Alex Thomas's Blog

War & Piste is one year old on Friday. Whoop! What a year it has been too. I’m misty-eyed thinking of all the love you have shown us.

And sOOooo to celebrate, and to reciprocate all the love, we’re only giving away FREE KINDLES ALL WEEKEND. That’s right, yes, indeedy – more free stuff from the W&P team. We’re lovers, not fighters.

So get your clickin’ finger at the ready, because from 12.00AM PST on Friday until 11.59PM (ish) on Monday, War & Piste will be yours to download, free, gratis and for nothing: here (Amazon.co.uk) and here (Amazon.com)

Spread the word to your nearest and dearest…

Happy birthday Poppy & co!

AT

Recent weeks have been all a go-go with all sorts of exciting things. First, the elusive author of W&P (me) was delighted to be asked to appear on the terrifying-but-brilliant Neil Prendeville show on Ireland’s 96fm. Happily, and in spite of all the fear, I managed not to give away to the 100,000+ listeners that I was basically bricking it. Hurray! I’m not sure if there is a podcast. I will try to post it if so, although it gives away my real identity in a big way. Oh, well. It was probably the worst kept secret in the Alps anyway!

Then I was chuffed to be invited to blog about my experiences as an author on whatsyourlifelike.com. Here’s the interview I gave to the What’s Your Life Like founders, Warren and Nick:

Tell us about you, and what it is you exactly do?

I’m never sure how to answer that question. I am a writer, though what I write varies a lot. Sometimes it is humourous fiction, sometimes non-fiction, occsionally script things, sometimes very serious stuff. The book I am working on at the moment (under my real name) is an academic history of humanitarian intervention in nineteenth century West Africa. I’m spending quite a lot of time reading and writing about some of the most horrific crimes against humanity imaginable. Very dark stuff, and quite a departure from the season misadventures of War & Piste!

I also do a bit of editorial work with a London publisher, the odd random lecture, some sports photography and am not averse to the occasional ski season. Bit of a mix, really – including ‘notoriously intermittent blogger’…I’m working on sorting out that last one.

Tell us a bit about your recent book? What was the inspiration behind the book?

War & Piste is the story of a winter season in a fictional Austrian resort. It’s a diary of life in a small town, perched on the side of an Alp, getting into all sorts of ski and non-ski related scrapes with a bunch of complete lunatics, which I think for anyone who has ever spent time in the Alps will sound familiar. It was inspired by my own love story with the Alps. I went out for one season many years ago, expecting to go back to ‘real’ life soon after. Those five months changed all my priorities and led to some of the most lasting and important friendships of my life.

I decided in 2008 that it was time to stop trying and failing to explain the magic and misery of season life to my friends back home. It was time to show them. War & Piste was the result.

What inspired you too take the plunge and decide to go through with writing it?

I’d been thinking for ages about writing something season-related – a blog, a newspaper column maybe – and I had a moment of clarity one evening in a pub in St Anton.

‘I’m going to write a novel about all this,’ I told Poppy, waving vaguely at the room, the baggy-trousered snowboarders lining up Jager shots on the bar and the snowy trees just visible through the window and the smoky haze.

‘Brilliant plan,’ she said. ‘Please call the main character after me?’

She’s regretting that now, because she got a whole novel’s worth of seasonaire shenanigans attributed to her!

Deciding to write a novel and going through with it were very different things. I was lucky in that I had an eight-month window from the end of that season in April to the beginning of a long-term contract in October, so I used that time to write the first draft. I had committed to it, so I never really doubted that I would see it through. But I had my moments of wondering if I was up to the challenge, that is for sure. I think most writers do, certainly all the ones I have ever spoken to.

Tell us a bit about what its like to actually write a novel?

It’s daunting, then exciting, then hard work, then brilliant fun, then incredibly frustrating, then horribly daunting and intimidating, then suddenly brilliant fun again… It goes on like this for some time.

I can’t speak for all authors, but I can tell you about my story-creating technique. The kind of fiction that I want to write is character-driven, so I always work on my characters first. I really put a lot of thought into these people that I will write my story around. I don’t rush this part, because I want to give them whole personalities and that means slowly fusing personality traits together into something quite real.

