OK, so I know it doesn’t look much different to the book in the photograph on my last but one post, but believe me, this is a different thing altogether.

They arrived a couple of days ago, a big box of them: beautiful, pristine, gorgeous and smelling as brand new books should.

It’s the finished trade paperback of my new novel TARNISHED, and, unlike the bound proof, it shouldn’t have any typos or errors. I am bracing myself to go through it and check, but as I’m loath to spoil the illusion of perfection it gives me as I flick through it today, perhaps I’ll put my Jonathan Franzen moment off until tomorrow.

No, no, really. Despite my tempting fate with the title, this version is going to be dead letter perfect (or DLP as we old luvvies call it). It will need no further Corrections. None at all, whatsoever.

I’m very excited. Publication date is 14 March 2013 for the trade paperback/kindle version and then the mass market paperback will be out on 29 August 2013. However, to avoid clashes and what seems like a perpetually absent OldMan (so far he has been at home for eight days of 2013), the launch is on 3rd April 2013 and will involve the near legendary Ham & Cheese Co. delights supplied by my brother- and sister-in-law.

I’m sending out launch invitations to the first five people to contact me, so if you’re going to be in or near Brighton (UK!) that evening, do get in touch.