‘Well, you hide behind that avatar on Twitter and you write your blog anonymously. I had no idea what you looked like or who you really were. You could have been a ninety-year-old man for all I knew. You could have looked like a sumo wrestler.’
‘Oh, I never thought of that.’ She had been so caught up in her own anxiety about the meeting that it hadn’t occurred to her he might be nervous too.
‘Mm. I was quite tempted to run away before you turned up. I didn’t want my illusions shattered.’
‘Well, I may not look like a sumo wrestler, but I don’t look anything like my Twitter avatar either.’
‘No, you’re much prettier.’
Claire raised her eyebrows. ‘I think my avatar is hot.’
‘She’s okay,’ Mark said, ‘if you like that whole overblown, cartoonish thing. Me, I’m a sucker for a woman in three-D.’
Claire laughed. ‘Anyway, you’ve read the blog,’ she said. ‘Surely you could tell from that that I wasn’t an old man. Or a sumo wrestler.’
‘It could have been made up. Lots of people pretend to be something they’re not on the internet. It’s easy.’
‘I suppose so.’ She frowned, feeling guilty. He was talking about her, only he didn’t know it. Now was her chance to tell him that she wasn’t really the person in her blog. He probably wouldn’t mind – it would still be better than finding out she was a ninety-year-old sumo wrestler or whatever.
But then she felt needled by the implication of his words. ‘Would it make any difference if I was a ninety-year-old man? Or if I looked like a sumo wrestler? Would you have changed your mind about wanting the book? I mean, I’d still be the same writer.’
‘Of course the writing would be the same, but I don’t know that I’d be interested if it turned out to be the sordid fantasies of some decrepit old pervert.’
She laughed. She had to admit he had a point. She could imagine the shocked reaction of her followers if it turned out she was a dirty old man.
‘As for how you look,’ he said, giving her an admiring glance, ‘it’s not just about the writing. It’s the whole package, and it’s a lot easier to sell an attractive young woman than an old man.’
Claire blushed, and was glad that the waiter appeared just then to run through the specials. When he had gone she buried her face in the menu to regain her composure. The food sounded wonderful.
‘Are you ready to order?’ Mark asked her, as the waiter returned.
‘I’ll have the crab cakes, and then the duck, please,’ she told the waiter.
Mark ordered smoked salmon followed by beef in Guinness. ‘When in Ireland…’ he said to Claire, after the waiter had gone. ‘So,’ he began in a more business-like tone, ‘how do you feel about going public?’
‘Nervous,’ Claire admitted. ‘Kind of terrified, actually.’
‘Are you sure you want to do it?’
‘Yes,’ she said cautiously. ‘I think so. I mean, I really want to do the book. I’ve always wanted to be published. But the rest… I’m not so sure.’
‘Well, you don’t necessarily have to “come out” as the author. We could publish the book anonymously. It wouldhave its own advantages. We could use the mystery around your identity as a publicity angle – build up the intrigue about who you really are.’
‘I never thought of that. Is this a plan you came up with when you thought I might be some old codger?’
He grinned sheepishly. ‘Well, you have to be prepared for all contingencies.’
‘Do you think it would work equally well if I published anonymously?’
‘Your blog is very popular, so you’ve got a good platform to start off from. And sex always sells. I think we can make the book a big success either way.’
‘But…?’ She heard the reservation in his tone.
‘But the fact that you’re an attractive woman is a bonus. It really helps with the media.’
‘I don’t know how good I’d be at the publicity stuff,’ Claire said. ‘I’m a bit shy.’
‘Is that what motivated you to write your blog anonymously?’