At this stage, I spend a lot of time mumbling to myself – this is possibly a sign of being a nutter, but it is also vital to the process. Knowing how each character speaks it vital – their accent and attitude, the sorts of words they choose to make a point. Dialogue between characters is often where you win or lose in the battle to make your reader forget they are reading a story. If you get it right, they are immersed in your world. Get it wrong, and the novel is totally crap.

Then I make a skeleton outline of the whole story, then go into each section, then each chapter outline, reworking and adding until I am pretty sure I know what will happen in every scene. I think my visual imagination works faster than my composing brain does. The feel and imagery of the story come so much faster than I can select the ‘right’ words to convey it to a reader, so I try to scribble and sketch the essence of things into an outline before I begin work on actual sentences. I see an imagined-but-as-yet-unwritten story like a huge block of wood. As the writer, you know that there is a complex and vivid sculture waiting inside the block. You know exactly what you want it to look and feel like, and so you use your words like a chisel to reveal it.

What about the timing, how long from putting the first words down to having it finished did it all take?

Probably a total of about 12 months, but that was spread out between 2008, when I wrote the first draft, and early 2011 when I realised it was going to get published and needed to be redrafted, re-edited, tidied up and made less crap.

One of the most important lessons I learned in the process of publishing this book was how much better than the first draft a final version novel can be. A good editor and a good chunk of time between writing and editing are your best friends as an author.

What’s the plan now? Straight onto another book?

Yes. Novel Two is all laid out and ready for action once I have finished my history book. The screenplay of War & Piste is on the cards too.

What advice you give someone writing a first novel?

There is a lot of advice out there for aspiring authors – lots of things you can get from a blog post. So I will skip to a piece of ‘nuts and bolts’ advice. In my experience, the time to start ‘Writing’ with a capital ‘W’ is when you have a clear and compelling story you want to tell. Now this doesn’t mean don’t write anything until then – on the contrary, get scribbling character sketches and scene ideas and bits and pieces of dialogue ALL THE TIME. But don’t put pressure on yourself to Write A Novel until you have laid the foundations, first by creating your characters so completely in your mind that they are like real people, and second by imagining or re-imagining your settings and locations very, very clearly indeed. Why? Because it will save you from Peril 1 of novel writing – over-description. Instead you will have the confidence them to paint both people and places with a few expert brushstrokes. By the time you sit down to ‘Write’, you will have notes to refer to – a real help when you lose your way or have a crisis of confidence. You don’t have to have planned out the whole story – I do that but loads of authors don’t. You can change things, adapt thing, go nuts. But to avoid getting frustrated and disillusioned early on, I would suggest starting with some really clear ideas.

A lot of people say you should write about what you know, because writing a first novel is hard. I say it doesn’t have to be autobiographical –write what you know by making the imagined as real as possible before you begin.

But it will never feel like you are 100% ready to start. So prepare well and when you start to get excited at the prospect of untangling it all and sharing your story with people, you’re probably ready. Good luck!

What’s your life been like since your book came out?

Hectic! I was lucky in that I was involved in all the stages of preparing the book for publication – decisions surrounding the cover art, website, promotional plan etc., but this meant that the run-up to the book launch was very, very busy. Lots of early mornings and late nights. But it was more than worth it. The launch events that the PR team put together were great fun, not least the promo book tour we did in the Alps in December. Nice to have a work-related reason to visit six ski resorts in waist-deep snow!

 The best aspect of the experience has been the people who have contacted me from all over the world to say how much they enjoyed the book, asking about the sequel and the film adaptation (which the team are working on now) and thanking me for writing a story that they loved. It’s kind of hard to describe how it feels to think of people on five continents reading and loving my story – ‘pretty amazing’ doesn’t really do it justice, but it’s a start.

Closer to home, I saw someone wandering through a London train station with their nose buried in my book. That was an incredible moment. I resisted the urge to run up to them and give them a hug. Seriously, all you readers of novels – go forth and read your books in public places. You may well make an author’s day.

_____________________________

What’s next? With snow still falling in luscious quantities in the Alps, it’s hard to believe the season is over for most of us. Here’s a little something to get you in the mood for next winter, from the very lovely Candide Thovex. Perhaps by then I will have some exciting news for you, in the form of some sequel-like short stories, following the adventures of some of your favourite War & Piste characters. Get your votes in for which ones make a reappearance… Bis dann, späters potaters!

