"Would you mind not placing that directly on the table, sir?"

I'm not actually blowing my own trumpet here, because it wasn't me who "made" this wonderful beermat. It was the fabulous people at Serpent's Tail...

That's right, the FAGS AND LAGER promotional gimmi... er... strategy is finally here. (This is what I was talking about here.) Personally I think it's a great idea, and as far as I know it has never been done before (for pushing books). Great idea or not, the beermats are awesome - they soak up the ale like no other beermat I've ever come across. Seriously, I've been trying them out!

So, I'll phrase my earlier desperate plea a little more clearly now: can anyone help with getting these things into pubs, in the UK? (The book will be out Stateside later in the year, so the coasters are a bit premature for them just now.) I'm obviously going to be "visiting" a lot of pubs myself before May 10th (mostly in the Worcestershire area) trying to get the mats in. But if anyone can help in other parts of the country... what can I say - it would be priceless. All I'm talking about is bringing a couple down to your local pub and asking the landlord/lady if (s)he'll leave them out.

Interested? Drop me a line.

I'll send beermats (and eternal gratitude) to whomsoever is up for it.