Cathédrale de la Major, Marseille

Up early this morning for a two-and-a-half hour drive to Marseille where my French publisher was hosting a briefing of Mediterranean booksellers on the new books out this rentrée (the French return to work after the holidays). There were upwards of 40 booksellers, and they were gathered in a room in the historic fort which now forms part of MuCEM down by the harbour. MuCEM is the museum of European Mediterranean culture, and was hoaching with visitors of all ages. Myself and two other writers (one a children's author, the other a literary novelist), introduced the booksellers to our latest works. Mine were "Scene de Crime Virtuelle" (Virtually dead), and "L'Ecosse de Peter May - the French version of the "Hebrides" photo book. Our briefings were accompanied by a violent thunderstorm and torrential rain, making it all very dramatic. As we left, the sun came out again and I snapped this photograph of the famous cathedral reflected in the glass wall of the museum. The long drive home tomorrow.