Recent weeks have been all a go-go with all sorts of exciting things. First, the elusive author of W&P (me) was delighted to be asked to appear on the terrifying-but-brilliant Neil Prendeville show on Ireland’s 96fm. Happily, and in spite of all the fear, I managed not to give away to the 100,000+ listeners that I was basically bricking it. Hurray! I’m not sure if there is a podcast. I will try to post it if so, although it gives away my real identity in a big way. Oh, well. It was probably the worst kept secret in the Alps anyway!

Then I was chuffed to be invited to blog about my experiences as an author on whatsyourlifelike.com. Here’s the interview I gave to the What’s Your Life Like founders, Warren and Nick:

Tell us about you, and what it is you exactly do?

I’m never sure how to answer that question. I am a writer, though what I write varies a lot. Sometimes it is humourous fiction, sometimes non-fiction, occsionally script things, sometimes very serious stuff. The book I am working on at the moment (under my real name) is an academic history of humanitarian intervention in nineteenth century West Africa. I’m spending quite a lot of time reading and writing about some of the most horrific crimes against humanity imaginable. Very dark stuff, and quite a departure from the season misadventures of War & Piste!

I also do a bit of editorial work with a London publisher, the odd random lecture, some sports photography and am not averse to the occasional ski season. Bit of a mix, really – including ‘notoriously intermittent blogger’…I’m working on sorting out that last one.

Tell us a bit about your recent book? What was the inspiration behind the book?

War & Piste is the story of a winter season in a fictional Austrian resort. It’s a diary of life in a small town, perched on the side of an Alp, getting into all sorts of ski and non-ski related scrapes with a bunch of complete lunatics, which I think for anyone who has ever spent time in the Alps will sound familiar. It was inspired by my own love story with the Alps. I went out for one season many years ago, expecting to go back to ‘real’ life soon after. Those five months changed all my priorities and led to some of the most lasting and important friendships of my life.

I decided in 2008 that it was time to stop trying and failing to explain the magic and misery of season life to my friends back home. It was time to show them. War & Piste was the result.

What inspired you too take the plunge and decide to go through with writing it?

I’d been thinking for ages about writing something season-related – a blog, a newspaper column maybe – and I had a moment of clarity one evening in a pub in St Anton.

‘I’m going to write a novel about all this,’ I told Poppy, waving vaguely at the room, the baggy-trousered snowboarders lining up Jager shots on the bar and the snowy trees just visible through the window and the smoky haze.

‘Brilliant plan,’ she said. ‘Please call the main character after me?’

She’s regretting that now, because she got a whole novel’s worth of seasonaire shenanigans attributed to her!

Deciding to write a novel and going through with it were very different things. I was lucky in that I had an eight-month window from the end of that season in April to the beginning of a long-term contract in October, so I used that time to write the first draft. I had committed to it, so I never really doubted that I would see it through. But I had my moments of wondering if I was up to the challenge, that is for sure. I think most writers do, certainly all the ones I have ever spoken to.

Tell us a bit about what its like to actually write a novel?

It’s daunting, then exciting, then hard work, then brilliant fun, then incredibly frustrating, then horribly daunting and intimidating, then suddenly brilliant fun again… It goes on like this for some time.

I can’t speak for all authors, but I can tell you about my story-creating technique. The kind of fiction that I want to write is character-driven, so I always work on my characters first. I really put a lot of thought into these people that I will write my story around. I don’t rush this part, because I want to give them whole personalities and that means slowly fusing personality traits together into something quite real.

At this stage, I spend a lot of time mumbling to myself – this is possibly a sign of being a nutter, but it is also vital to the process. Knowing how each character speaks it vital – their accent and attitude, the sorts of words they choose to make a point. Dialogue between characters is often where you win or lose in the battle to make your reader forget they are reading a story. If you get it right, they are immersed in your world. Get it wrong, and the novel is totally crap.

Then I make a skeleton outline of the whole story, then go into each section, then each chapter outline, reworking and adding until I am pretty sure I know what will happen in every scene. I think my visual imagination works faster than my composing brain does. The feel and imagery of the story come so much faster than I can select the ‘right’ words to convey it to a reader, so I try to scribble and sketch the essence of things into an outline before I begin work on actual sentences. I see an imagined-but-as-yet-unwritten story like a huge block of wood. As the writer, you know that there is a complex and vivid sculture waiting inside the block. You know exactly what you want it to look and feel like, and so you use your words like a chisel to reveal it.

