A bloody book launch

Sadly not my own. I went to the offices of Serpent’s Tail on Wednesday for the launch party of Cham, the latest novel by my chum Jon Trigell. He’s had a busy week. When not writing he’s working in the ski industry and living in Chamonix (hence the title of the new book). So last week, he was busy with the Ski Show in London. He even found time to do a short reading from the book. The audience were surprised to see Jon turn up with two black eyes and a plaster across his nose. Everyone was giving him respect for this serious looking injury, suspecting it must have come from a ski trick that had gone wrong. In fact, it transpires it was a UDI – an unidentified drinking injury.

Anyway, after the Ski Show, Jon was at the Times BFI London Film Festival on Sunday where the film version of his previous book, Boy A, was getting its UK premiere. The film is directed by Paddy Considine and is, by the accounts of those who managed to see it, a corker. I couldn’t make it but awaits its showing on Channel 4 later this month.

So to Wednesday and the new book launch. Jon was there with his proud parents and partner and still sporting the UDI. Sadly, before he could speak, he suffered a gushing nosebleed and disappeared for the rest of the evening, with talk of his needing to go to hospital. Hope it’s not too serious – he is one talented guy.