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Author Isabel Losada is combating the isolated life of the desk-bound writer - by setting up camp in a bookshop window.
Losada, whose best-selling works include The Battersea Park Road to Enlightenment, which has been translated into 23 languages, is making the Waterstone's store at Clapham Junction her office all week.
Her residency is designed to promote the annual SW11 Literary Festival taking place at venues across Clapham and Battersea until October 3.
"As this is a literary festival I just wanted to make fun of authors a bit as we have a reputation for being a bit stuffy. And obviously we don't get out much," she said.
"So I thought I'd show exactly what authors do all day by doing it in public.
"I'm doing everything I normally do at home, only in my surreal window. It's quite cosy. But the passers-by are a little gobsmacked."
Her workload includes editing her next book, although she is not sure how much she is likely to get done. And anyone with a query about writing and being a writer can send her a question via Twitter, Facebook or her website or turn up in person for a chat.
Mother-of-one Losada, who lives in the Battersea Park Road of her books, has gained an avid following by using humour to take a serious look at diverse subjects.
Reader views (4)
Should work on Rice Paper and eat her musings every day and follow her name as Loadsa Money
- Bill, Taiwan, 22/09/2011 02:40
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I thought this was a really interesting way of allowing authors and readers to interact. Not expensive or inconvenient. And it allows a writer to discuss their work either as individual books or as a whole, whereas book tours tend to focus on highlighting and selling the most recent book. Isabel Losada is very approachable, and is a great person for this kind of promotion. Go along and see her! You won't regret it!
- Ginny Black, Oxford, UK, 21/09/2011 22:22
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Many authors are very 'private' people and might feel uncomfortable working in a public place. Your views on this?
- Rakesh, London, 21/09/2011 15:12
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I wish stuff like this would happen more often and all around Europe! We get to meet all kinds of jobs on a daily basis (sales people, mainly, really) but authors remain so often out of reach and hidden away! I wish I was in London to go and personally meet up with Isabel Losada! I wish we had such events here in Switzerland!
- Julia, Luzern, Switzerland, 21/09/2011 15:03
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