Please note the change in spelling from yesterday's post, which generated some interesting and alarming comments. I do hope that Chip Dale has made it up with his cat although I'm not quite sure why he should have been so depressed. More authors are being published than ever. Whilst it may be harder to find publication through the traditional 'literary' publishing houses there are many alternative ways of being published and many new and innovative companies. Glass half full or half empty? There have always been bad books as well as good books. There have always been potboilers and ground-breakers. I believe there has never been a more interesting time in the history of the book trade and authors are in the perfect position to take advantage of all the new ways of reaching readers either with traditional publishers or through new routes.

This extraordinary room is the lobby of the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, which is probably most famous for its invention of Sachertorte. It's hard to avoid while you're here. Even the soap is chocolate-scented. Here is a slice to admire.

I'm here for the wedding of a friend and it's the whole works - morning suit, evening dress, hats, reception, waltzes. I'm not really used to all this dressing up and the FAZ description of me as having the look of a Möbelpacker (furniture mover) is feeling distinctly accurate. Must run and pick up my morning coat and make my way to the Schottenkirche where the wedding takes place - beautiful.