What about the timing, how long from putting the first words down to having it finished did it all take?

Probably a total of about 12 months, but that was spread out between 2008, when I wrote the first draft, and early 2011 when I realised it was going to get published and needed to be redrafted, re-edited, tidied up and made less crap.

One of the most important lessons I learned in the process of publishing this book was how much better than the first draft a final version novel can be. A good editor and a good chunk of time between writing and editing are your best friends as an author.

What’s the plan now? Straight onto another book?

Yes. Novel Two is all laid out and ready for action once I have finished my history book. The screenplay of War & Piste is on the cards too.

What advice you give someone writing a first novel?

There is a lot of advice out there for aspiring authors – lots of things you can get from a blog post. So I will skip to a piece of ‘nuts and bolts’ advice. In my experience, the time to start ‘Writing’ with a capital ‘W’ is when you have a clear and compelling story you want to tell. Now this doesn’t mean don’t write anything until then – on the contrary, get scribbling character sketches and scene ideas and bits and pieces of dialogue ALL THE TIME. But don’t put pressure on yourself to Write A Novel until you have laid the foundations, first by creating your characters so completely in your mind that they are like real people, and second by imagining or re-imagining your settings and locations very, very clearly indeed. Why? Because it will save you from Peril 1 of novel writing – over-description. Instead you will have the confidence them to paint both people and places with a few expert brushstrokes. By the time you sit down to ‘Write’, you will have notes to refer to – a real help when you lose your way or have a crisis of confidence. You don’t have to have planned out the whole story – I do that but loads of authors don’t. You can change things, adapt thing, go nuts. But to avoid getting frustrated and disillusioned early on, I would suggest starting with some really clear ideas.

A lot of people say you should write about what you know, because writing a first novel is hard. I say it doesn’t have to be autobiographical –write what you know by making the imagined as real as possible before you begin.

But it will never feel like you are 100% ready to start. So prepare well and when you start to get excited at the prospect of untangling it all and sharing your story with people, you’re probably ready. Good luck!

What’s your life been like since your book came out?

Hectic! I was lucky in that I was involved in all the stages of preparing the book for publication – decisions surrounding the cover art, website, promotional plan etc., but this meant that the run-up to the book launch was very, very busy. Lots of early mornings and late nights. But it was more than worth it. The launch events that the PR team put together were great fun, not least the promo book tour we did in the Alps in December. Nice to have a work-related reason to visit six ski resorts in waist-deep snow!

 The best aspect of the experience has been the people who have contacted me from all over the world to say how much they enjoyed the book, asking about the sequel and the film adaptation (which the team are working on now) and thanking me for writing a story that they loved. It’s kind of hard to describe how it feels to think of people on five continents reading and loving my story – ‘pretty amazing’ doesn’t really do it justice, but it’s a start.

Closer to home, I saw someone wandering through a London train station with their nose buried in my book. That was an incredible moment. I resisted the urge to run up to them and give them a hug. Seriously, all you readers of novels – go forth and read your books in public places. You may well make an author’s day.

_____________________________

What’s next? With snow still falling in luscious quantities in the Alps, it’s hard to believe the season is over for most of us. Here’s a little something to get you in the mood for next winter, from the very lovely Candide Thovex. Perhaps by then I will have some exciting news for you, in the form of some sequel-like short stories, following the adventures of some of your favourite War & Piste characters. Get your votes in for which ones make a reappearance… Bis dann, späters potaters!

Well, War & Pisteurs, I am officially snowed into the house in Verbier so I can finally update you all on the progress of our book tour. I confess I have been a little too over-excited about the immense quantities of neige in the trees here over the past few days to be capable of composing a blog post. If I had, it would have read: "Eeep! Snow! Tree! Snow! Tree! Snow-pillow-air-snow again!" *Small giddy noise* etc.

I'll spare you. Instead I'll tell you about our adventures since departing English shores last week.

