Wish I hadn't done it

Well he looked older than me. But I have inflated ideas of my own youthful looks.

You might be going a bit off track Chewbacca.

His work doesn't translate well to the screen.

Definitely another job before fame.

I would say 'never mind', after all if you'd hadn't gone you might be wishing you had, not knowing that it was a wasted evening.

No I don't really mind. All part of life's rich tapestry Off to book club now. Let's see what they thought...

What was the other job?

Was it something to do with schools?

Can I recommend Monty Don here and I wasn't even a fan! So it wasn't him.

Eglantine21, perhaps you could give us a list of the books you have read recently?

Yet another example of someone who needs public speaking instruction. I was very disappointed to hear a famous theatre director once deliver a 'speech' which consisted of his reading aloud an article he had written. I have public speaking teaching qualifications so I am perhaps over-critical, but really there are some people who should know better. I know that standing up to speak can be a frightening experience, but with the right training the fear can be conquered and you can end up with an appreciative audience.

Book club cancelled. The coffee machine wasn't working. So much for our literary pretensions!

Oh he is very used to public speaking. In fact I would say there was an element of boredom and condescension.

Is this getting a bit tedious and frustrating now? Ha, full of my importance too...

This has been such fun to read.
I am often disappointed when a writer, whose funny articles I have enjoyed in the newspaper, gets interviewed on radio or TV and just doesn’t sound amusing at all.

I find that with Desert Island Discs. Sometimes people that I previously disliked, have come across as charming and interesting and likeable and I have changed my opinion of them. Reverse has also happened, when a major newsreader and journalist was on, and was a pompous arse.

I hope it wasn’t C.J. Sansom. I love his books. He was a solicitor before so public speaking?

I’ve googled writers on tour but haven’t found anything.
Which area are you in?

Coffee at book club? We always have prosecco and/or wine!! ?

I've heard Pullman,Horowitz and Rankin and liked them all. So it can't be any of them. Give us another clue.

Fishpie, my DH who taught Will Self says that he was like that at the age of 13 and hasn't changed much since!

Lee child’s is going to do a tour soon but it can’t be him because he’s been on screen. That little Tom Cruise playing Jack Reacher!

Thank you, Barbara.

Just found this thread and I’m intrigued! Hope someone works out who it is, or we get some more clues soon. I can think of at least one author (one of my favourites) who could fit the description - I was so disappointed when I saw him interviewed on TV.

I am intrigued too, hope we find out who it is.

I love finding out what the rich and famous are really like. We have a couple of friends who work for a big film studio near us and some of the stories they tell us have really opened our eyes to how some very famous actors give off the impression to the public that they are really lovely and stand for ages signing autographs, but put them on the film set and they turn into nasty ogres that nobody wants to be be around.

My other half and I went to see Barry Norman at a book signing once and he also did a talk and a Q&A session. He was absolutely delightful.

I used to go to the Geographical Society's talk in London and some of the most interesting and prolific authors sounded bored and boring on stage whilst some of the orinary trekkers were brilliant raconteurs.
One of the wittiest and most natural speakers/story teller was Joanna Lumley.

As I understand it, one can't be sued for speaking or writing the truth.

Well, you could be sued but it would be unsuccessful if you spoke/wrote the truth!

If you are accurate, you have nothing to worry about!

Raymond Blanc in a tent at a rain drenched Malvern RHS Show - hilarious, spontaneous, memorable! And I was standing at the back with rain dripping down my neck!!
Lee Child - straightforward, patient and so cool!
Chris Riddell - witty and friendly.
Jess Phillips - infinitely approachable and responsive
Mark Billingham - clear, concise, direct
Well known and successful poet - went on about her very expensive years of therapy and read us a few poems.
Simon Brett - amusing and chatty
Wish I could think of an author who writes history and mystery!

Speaking from the other side and as a very considerably less well known position than the famous authors you are all speaking about, I do lots of author talks and events and I find that the audience response really contributes to how things go. It's funny (for me) that people in audiences don't seem to realise that the speaker can see them right back! My favourite case was when talking to a largish group I noticed that a person in the back row had a telescope trained on me! Otherwise, there are furtive nose pickers, snoozers, ill advised wigs and so much more!
But generally, the atmosphere generated can be so warm and friendly that author events are some of my favourite things.
Maybe the OP's writer doesn't like doing events but had been forced into it by his/her publisher?

I have to know now so will have to keep checking back