Jim's Big Adventure

The dust has settled. The jet lag is healed. I can finally sit back and think about it all, and there sure is a lot to think about.

So, I guess I should start about a month ago. I learned from a random post on Bluesky that Strange Pictures, my translation of Uketu's Henna E, had been nominated for a UK Crime Writers Association Dagger Award for Crime Fiction in Translation. I was happy, sure, but also a bit flummoxed because 1) no one involved in publishing the book had even mentioned it to me and 2) the announcement was picked up in the Asahi Shimbun in an article that got my name wrong. I contacted them, got several apologies, and then a request for an interview. Which, hey, cool.

So. A few days later, a reporter came down from Tokyo to talk to me. This is when I figured things were a bit bigger than I had realized. I had imagined the reporter would want to do some kind of Zoom thing, but no: she took the shinkansen to Tokuyama, got a hotel room, and spent a whole two days on this trip. TO TALK TO ME. 

And during the interview, which covered my career and my work translating Uketsu's books, she asked if I would be attending the awards ceremony. The event was only two weeks away at that point, and as I said: no one had mentioned anything to me. So, I told her there was little chance of that. 

Little did I know that was foreshadowing. 

Because literally on my way home from that interview, I got an email from the Japanese publisher for Henna E asking if I was interested in going to London with them. 

I mean. Yes? Of course!

And so began a whirlwind two weeks of planning and prep: getting a UK ETA, buying a new suit and various clothes suitable for serious travel, and stress. Anxiety. Nerves. I didn't get a decent night's sleep for probably three weeks. Sure, it was all good news, but it was still BIG news and that sets my nerves buzzing like a poorly tuned guitar (Oh, and I also bought a new guitar THAT SAME DAY AS THE INTERVIEW. A lot to process...). 

And let's not forget, I would be travelling with Uketsu himself. Our first face-to-face meeting. Would he be open to this foreigner who'd messed with his books? Would he resent all the questions and changes? 

The answer was, he was incredibly gracious and welcoming and friendly. I'm not sure I can call him a friend, but let's just say he invited me to his house next time I'm up Tokyo way.

Anyway. Futabasha flew me, Uketsu, a guest of his, and two employees to London for six days. The three of us were in business class, while the two employees were in economy, and we all stayed at the Doubletree near the Tower of London. 

And yeah, it was incredible, but it was also exhausting. There were media interviews, meetings, promotion events and, yes, the awards ceremony. 

And, well. I did have a day of free time, with a sudden flight delay giving me another half-day, and I saw some great parts of the city.

I must say, London is much more forgiving when someone else is paying all the major expenses and hiring taxis and generally taking care of you. My memories of the city as a broke-ass college student were universally grim, but I have a rosier image of it now. Still, it was expensive as hell and I have to offer my thanks to Futabasha for footing the bill.

And then I came home. It was an insane three weeks or so, and despite the exhaustion and stress I am deeply grateful. I have a feeling this marked a major turning point in my career. I'm already getting even more attention than I was before the nomination, and the connections I made/deepened with people in the industry are invaluable.