One damp and dour Toronto morning this past winter, I was doing what authors of new books are obliged to do—talking about my book and drumming up sales. I was speaking at one of those wonderful books-and-breakfast events that match interested readers with enthusiastic authors. There were three of us authors at the event. Everybody had a fine time.
In a lull after the meal, the talking and the book signings, one of my fellow authors—terribly distinguished and award-winning—gave me one of those pre-question looks that alerted me to what was coming. “Do you actually read books?” distinguished author asked. Familiar with the routine, out of mischief I feigned puzzlement. Distinguished author continued: “Well, I wondered, because you have to watch TV, if you actually read books?” I allowed that I had, on occasion, been known to read a book or two. Distinguished author looked skeptical.
The exchange was no surprise to me. In what passes for the publishing and...
John Doyle is the television critic for The Globe and Mail and has covered two World Cup tournaments and one European championship for the paper. His book Beautiful Game: Travels in Search of Soccer’s Small Wars and Big Peace will be published by Doubleday Canada in 2010.
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