AVID readers were queueing in their droves at Waterstones, Broad Street, in anticipation of author Jasper Fforde, who visited the book shop in Reading on Wednesday.
Following a career in film, Fforde published his first novel, The Eyre Affair in 2001, since which he has penned the 7-book Thursday Next series, and the Dragonslayer series, among others.
Attendees queued to get their copies of his works signed, hot on the heels of the release of his latest book, Red Side Story, on Tuesday, February 6.
Speaking at the event, he said of meeting his readers: “It’s really good fun– firstly because it’s some guilt-free procrastination.
“All writers, whenever doing anything else like sleeping or eating, feel they should be writing.
“But it’s so good to meet readers.”
He explained that he often comes away from the events with a new perspective on his own work.
“There’s always something that comes back in each little conversation–people make observations about the books that sometimes I have no idea about.
“Someone said to me the other day that my latest is the only one of my books that could be set in the real world.
“Because all my books are like fantasy books with parallel universes–except this one, and I’d never thought of that before.”
Jasper Fforde is attending signings around the UK until Friday, February 16, and his latest novel Red Side Story is available now.
Full details via: jasperfforde.com
