How to Launch a Book by Misha Herwin
First there must be cake. Launching a novel set in the 1940s a vintage theme seemed appropriate. Fairy cakes, decorated with hundreds and thousands would be perfect. Never having baked them before, I prefer muffins, I was a little nervous, but the recipe appeared to work for both. The book said to use butter icing, but I wanted that old fashioned look and went with water-icing. Covered in a fine sweet mist of sugar, I sifted and stirred and spread, then held my breath and waited… In the past I have watched as slowly, relentlessly, unstoppably icing has slid from the surface of my baking and onto the work top. This time, however, it held and there was time to decorate with a swift pinch of coloured sprinkles before it began to set. Cakes, baked, decorated it was time to turn the attention to costumes. A land-girl’s outfit was purchased and I rooted through my wardrobe to find anything that was suggestive of the period. A hat from a long ago wedding, a blouse with pad...