We left Traudl Publishing HQ at Old Street, London at around 5pm on Friday and drove through the night in shifts of three hours. Calais, the Somme valley, Lyon, Bourg, other stuff in between that I can't remember because I was snoozing… until we arrived in sunny, snowy Meribel at 9am Saturday. Yes, we were rather tired but of course far too sensible to even contemplate sleeping when the lifts had just opened on a massive valley of untracked slopes. And there was no-one else there. Did we shred it? Just a little. The following day was more of the same, but with added Poppy Campbell. This leads me to Theme One of our tour: happily bumping into mates here, there and everywhere. Everywhere we have been – Meribel, Morzine, Chamonix and Verbier so far – we have been chuffed to find that lots of our like minded friends have done the sensible thing and headed back to the Alps this winter. Good times! The only problem with this trend is that the author has seriously struggled to leave each resort. It has been a mission to get her into the tour van. Will leaving Verbier tomorrow be any easier? Are you kidding? There is over half a metre of fresh snow outside my door. It will require some sort of ninja doom squad to get me out of here tomorrow morning. Polly, Blue – you have been warned.

But I'm getting ahead of myself here. We waved goodbye quite reluctantly to Meribel on Sunday evening after a wicked session in the Rond Point and a great evening with Liz, Fi and Matt. Huge, huge thanks to Liz and Fi for your hospitality. It was such a treat. Really looking forward to seeing you both soon for plenty more vin rouge and perhaps even a ski. Liz, you've got the jacket now. It self-destructs in 5 weeks if not used to move rapidly from high to less high altitude on slippery surfaces. How you choose to accomplish this is up to you, but I would suggest getting on your snowboard, pronto (or skis – I ain't fussy).

After Meribel, Morzine was next on the route, where we signed books and munched the world's most amazing food courtesy of Mel and Sus at Dotty's Coffee House. Thrilled to see our favourite ski journo Trine Bregstein and her new crew at VIP for a coffee and a catch up. Also really glad to meet and chat to Amie and Rowena from Yodel Magazine.

The only downside of this tour stop was The Shining hotel we stayed in in Montriond. The first impression I had was "why are we on an equestrian farm?" The second was "this looks like the kind of place where you would get killed." And it lived right down to expectations. I am still a bit too traumatised to go into detail on this one, so I'll sum it up in two words: insect infestation. I still resemble a plague victim. This is emphatically not OK.

Anyway, moving swiftly on, and how we did. Chamonix next, where we arrived in the dumping snow. Happy day! Although our visit was a brief one, it was action packed and featured a very fun time at MBC, followed by La Terrasse. It also featured (but of course) beaucoup de skiing on Les Grands Montets with some very excellent locals. Thanks, Phillippe and Sandra – our hosts and the coolest people in Cham (this is an objective fact). The author had by this point concluded that the solution to the problem of "where to live in the Alps when I move back out here?" was emphatically "Chamonix." Mr AT and I will be seeing you next winter!

In driving snow, we just about made it over the Col to Verbier that night, where it has now been hammering down consistently for the past three days and we have been ski ski skiing… [Editor's note: The following passage has been deleted due to excessive giddiness]…and partying it up with old and new friends alike. Huge thanks to Dave at Pub Mont Fort for organising two back-to-back and very excellent parties; to The Leg (I dig your jacket style, lady… one of a kind, the whole resort is envious) and most of all to Ruaridh the Legend (I had *almost* got nostalgic about my tour ops past until that 5am uphill jog, the 6am snowchains fun and All The Staff Crying – must be a record! It's not even Christmas week yet!).

Now the next challenge (aside from the aforementioned battle of wills regarding the morally objectionable concept of driving away from a resort with This Much Snow) will be getting the van down to La Châble this evening ahead of an early doors departure. Next stop: Zermatt and the Rip Curl Pro Store book signing at 4pm tomorrow. However, the flakes are falling heavier and slower now, and the bank of snow outside my door is only getting deeper…

AT

With the first print run of books sold out and the first readers of War & Piste finishing the final pages, AT is overwhelmed by the love right now. Not even pretending to have something in my eye. Sniff!

Finished the book last week – absolutely loved it. Totally captured season life and made me feel like I was back there again (less the rabbit and the front flips) – Iain Martin, who also posted a full review on Skipedia.co.uk. Check it out!

