With the American presidential election and the start of another national lockdown, we've got a big week ahead.

There will be plenty on the television and in the newspapers for us to gen up on the details, but sometimes the headlines are all I want to take on board.

Last week, though, an article in 'The New European' newspaper provided a welcome distraction. While it was essentially just like everything else at the moment, acknowledging  how the virus is affecting our lives, it also provided humorous respite.

Charlie Connolly was writing about authors missing out on the opportunity to meet their readers. With 'real life' festivals, talks or book signings all cancelled, the writer's solitary existence has been exacerbated. But these events weren't without their pitfalls.

He recalls the book signings when no one turned up, for example, and his feelings when sitting alongside fellow authors with bigger followings. And there were also the misunderstandings.

Names are easy to get wrong, so his policy in writing the dedication was always to ask for the spelling. "I usually check even the simplest of names," he says, "which can leave people walking away thinking it weird that I can write a whole book, apparently without being able to spell 'Dave'."

He also recalls the story of Monica Dickens at a signing in Australia when she inscribed a book placed in front of her to 'Emma Chisett' - when the person was actually enquiring what the book cost.

It may be a while before there will be any more moments like these, but this article certainly caused me to chuckle and to think back with fondness on the occasions of our own in Woodbridge. Read his article here.