Orange

I've taken a few days off this week - a blip break - after the rigours of my tour. My return to real life has been a difficult one. It began with the news that my publisher had been put up for sale after a bad second half of 2013. This put the future of the publishers in doubt. Would they be the recipient of an injection of cash from an independent investor, or would they be subsumed by one of the big corporate publishing houses?

Everything will become clear within two months. But it puts my own future up in the air. The big London publishing houses have been circling like vultures, trying to pick off the best-selling writers from the Quercus list. Personally, I have enormous loyalty to the company and the people who believed in me when I couldn't get another UK publisher, and who turned my books into bestsellers. So I am not about to jump ship - despite the fact that most of the major UK publishers have already contacted my agent.

If there is a chance that Quercus can survive intact under new ownership, then I will stand by them. I owe them. And whatever money might be available elsewhere, without honour there is nothing. And I will honour their faith in me. And must say I would have nothing but contempt for those who don't do likewise.

I have also been involved in negotiations for a deal that would see all three books in the Lewis Trilogy turned into 2-hour movies for television. Final terms still to be agreed, but looking good.

So, an eventful week. And all I can say is that it's good to be home, and that I never cease to be amazed by the sight of oranges growing on trees in the street in the middle of winter!

Oh... and Entry Island is still at No.6.