AN author has thanked a Salisbury book shop for staying open late to allow fans to get their copies of her new book signed.

A.F. Steadman was at Waterstones on Tuesday night (October 15) to meet readers after the release of Skandar and the Skeleton Curse, the fourth book in her fantasy series.

The signing began at 4.30pm, but people were pictured queuing on New Canal just before 6pm – half an hour after the shop would usually close.

After the Journal reported on the queue to meet her, Steadman, 32, wrote on Instagram: “Skandar fans made the news again!

“I had a book signing at Waterstones Salisbury and the queue around the shop caused such beautiful chaos that here it is reported in the Salisbury Journal. 

“Thank you to everyone who came down to the signing - it was lovely to meet you! 

“And huge thanks to Louisa and the whole team at Waterstones, especially as this photo was taken an hour into the signing (when the shop was supposed to be closing). 

“Thank you for all your incredible organisation and for staying open way past closing time so everyone could get their Skandar books signed!”

On the same platform, a spokesperson for Waterstones thanked Steadman for “such a brilliant signing”. 

Speaking to the Journal in September about her latest release, Steadman said: “The last book ended in a very explosive way, very dramatic. 

“This book is the most dramatic I have written. From the first chapter, it’s edge of your seat and page-turning.”

Steadman met fans of her Skandar series on TuesdaySteadman met fans of her Skandar series on Tuesday (Image: Newsquest) Asked about her signing in Salisbury, she added: “I always turn up and think if just one person comes, that will be lovely, so to see people queuing an hour or two hours before to get to the front of the queue, it’s just so lovely. 

“I think the average queues are about three hours now.

“I always say ‘I’m really sorry’ and they’re like ‘no, it’s all exciting!’. Lots of people make friends with other Skandar fans – it’s a lovely atmosphere.”