Nails bitten down to the quick, vast quantities of sherry consumed, I’m nervously counting down the days to the launch of Pompidou Posse, which takes place this Saturday, June 14th at the book fair, at 5.30 (after it’s closed, so please linger).

Those who downloaded the Book Fair programme may have noticed that Pompidou Posse has been erroneously billed as ‘Poseidon Posse’. Don’t worry – I haven’t written a novel about a bunch of cowboys who have to escape from their overturned ocean liner. But maybe I should consider it? The Western/aquatic disaster genre is seriously neglected. No, Pompidou Posse is set in the Paris underworld, and has absolutely no cowboys or water in it at all.

Penguin has organised two launches – the first on Saturday, the second on the 24th at the Book Lounge. Two of SA’s top writers, Lauren Beukes and Mike Nicol have agreed to speak at the launches, Mike at the book fair, Lauren at the Book Lounge. This could work both ways – either folks will think I’m seriously connected and worth reading. Or they’ll love Mike and Lauren so much (they’re both funny, witty, clever and awesome, damn them) that they’ll skip out the middle man and buy their novels instead. Which they should do, as they’re both brilliant writers (I hate them – no, seriously, I do). Either way, they’ll hopefully take the attention off my grandmother who’ll be there with her sherry bottle and repertoire of cockney sing-a-long songs.

And please don’t miss the fantastic Litblitz on Sunday night (15th) at Joburg Country Club/Boabab Books. They’ll be poets, writers, comedians, jazz and a three-course meal for only R100. And all proceeds go to The Whole World Women Association – a self-help and support group for refugee women.