
'Today Only: The Very Latest from Russell Kirkpatrick'
'Today Only: Auditions for fictional characters'
'Starving author: Will write for money'
'Russell Through the Looking Glass'
'Today Only: The Husky One'
Bad! Bad Phill. Back in your closet.
Russell you wouldn"t would you???????????//
OK everyone, I'll take the fall... Please, please Russell, tell us what Linda threatened...you know you want to!!!
He wont tell or I WILL do it to him.....in the window, or get Jenny to do it to him or we will both do it to him.....so he wont tell!!!!!!
Russell,
I don't know what Linda has planned for you but I for one would not sit under one of those globes. They look heavy.
I don't know what Linda has planned for you but I for one would not sit under one of those globes. They look heavy.
I don't think its the globes Russell should be worried about.
Oh dear, is it not? What, exactly, should I be worried about? Besides making a spectacle of myself?
Those who know me won't be surprised when I say I'm a painfully shy person who has to force himself to make contact with others.
I'm fwightened of everyone. Especially people from Canberra, the carnivorous heart of Australia.
Those who know me won't be surprised when I say I'm a painfully shy person who has to force himself to make contact with others.
I'm fwightened of everyone. Especially people from Canberra, the carnivorous heart of Australia.
Russell shy????? so he chooses a job where he stands up in front of hundreds and thousands (not sparkles that go on the top of cakes!)of students and lectures. must be a different kind of shy then I am used to. then he has fans gathered around him in the store ager to hear every word that pours forth from his lips....shy?????
Shy people scintillate particularly well for audiences, though.
And Russell, I don't know if I'd buy you or not because no-one has told me the price. Price is *so* important in these matters. If I had to choose between buying you and buying books for a year then I'm sorry, but books come first. Chocolate comes first too. But if it was a choice betwen buying you (and your lego) and buying a new umbrella, that's a different matter.
And Russell, I don't know if I'd buy you or not because no-one has told me the price. Price is *so* important in these matters. If I had to choose between buying you and buying books for a year then I'm sorry, but books come first. Chocolate comes first too. But if it was a choice betwen buying you (and your lego) and buying a new umbrella, that's a different matter.
Which reminds me, I have some titles.
"Being literate isn't painful - it's being literate in public that hurts."
"This writer is behind glass for your own safety. To prevent emergency do not break glass."
"Shh, don't disturb me: I'm creating amazing worlds."
"It lives."
"Being literate isn't painful - it's being literate in public that hurts."
"This writer is behind glass for your own safety. To prevent emergency do not break glass."
"Shh, don't disturb me: I'm creating amazing worlds."
"It lives."
Can't stay away ...
Saw Gillian's post about breaking glass and immediately thought:
"In case of boredom, break glass"
Runs screaming.
Saw Gillian's post about breaking glass and immediately thought:
"In case of boredom, break glass"
Runs screaming.
"Buy one, get author free."
"Fire sale: author slightly damaged."
"Stock clearance: writing implements going cheap!"
"See fantasy author at work! Guaranteed better than watching paint dry..."
"Author shy! Knock the author off his perch and win a free book!"
Can I come and watch? Pretty please? this is worth a trip to N.Z., I swear...
"Fire sale: author slightly damaged."
"Stock clearance: writing implements going cheap!"
"See fantasy author at work! Guaranteed better than watching paint dry..."
"Author shy! Knock the author off his perch and win a free book!"
Can I come and watch? Pretty please? this is worth a trip to N.Z., I swear...
"Beware the Ideas of March..."
Ah, Glenda, you mock my pain. The more I think about this, the less like a good idea it seems. But I've said I'll do it now, so I'll do it.
Perhaps we can put copies of Shadow of Tyr in the window instead, Glenda; Penny's Bookstore have just got a truckload of them in.
Perhaps we can put copies of Shadow of Tyr in the window instead, Glenda; Penny's Bookstore have just got a truckload of them in.
Seriously, Russ, I think it is quite brave of you, and actually a pretty good marketing strategy, especially if it garners NZ-wide publicity. Go for it! Anything that sells more books is worthwhile. It would be more interesting from your PoV, and possibly more commercially successful, if people can talk to you, and you can sign books etc...
Oh, and btw, Linda - I think the display is brilliant. It would send me scurrying in to buy the book! We writers are lucky to have booksellers like you...
Hey Russell, its not too late to change your mind and I would be sweet with that. The ad doesn't go in the paper until Saturday so we can change it. It is very small and hot in the window!! Let me know.......I have a book here for you 2.
Nah, I'll go through with it.
A book? Goody. I'll pop along tomorrow to pick it up.
A book? Goody. I'll pop along tomorrow to pick it up.
Geeezzzzz.....there is nothing wrong with people of a smaller stature.......is there?????
Russell, you need actiuvity to keep the angst at bay. Why don't you write out all our suggestions in beautiful calligraphy and whenever you need a break from writing, add a new one to the window. And if any friends come and gawk you can ostentatiously move to the window and post a sign that says "Get lost, you louts" or some such.
I do think this is a good activity for PR, and it will all be over in a few, few days.
I do think this is a good activity for PR, and it will all be over in a few, few days.
Gillian, saw the news tonight where Canberra has had really bad storms...is all well with you? Of course, they had the obligatory shots of kids picking up icy snow from the ground to show us how really bad is was.
My uni was in the middle of the storms, Jo. A metre of ice! The building I taught in last night was flooded not too long after I left.
I'm fine, though, because one of my students offered me a lift home and so I was safely indoors when it all happened. My place is a little to the south of the plces that copped a metre of hail so all I got were torrents of water and those torrents were really good and stayed outside.
I got an email today saying to stay off-campus for the rest of the week, though. 70 buildings were damaged!!
I'm fine, though, because one of my students offered me a lift home and so I was safely indoors when it all happened. My place is a little to the south of the plces that copped a metre of hail so all I got were torrents of water and those torrents were really good and stayed outside.
I got an email today saying to stay off-campus for the rest of the week, though. 70 buildings were damaged!!
Its all go, Russell will be in the window next Thursday for 9 hours!!!! Shame you couldn't all drop by and stare at him :-o
Can we have a live video coverage??
Now that would get tedious fairly quickly.
'And now the author scratches his nose ... he stares at the screen ... and .. oh wait! He's written a word! It's ... it's ... "the"!'
'Well, that's only to be expected, Jim. He's used the definite article one hundred and seventy-eight times in this novel so far, and it's the fourth-most used word in his oeuvre.'
'Sorry to interrupt, Derek, but while you were boring the audience someone's substituted a stuffed dummy for the author. It's absolutely still - no, it moved! It scratched it's nose again.'
'And now the author scratches his nose ... he stares at the screen ... and .. oh wait! He's written a word! It's ... it's ... "the"!'
'Well, that's only to be expected, Jim. He's used the definite article one hundred and seventy-eight times in this novel so far, and it's the fourth-most used word in his oeuvre.'
'Sorry to interrupt, Derek, but while you were boring the audience someone's substituted a stuffed dummy for the author. It's absolutely still - no, it moved! It scratched it's nose again.'
Now I really, really want that live video coverage. And I want to be part of the team that blogs a commentary.
Don't forget to update your blog with the saga of the window!!
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