Sometimes you have to laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Today I thought I would go to my local library to see if they would add an announcement to their Community Noticeboard for my new novel, Finding Rose, available on Amazon. (Before you jump in - no - that's NOT the absurdity.)
"I think we took all the notices down during lock-down." The library assistant was very pleasant about it. "Follow me," she said, "we'll take a look."
This was today, in an area where there were no specific restrictions outside of normal social distancing rules and wearing masks while out shopping.
She was right. The metre square noticeboard was totally bare.
"So," I said, "if I place my A5-size notice there it will have pride of place?"
At this point the head librarian joined us. "What are you advertising?"
"It's a new novel, written by a local author - me."
She hesitated. "Well," she said, "we normally only advertise local events."
This time I hesitated. "Mmmm," I said, "so. We're here in a library where...people come for books, and... to advertise a book launch would be inappropriate?"
We both wore masks but, by our eyes you could see we both saw the funny side of things, and I had avoided any hint of sarcasm in my tone. ('onest!)
I rest my case and - before you say it (and a better reason not to add my announcement to the noticeboard) she should have said that they were no longer keeping the noticeboard because it would have led to people grouping round it and breaking social distancing rules.
So I do get it. But you have to laugh. I still have difficulty finding Finding Rose in libraries.
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