Just finished the book. Absolutely bloody fantastic. Having spent a couple of winters in Saas Fee, one in Feeblick, the other working in Happy Bar, this brought back many many many wonderful memories… Real congratulations on the book, a real achievement. Instead of trying and failing to convey seasons to people, I'm now just going to get them to read this book. Excellent – Thomas Webb

Loved every page of the book! Read it in 2 days – couldn't put it down! I'm going on my first season in 4 weeks….it's certainly got me excited (and I'm secretly wondering how my season will compare to Poppy's!). Will be sure to spread the word to my friends, whether doing a season or not – Jessica Rawling

I would like to say how much I am enjoying this book! Even dreamt about skiing / boarding last night and laughed out loud to the extend of giving myself a coughing fit. Brings back memories of ski trips and Gap year and Erasmus time spent in the Alps - Anna Julia Dominique

Just left Reschengel after a season of hilarious escapades with Poppy and the Snowglobe team. Massive craic, major sessions and serious skiing with loads of laugh out loud incidences. Had a blast [image error]    Congrats "Alex" on this marvellous book. Very very well done. It WILL be a best seller – of that I have no doubt. Thanks so much for my signed copy. I'll treasure it. The word will spread – is spreading!! - Phil Lynch

Just finished the book. Awesome. Trying to work out if I can do another ski season 17 years later and with 2 children - Gaby Appelton

Check out these and other reviews, photos and updates on the War & Piste Facebook page. Thanks to everyone who has got in touch – big smile.

AT

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Did a fittie in a green jacket give you a flyer at Freeze over the weekend? Behave, is that why you're here? Well, welcome if so. And welcome if not. Take a poke around, read the older posts (especially if you're not a skier/boarder and want a bit of a heads up on what this is all about…there's a glossary a few posts back.)

We had a blast at Battersea Power station this weekend, displaying our lovely books for the world to see. What a Freeze Festival it was! Well done to all the athletes including the winners James Woods, Billy Morgan, Jossi Wells and Janne Korpi – huge respect to all for braving that monster kicker and doing it in such style. Big love to the event staff, especially Ash who was a leg-end. And equally-large-if-not-greater love to all new readers of War & Piste. You cleaned us out of books, London. I hope you have as much fun with your signed first editions as the author had writing them. Drop us a line on info@warandpiste.com or on the Facebook page and let us know what you think!

Are the adventures of Poppy, Rachel, Jon, James, Gina and the crew getting you in the mood for winter? See you in the Alps… T minus 6 weeks to the War & Piste Alpine Tour in association with Dare2b! First party will be announced right here… *hushed silence of anticipation*

It's coming…

Well, you have time to grab a cup of tea first.  AT

What a Ski Show 2011 was! Bought far too much new kit, lusted after quite a lot more, made plans for the adventures of the future (namely things like this and all of these)… most of all, we met some fantastic new friends. Big shout outs to Altimus, our new favourite retailer; Snowmule, for a very clever invention indeed, Rude Chalets – see you in Morzine! The UK Freeski Film Festival, taking place tomorrow in Shepard's Bush; Snow Resort App, a great way of staying in touch with Alp-wide updates and providing some of your own; Morealps, the La Rosiere and Val d'Isere chalet specialists, Hofnar – yes, please – let's do stuff! White Dot Skis, whose Preachers made the author weep; Snowbabies – thanks Max Beesley! Boardstylist.com, thanks for the review! And last but emphatically not least, Snow Camp, who do fantastic work – looking forward to seeing you guys in the alps. Also had a blast at the Ski Club party and the WorkASeason Soiree – thanks guys!

Quiet, calm weeks to follow? Not at all. With only two sleeps until the Relentless Freeze kicks off at Battersea Power Station, we are getting super stoked (and lingo-ed up, obvs) for the thrown-down that will take place on our very doorstep.  Jon Olsson! Be still my heart.

See you there! Keep an eye out for us in our seriously bright lime green jackets, especially if the Freeze lives up to its name and you are chilly… Got some beanie hats and stickers for the first 50 or so people who ask us nicely.

Until Friday… AT

It's Ski Show Week in London, War & Pisteurs! So all of us here at Traudl Towers are looking forward to seeing you down at Earl's Court. We'll be easy enough to spot – just look for the crew in the seriously slick green jackets and blue salopettes… with "War & Piste" printed in massive letters on the back. Easy.

