Rutherfurd on Rutherfurd

The Book Trade

Q. Then you went into the book trade.

A. I was just drawn to books: Publishing, bookselling, wherever I could get in. Several interviews didn't lead to any job. Then I met Tim Waterstone, who'd just gone to run a new division of the British bookseller WHSmith, and he offered me a job to join a young team he was forming.

Q. Tim Waterstone is today known as one of Britain's most creative and dynamic entrepreneurs.

A. And he hasn't changed at all. He was a magical boss, and we worked round the clock marketing books. We were based in London, in Soho, right in the heart of the theatre, bookseller, film and red light district. It was a very happy time.

Q. You were out on the road as a salesman for some of this time.

A. Correct. I've carried the salesman's sample bag.

Q. So what did you write about this time?

A. Only an unfinished novella about a book salesman. The trouble with dynamic entrepreneurs is that they make you work so hard you haven't time to write!