Granny Pratchett 'a lie' - but The Truth is great

She doesn't really -- but he told me I could print it if it got a bigger headline in the paper.

But even though his granny is not from the town, the bestselling fantasy author was certainly treated like a member of the family when he popped into Sweetens Bookshop to sign copies of his latest offering in his Discworld series, The Truth.

Mr Pratchett braved a wet Thursday in the town centre as part of a nationwide signing to promote the new hardback and his paperback, The Fifth Elephant.

As he sat in a small room above the Deansgate bookshop signing copy after copy, he was told that both had just gone to the top of their respective bestseller lists, news that he took with a modest shrug of the shoulders.

The signing proved to be a traffic-stopping event for the town with ardent fans packing out the bookshop.

The queue trailed out of the door and down Deansgate as far as Central Street, at one stage prompting a brief appearance by the police who surveyed the crowd, ensured everything was safe and left them to get on with it.

For the uninitiated, Pratchett's Discworld is a saucer-shaped realm which rides through space on the back of four giant elephants, who in turn are supported by a monstrous turtle.

It is a world whose cities, such as the curiously titled Ankh Morpork, are populated by wizards, trolls, dwarves and the odd-jobbing hot dog salesman.

The 52-year-old's Discworld series has been taken to the nation's heart -- having sold upwards of 20 million copies.

And he has been hailed as Britain's best-selling living author.

"I think Miss Rowling might have something to say about that one," he said, referring to the creator of the equally successful Harry Potter series.

His latest, The Truth, tells of the adventures of William de Worde, who reluctantly becomes Discworld's first journalist after dwarves invent the printing press.

As with all Pratchett's books, his ability to blend real life situations and believable characters into a fantastical setting never fails.

For this one he drew heavily on his 15 years of experiences as a reporter -- his first job was with a weekly newspaper near London.

So vast and detailed is the universe that Pratchett has created that he has even created a recipe book, Nanny Ogg's Cookbook, full of tasty treats from Discworld such as Celery Astonishment, Primal Soup, Dwarf Cakes, Dried Frog Pills and Sticky Toffee Rat Onna Stick.

Sweetens staff Debbie Conway and Lesley Marsh spent a week re-creating some of the dishes to serve to the legion of fans as they waited for a glimpse of their hero.

They were genuinely delicious and, don't worry, no rats were harmed in the making of these sweetmeats. But Mr Pratchett steered away from his own creations when asked what he wanted for lunch, asking his entourage to get him a "typically Northern chip butty" instead.

Mr Pratchett said of the signing: "They are pretty breakneck affairs we have to cover a lot of places in a short time. I don't know whether I have been to Bolton, but it always great to meet and see the fans.

"We get all sorts of people from incredibly intelligent old ladies to men who have had the cover of one of my novels tattooed on their foreheads. We have even had people get married after meeting in a book signing queue." Why they queued PRATCHETT fans came from all over Bolton and beyond to the book signing and were prepared to brave the rain for hours.

Brother and sister Jonathon and Helen Rotheram, both 17, from Westhoughton, were hoping the queue would die down before the end of lunchtime so they could get back to their studies at Canon Slade School.

"He's my favourite author," said Jonathon. "I have read most of his books after being introduced to them by fans and didn't want to miss today's signing."

While sister Helen agreed: "They make you think and make you laugh as well. I don't think any other author can do that."

Mum Patricia Drummond from Turton was getting signatures for the whole family.

"We all love his books and I've been a Pratchett fan from the very beginning. It's worth the wait and I'll stay here till I get to the front of the queue." Why they queued SIDEBAR. PRATCHETT fans came from all over Bolton and beyond to the book signing and were prepared to brave the rain for hours.

Brother and sister Jonathon and Helen Rotheram, both 17, from Westhoughton, were hoping the queue would die down before the end of lunchtime so they could get back to their studies at Canon Slade School.

"He's my favourite author," said Jonathon. "I have read most of his books after being introduced to them by fans and didn't want to miss today's signing."

While sister Helen agreed: "They make you think and make you laugh as well. I don't think any other author can do that."

Mum Patricia Drummond from Turton was getting signatures for the whole family.

"We all love his books and I've been a Pratchett fan from the very beginning. It's worth the wait and I'll stay here till I get to the front of the queue."