For this example I will pick the city of Durham at 9am on Tuesday 3rd March 2009. That would be when I met Bill Bryson.
For the promotion of the Bill Bryson Bag, Bill himself popped in to the uni library to do a few publicity shots. It was his first glimpse of the bag and he likes it. He is a wonderful lovely man (to quote one friend “the man has the soul of santa claus”) and was happy to sign a few bags and books.
As he was leaving I was made up to hear him say something along the lines of “Great to meet you Helen. Of course with you working in the library I’ll see you around again soon” (Bill comes to the library on occasion to do research). Lo and behold today when I was off on my lunchtime jaunt who should I bump into but Mr Bryson. I said hello and had a brief chat with him. I wonder how many times you have to talk to someone before you can officially classify them as a friend?
I’m getting a bit of a kick out of the whole bag thing – it’s lovely to be able to do creative stuff and get paid for it. And also is fantastic to see people reading things I’ve written. Or looking at the Waterstone’s window display Lisa put together. I could on occasion be described as ever so slightly over excited about the whole thing!
My week has not only been about the thrill of meeting a literary legend. It has also involved a new addiction. Twitter. As a result of my injury and spending Friday sat on the sofa watching endless episodes of Gilmore Girls (another addiction) I decided to give the Twitter thing another go. My first attempt had been as a result of Chris Moyles (ChrisDJMoyles) and to be honest I just didn’t get it. But with time on my hands and a very well timed ‘followfriday’ by Phillip Schofield (Schofe) I made a few friends with tweeple and now I’m one big twit!
Now I have lots of new Twitter friends. I’ve met fellow Thornber’s. There are a few Liverpool supporters to chat to during matches (and a few Man U supporters to give us abuse). Four of us have even started a Twitter Book Club!
Anyway it’s time for me to go and make cakes for the infamous ‘Cake Friday’ at in Library Land. I will be Twitpic-ing my progress. My very own Twookery show! Follow me if you dare twitter.com/helenthornber.
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