Unusual Transactions

As expected in recent months, Clinton didn't win the nomination. She did, thank God, deliver the best speech of her entire campaign - would that she could have pulled it out of the hat a little sooner, but it was gracious.
But, nothing daunted, like a good little Democrat, I toddled over to the Obama website and put down my $25 as my first donation. I joined the LinkedIn group, the Facebook group, and then sat down and had a little sigh.

This morning, I had more than a little sigh when I got a text message at 8.30, immediately after my alarm went off. My bank had texted me to alert me to some 'unusual transactions' on my credit card. *Gasp.* So, I called to check that this was a legit service, which it is, and then, oddly, I get re-routed to the UK. Gemma from the midlands then repeats the same message, adding,

'Let's see here - Obama for America? Would you have sent in €16 to Obama for America? We had it flagged as an unusual transaction.'

Clearly, my bank knows me rather well.

This does, however, mark a positive departure from the Clinton website, where I found that I could not donate on a foreign credit card at all. More fool them. The Obama site does have a hiccup for the Washingtonian voter, however - under 'State Shirts' in their store, there is no 'Washington, D.C. for Obama' shirt. Yes, yes, not a state, and don't I know it. Taxation without representation, I believe it's called. But Puerto Rico got their own shirt. Gimme a break.

Besides, 'Washington, D.C. for Obama' sends a nice message, no?

Barack Hits Scotland

Big news: UK rights for the Barack Obama book were snapped up by the achingly savvy Canongate. Not their usual tack, but quite the coup nonetheless.

The Scotsman adores Jamie Byng and, well, understandably so. The man is practically single-handedly responsible for revitalising Scottish publishing. Check out their take on the new buy.

To give the appropriate disclaimer, I should probably admit here that was once paid a startling compliment by said publisher. What was even better was that the praise was passed through the newspaper editor who took a chance on giving me decent reviewing slots. One of them was Canongate's stunning jacketed paperback publication of the complex, dense and gorgeous My Father's Notebook by Kader Abdollah. So, I'm biased, but they really are a great house... Have a look, although their site needs a little formatting help.

I'm excited about Obama and everything, but really, folks, it's Clinton. More on that later.

P.S.- just saw that Eoin Purcell beat me to it :) Must get that handy dandy Bookseller bulletin set up.