Book signing & free gift…
Saturday, 3 October 2009
I’ll be signing copies of my new book on Tuesday October 6th, from 5-6pm at the London EPT tournament. The first ten people to buy a book at this signing will get a free gift: the soundtrack! Yes, it’s a book with a soundtrack. And you’ll get a copy if you’re one of the first ten to buy a tome during this “happy hour”. (I love the word tome.)
So If you’ve been meaning to buy a copy and haven’t got round to it, this would be a good chance to acquire one, maybe get the free prize and also have a look at the major tournament going on this week and the big poker names playing it.
You’ll find me outside the Kings Suite tournament room on the third floor of the Hilton Metropole at 225 Edgware Road (corner of Edgware Road and the Westway), London W2. Lovely John from the High Stakes Bookshop will be there selling books, and I’ll be there to scribble in them if you should happen to want that service. Meanwhile, an assorted roomful of giant Texans, beady-eyed Swedes, chirpy Londoners and other poker characters will be playing down to the final table of this year’s London EPT. Various others will be playing a £500 “Mixed” tournament, and at 6pm there’ll be a £1500 Texas Holdem freezeout.
Should you want to play the £1500 event, see details below. Otherwise please feel free to just drop by, say hello, buy a book, get it signed, maybe get the free gift, watch a bit of poker, ask me poker questions if you have any, all that sort of thing. See you there if you make it.
If you think you might want to play the £1500 tournament, bear in mind this is a two-day event, Tuesday night and Wednesday. To play it, you’d have to stop off first at the Victoria Casino just up the road from the hotel and buy a ticket. You can’t buy in for the events at the hotel itself. (You need a passport or driving licence to go into the Vic and buy a ticket, but not to come into the hotel obviously).
Comments
Nick Bayly at 3:24 pm on October 3rd, 2009
Was really hoping to come to this, but am having to fly out to Texas on Monday (nothing to do with Poker sadly), so will have to wait until next year. When’s the next big London-based event?
Victoria Coren at 6:40 pm on October 3rd, 2009
Hi Nick. I think the next significant London event will be the GUKPT final at the Victoria Casino in December. But that’s not a big deal like this one is - it’s very significant in British terms but not internationally, the big Vegas stars won’t come over for it. Sadly, the next equivalent UK event will be *next* year’s London EPT, in October 2010! What a shame you can’t make it on Tuesday. But the GUKPT final will have the big British players and be a fun event.
RomanticRecluse at 1:19 pm on October 4th, 2009
I have to ask a question. Could you please tell me what’s on the soundtrack? I’ve already ordered the book and London is a long way away from where I live so I’m not going to be one of the lucky recipients of the free gift but music has been a life-long passion of mine so I’m curious about its contents.
Is a Tarantino-esque collection of songs or is it “Victoria Coren Sings Songs About Poker And Love” with your own versions of “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers, “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga and “Ace Of Spades” by Motorhead?
PaulInSweden at 1:20 pm on October 4th, 2009
So, I guess the soundtrack is going to be the songs you listed near the start of the book, right?
Is it being released officially, or have you just knocked a few CD’s up on your PC at home?
Sadly (for me), I’m living in Sweden at the moment so won’t be able to come and claim a copy…
Victoria Coren at 2:12 pm on October 4th, 2009
Goodness no - I can reassure anyone thinking of coming on Tuesday that the soundtrack does NOT involve me singing. There are some songs listed in an early chapter of the book, which then come back thematically in later chapters… It’s those, plus some other tracks not literally in the book but which cumulatively are supposed to make a version of the story in other people’s words not mine. (And in music not book chapters). I won’t list all the songs here, because it would slightly detract from the “specialness” of having the CD (which is a delightful home-made thing by me and my lovely assistant Phoebe, with a special cover and everything). We might do one more book signing at Christmas or on paperback publication with a CD alongside, and then after that I’ll just put links to all the songs on here and that’ll be the end of that!
Ben at 3:26 pm on October 4th, 2009
I’m so weak! Just watching the 2006 final that you won, and couldn’t resist it anymore so the book in my amazon wish list has now been purchased. I can’t make the signing but just wanted to say.
Also I noticed I can watch live on Tuesday (pokerstars tv), you will be playing right? I could watch you play all day any day!!
Anyway good luck, and I really hope to see more of you on TV in the future. (I don’t watch much, but you are well worth switching the set on for!)
