Post DD

Last night we sat and watched Dragons' Den. Although I had an inkling of how long the piece was going to be and the odd phrase that was going to feature (James Khan's 'I'm bored, I'm out'), that was pretty much it.

Stepping into the Den is literally like being inside your television set. It is so familiar that it doesn't seem quite real. Once you are in there, all the extras such as cameras and film crew melt into the background.

And watching yourself is highly disconcerting. The comments of the family (partner and two daughters) were:
Caroline (me): 'Does my body look so big in real life?'
Kerr: 'Well, I've always favoured large women'
Jessica (nearly 11): 'Are you wearing make-up?'
Luisa (9): 'Where did the wrinkles on your forehead go?'

As the girls felt they would be able to go to school without bags over their heads, I must have been ok from a 'cool' point of view.

Kerr just went to bed, muttering 'glad it is all over'.

I stayed up thinking about the whole experience. Publishing is like no other business. Only a relatively few number of books bring in big money. Often that goes towards financing other books that are never going to reap back such big rewards: the more literary novels, history books, serious autobiographies, revision guides, travel guides and the like.

Trying to snare a Dragon probably was a long shot. But one I felt was worth trying. The whole experience has been fascinating and I must thank Darren Coates of the DD production team for being such a great support and guiding me through the ordeal.

The whole operation is run with military precision and there is no opportunity to find out how anyone else has done once they are ushered out of the Green Room and into the Den. I met some really interesting people. You're kind of cooped up (maybe for a whole day) with that air of nervousness hovering over. It must be the business equivalent to a slave being led out into the arena to fight a gladiator (or five).

I was perhaps in the Green Room the longest with Romi who got the 'positive' comment about his 'nice suit'. Those are the jibes that really make you feel for your fellow 'contestants'. Give me a straightforward 'I'm bored' any day!

If you missed it last night, you can catch in next Sunday (31) on BBC2 at 6pm (need to doublecheck for Scotland). Alternatively watch it online at www.dragonsden.co.uk.