Aside from our super style, we'll also be handing out golden tickets for our very cool prize draw, so don't be shy, come say hello.

TO WIN that stashy stash… If you are already in possession of a golden ticket, get your cameraphone out and post a photo of your grinning self brandishing it proudly and post to the Facebook page. Winners will be chosen on Sunday at the close of the show. Looking forward to seeing your beautiful faces… AT

Wow. What a first week. What a response!

The very fine people over at our printing company are working overtime to get War & Piste restocked on Amazon.co.uk. In the meantime, European readers: War & Piste is still in stock at The Book Depository and Completely Novel, so get clicking to order your copy. Amazon.de and Amazon.fr were stocked at the time of writing this too.

For Ben, Sarah and Tim who enquired very nicely on behalf of all our US readers, head to Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com.

Or if you prefer your books futuristic and electronic, pop over to the Kindle Store!

And finally, we like giving away stuff, so the first five photos posted to the Facebook page of War & Piste readers in the act of reading this fine work of art in interesting places will win themselves a very cool bobble hat. Planes, trains, automobiles [Editor's note: not whilst driving ideally. In fact the author does not recommend engaging in any of the car-based activities that she describes in this book...], airports, chairlifts, deckchairs, post office queues, McDonalds Drive-Thrus, bungee jumping platforms, petrol pumps, astride a camel… we're not fussy. Let's see some love.

Exciting day, War and Pisteurs. After an epic glühwein-fuelled launch party the book is now officially on sale! WoooOOOoooOOOooo. The author is pretending to be entirely thrilled by this fact but is in fact about 40% alarmed at the prospect of everyone reading her words of ramble. She is nonetheless hopeful that you will read, enjoy, blatantly wield on the Tube to make fellow commuters jealous to the core of their beings… etc.

[Editor's note: Post a photograph of yourself reading War & Piste in an interesting place/in a blatantly wielding fashion - if you make us laugh, you may well earn a little prize for your hard work...]

The other main event today was the announcement of our two winners of the Dare2b competition – a big WELL DONE to Laura Finn and Dave Corfin, who each bagged themselves some luscious new stash, courtesy of our lovely presenting sponsor. These were the winning entries:

LAURA: There was this one time on a chairlift when three friends, on lunch break from their minimum wage ski rental jobs, soaked up the bluebird day and the knee-deep powder below and wondered how life could be any better. Then a skier at the end of the chair started to complain about the food at his luxury chalet. Life's too short mate. Dare to be happy.

DAVE: There was this one time on a chairlift… We were talking about books, I mentioned about a new book that was soon to be released about seasons. "will it be like that daft chalet girl film" my friend asked, because that was daft. I said that I had heard that it was nothing like that and more like a 'Fear and Loathing' in St Anton, a kind of oddball journey of psychedelic escapades, but probably with more sex knowing the author. Suddenly an idea formed in my head and I suggested we get some tickets for the book launch as I vaguely knew someone, who knew someone, who knew the Author. At least I would then have a more interesting answer when asked what I do in summer, the stock answer 'crack cocaine and dogging' was an invection that was rapidly losing a battle to the inflection. Besides it's in October, mud season, not summer or winter and so it was unlikely we would be doing anything, there might even be a few hot ex-chalet girls and some free wine, or even better chalet girls full of free wine. My argument and reasoning was convincing. My friend had never been to a book launch, on the quiet, neither had I. "Maybe we should do something different," he suggested, "what like bad ski suits, lame," I replied. "Well what about just ski boots and goggles?" Why I did not choose my friends more carefully accordingly to their ability to keep their clothes on I will never know, but winter, jagermeister and the "hello" song forms some pretty unusual alliances. "Well" he said "are you up for the dare." "To be honest" I replied "I heard on the grapevine that the author was already planning to do this at the booksigning"

Congratulations also to those lucky muffins who won cool stuff in the Dare2b raffle last night too – hope those jackets kept you warm on the fuzzy stagger home, along with the delicious memory of the kisses from the delectable prize awarder, Mr Nick Southwell.

Good. Flippin'. Times.

Until next week… the Metrosnow Ski & Snowboard Show beckons… AT.