Bonus mid-month post cos: exciting times!

Apologies to those of you who are getting this clipping in an email after you’ve already seen it all over my social media pages – but bear with me as I do have some extra rollercoaster news!

The article is self-explanatory for those seeing it for the first time – except to say that because it’s such an awesome photo overall I will forgive Paul the photographer for using it! Because he had told us we were done and so the reason I look like I’m concentrating on how to get down is because I AM! In every other shot I, of course, looked effortlessly glamorous AND comfortable, but what can you do when you’ve got a brilliant jumper like Kai?! Also, I want to say that I’m heartened that this story was given front page exposure. It gives me hope.

So, the extra news is that I was just typing away this week, working on YA number 3, when an email popped up from a publisher about my first Young Adult novel, Paddling!!!! She loved it and has passed it on to a colleague for a second opinion! Well!! I mean…well!!!

It’s so odd the way your day can just be unfolding normally. You managed to get organised to write at a decent time that morning. You also did your exercise and remembered to put a wash on (let’s not talk about hanging it out immediately – I’M A WRITER NOW, REMEMBER?!!) And then, BOOM, your life takes a crazy diversion into embarrassing middle-aged parent dancing on tables land!!

Of course, it’s not a contract yet, or anything champagne-popping like that, but it’s another sign that people other than those who know me seem to like what I’m writing. And you can’t buy that! So, here I am on my roller coaster, sharing with you! There’s nothing more to say yet. I’m just here, living in the moment, and all right, maybe just a tiny sip since we have a bottle in the fridge anyway…

They’ll be no updates for a while, and then I’ll either be up at the top hollering my heart out or in that curve down to the bottom (a reason to drink that champagne now!), but hey, so far, this ride has actually become more fun more quickly than I was expecting! And, I’m determined to share it all with you even if there’s tears. Because, this, warts and all, is the truth of being a writer, for most of us. A hundred years ago, we could be seen in Parisian cafes putting it all out there – well maybe not the WOMEN but that’s a whole other post. Now, most of us are emotional and shouty in the privacy of our own home (ok I’m actually not shouty but there is the odd moment of why am I doing this to myself?!), so blogs are the medium of choice…

Meanwhile, may the birds and the trees and all the tiny things near you be healthy and strong and support you on your own rollercoasters*.

*_{if you noticed I spelt roller coaster with a space once, and once without, well done, you! It’s because I feel like embracing the US and UK spelling in the same post today. (If you didn’t realise rollercoaster was one of the words affected by this until right now – join my club!) NB any potential publisher reading this, I would never be so cavalier in an actual book, I promise!}