AlwaysLosing at 3:34 pm on October 4th, 2009
Hi Vicky, I already have a copy of your book, would it be too cheeky if I brought for you to sign it? Did Mr Duthie ever release a DVD of your win?
Victoria Coren at 5:29 pm on October 4th, 2009
Hi Always, of course that would be fine. If LOTS of people turned up with books they already owned then I shouldn’t really; it wouldn’t be fair on John who’s there to sell books and I’ve promised him my time… But I’m sure there won’t be, and I’d hate you to be penalized for having been nice enough to buy early! So of course come along with your book and I’d be very happy to sign it.
There’s no DVD for sale of the EPT, as far as I know.
MarkP at 9:54 am on October 5th, 2009
A Poker CD:
John Martyn – The Dealer
Talking Heads – Blind
Blind Lemon Jefferson – Bad Luck Blues
Iron Maiden – Aces High
Foo Fighters – This is a Call
The Byrds – Turn!Turn!Turn!
Bruce Springsteen – The River
Kate Bush – Fullhouse
And depending on the kind of luck you had
AC/DC – Back in (the) Black
Or maybe
The Beatles - Fool on the Hill
C Scott at 9:59 pm on October 5th, 2009
@ MarkP ... gotta have Motorhead’s Ace of Spades
rab at 12:42 am on October 6th, 2009
I have just finished reading your book and it was an incredible read. You can feel the heart and soul you have put into this through every page. I’m sad now i have finished it within a couple of days, i’m usually a slow reader, however it was written beautifully. When compared to other poker books, in my eyes it is up there with big deal and ghosts at the table. Keep up the writing and good luck for the future.
david at 3:00 pm on October 6th, 2009
HI Vicky. Just this minute finished reading your book and wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it. The poker stories were great but so was how you conveyed your relationships with both your poker friends and your Dad. Well done on a good job. See you at the tables.
David
Jenny at 8:38 am on October 7th, 2009
hi Vicky (and Phoebe)
Thanks so much for the CD - who said the mix tape was dead with MP3s around? Listened to all of it last night, but am trying to eke out the book for as long as possible.
The last signed book I bought was because I got accosted at Heathrow by its author; she obviously could spot a soft touch. Don’t know what possessed me to buy crime fiction, but it was terrible formulaic stuff.
Glad to say your book is the perfect antidote. After two chapters and a quick flick through a few hands from the EPT, I’m hooked. And there’s a chapter named after Araucaria - perfect!
Thanks again
Dan Holloway at 10:28 am on October 7th, 2009
Very best with the book. It’s been interesting catching up with what you’re doing on twitter. I remember when you used to sit one table down from me whilst I directed the Oxford Uni bridge club nights. Nice to see the magic of the cards never lost its grip on you. I escaped their clutches and now write obscure literary novels dotted around cyberspace. I raise a glass to your ongoing success!
The Arbman at 2:09 pm on October 7th, 2009
Im following you on Twitter Victoria and see you’re becoming a bit bored with pokering. Take a break and do something you’ve never done before. Hope your book sells well. The Arbman
www.arbman.co.uk
twitter.com/thearbman
adam at 7:31 pm on October 7th, 2009
i can’t justify buying myself hard back books and was prepared to wait for xmas. but, now i’ve gone and bought it for my other half’s birthday, was that naughty? she is a fan of your tv shows, but not poker. ah, she will probably put it aside, knowing i can’t read it until she has.
i hear you are on mid-week next week, will you give a shout out to your blog fans. do they allow shout outs on radio 4?
Victoria Coren at 10:22 pm on October 7th, 2009
Hi Adam. I’m not sure that shout-outs are eagerly welcomed on Midweek but I’ll lever it in if I can… Hope you enjoy the book when you finally get your claws on it, and thanks for making that excellent purchase.
JON BRIGGS at 4:50 pm on October 8th, 2009
Congrats on beating the world champ - a real scalp and a feather in your cap.
Keep going….
Rainbow at 8:08 pm on October 8th, 2009
Well done Vick. Take it you’re not still oddly BORED OF POKER? By rights of course you’re World Champ now. Do you get some kind of throne or sceptre?
Paul Smith at 11:29 pm on October 8th, 2009
Hi Victoria.
