Simon and Sant Jordi Day, Barcelona 2007

I had the enormous pleasure of being invited by my Spanish publishers - Edhasa - to join other authors at this vast book festival. Each year over a million people take part in the celebrations and the Spanish media descend on the city in droves.

I was there to launch the publication of Sangre Joven (Young Bloods) and Edhasa did me proud. There were days of interviews in Barcelona and Madrid in the lead up to the festival and the head of Edhasa, the very charming Daniel Fernandez, had the great idea of hiring a group of Roman re-enactors to be my praetorian guard at all the signings. As a result we made every paper that covered the event in addition to some radio and TV appearances.

It was a wonderful experience to meet my Spanish readers and I am extremely grateful to everyone at Edhasa who helped to make my trip so enjoyable. Especially Daniel, Laura, and all three Annas.

You guys were just great!

Right: Simon at La Predrera

Left: Simon with Roberto, David and Francisco - some of the re-enactors of the IXth Hispania. They presented me with a ludus (wooden sword) bearing an engraved plaque to commemorate my honorary recruitment to the legion.

The IXth on duty outside the FNAC bookstore in Madrid

A quick photocall before the signings get under way

Anna, Laura and Abigail of Edhasa together with the fantastic bookmarks  and notebooks used to promote the book, just before the festival gets under way.

Outside the press breakfast, having survived the swarm of press photographers!

One of the nicest parts of the day -  the Edhasa staff and their authors meet for lunch in a famous writers’ restaurant.

Sant Jordi day is also about giving roses to friends and family and Daniel presented each of us with a rose at the end of the meal before we hurried off to begin the afternoon’s signings.

Simon, Daniel and two of the legionaries on the Rambla t