Nearly finished the book, that’s the problem with a good one, you read it too quick! Was a shock reading some of it though, I hope things are good with you at the moment.
Not the kind of person to LOL, but the story about the massage made me do just that, brilliant.
Didnt know a lot about you before the book, but I am now a fan.
Best wishes.
Paul.
MrDickie at 11:07 am on October 9th, 2009
VC 1
WSOP 2008 Champ / 2009 EPT runner up 0
Well done!
Tony at 9:53 am on October 10th, 2009
Hi Victoria, hope you are very well.
Do you have any plans to do a book signing in the Midlands, such as Birmingham? It would be great to get the chance to get your book/s signed & also say hello.
Salfordian at 7:45 pm on October 10th, 2009
Hi Victoria,
will you be doing any book signings up north? congrats for cashing in the EPT on your home turf :o)
Victoria Coren at 10:22 pm on October 10th, 2009
Sorry guys, no more book signings planned for now. Maybe will do something at Christmas or next year when the paperback comes out. Keep an eye on the ‘news’ page of this site, anything that’s happening will be posted there in advance.
glasgow rich at 10:38 pm on October 11th, 2009
please do another signing…preferably on the suave side of the border to save this poor boy’s cash flow!
I’d love one of those cds, resplendant with your autograph.
any chance i could just paypal you a few quid and you send it to me??
i’m no capitalist but in such circumstances i beg of the market to be free!!
Victoria Coren at 1:21 pm on October 12th, 2009
Can’t do it! But there will be a competition on here to win CDs soon enough…
Perry Garland at 3:42 pm on October 12th, 2009
Hey Vicky,
Thanks for the CD, I was the guy who got confused over his name, but the CD showed me that bumbling idiocy was the way to go when introducing myself, as it gets mementos.
Great book, good CD, will give it a listen when I play in a live tournament again, though one for much less meaningful stakes.
Thanks again.
Mac Campbell at 10:20 pm on October 12th, 2009
Bought the book Saturday. A brilliant read. Have reached ‘Desperado’ which is heart-rending. Highly recommended.
danny maris at 12:36 am on October 14th, 2009
OK here’s an idea for a Poker TV show. Generally speaking the problem with poker on TV is we get voice overs telling us what the guy or gal is probably thinking.
How about poker pairs? So people are paired up to play as a single player and we hear their arguments over what to play. People might have to be in sound proof boxes. Maybe they can observe each other on CCTV.
Has that sort of approach ever been tried?
RomanticRecluse at 10:30 am on October 14th, 2009
Vicky, I’ve had an idea for a competition. In your book competition you asked people to describe a book about their greatest passion. How about asking people to choose a soundtrack to their life like you did for your book?
I don’t know how it would work. There could be a maximum number of tracks or a maximum length. We could post tracklistings here but it may make judging easier if you could hear the songs. We could post links to songs here if we can find them on the net or we could make CDs (with a title and artwork) and post them to you (at VC’s Free CDs, PO Box…). Most computers have CD burners but there are post strikes on and you could get a lot of free CDs so picking a winner could take time.
Is that a good idea? I expect you’ve thought of it already.
milly at 2:15 am on October 22nd, 2009
hallo, miss vixter! where can eager stateside readers possibly order signed copies of FRFP and Winkler ~ haven’t found any enterprising indie bookshops (re)selling them yet.
Victoria Coren at 12:29 am on October 23rd, 2009
Hi Milly. Unfortunately the book is not for sale in the States at the moment. I believe it will go on sale in Canada at some point early next year, no plans for US yet.
I can only make two suggestions. One is to buy it on amazon.co.uk (use the link from the books page of this site) and order international delivery - though that’s an annoying extra expense. The other is, if you play online poker on PokerStars.com, they will soon (not yet, but within a couple of weeks) have the book in their FPP (Frequent Player Points store). But that doesn’t work if you don’t play online poker because the way the FPP store works, you build up these free points by playing poker on the site, and then use them to buy items on the store. If you want to play online poker, I think it’s the best site to play on anyway, and you will soon be able to get my book there with the points accrued, mailed to wherever you are. If you DON’T want to play online poker, I think the only option is to buy at the UK Amazon and get international postage.
Sorry… There is one last possibility, which is to contact the Gamblers Bookstore in Las Vegas and ask if you can buy it through them, mail order. I don’t think they have it at the moment, but if enough people ask, they might get some!