My long-overdue update

My debut book is out in 16 days. Aarrmmaaggaahhddd! I thought I should share a little update on what’s happened so far and what’s coming.

Sweatpants has gone through some routine edits, first a Copy edit to check for inconsistencies and random things that only make sense to me, then a Line edit, picking up on typos and grammatical errors. Then there was The First Pass, which was my last chance to make any changes, which of course made me have a little panic. It’s hard not to angst over every single word because this feels like the Set in Stone stage, but eventually I had to let it go, not least because having read it so many times now, my eyeballs are rallying for a protest march.  
 So now we are onto the marketing side of things. The book is up on Netgalley for bloggers and reviewers to request for a pre-read. I’m pleased to say I’m getting fab feedback. They thinks it’s funny!! Hurrah for that. (I’ve also had my first one star, which I knew would come and clearly she should have put it down pretty quick rather than carry on. Honestly, life is too short to read books that aren’t your cup of tea.) I've also had brilliant cover quotes from bestselling authors Cathy Bramley and Alexandra Brown which are both heartwarming and super helpful. 
  I’ve set up a Pinterest page with book-related pins. (Not sure about the marketing value of this, but I found it really calming. Procrastinating?? Moi???)
  I’m sending press releases out to local papers and publications in the hope that they’ll run something based on the local slant. I have to say that blowing my own trumpet like this does not come naturally at all.
 

 I’ve recorded little vids to be used on HarperImpulse’s twitter feed over the next week. I have difficulty retweeting those because It Me! (My eyes are enormous on them, but that’s just what they do.) And I was invited as a guest on a podcast. I blogged a year and a half ago about the brilliant Bestseller Experiment here, we've tweeted back and forth and when they saw I’d got a deal, they asked me on. That’s surreal, right, when you suddenly find yourself on a show that is integral to your Monday morning ironing routine. It should air mid August. The half hour flew by, I have little recollection of what I said, other than it felt like I talked non-stop at Mark. Poor chap. Hopefully there is something sensible in there.

And now, ahead of launch day I’m trying to write some little related articles that can be released as and when.

Sweatpants aside, I’ve finished the manuscript for Book Two, which I’m submitting to my editor shortly. Fingers crossed she’ll like it. I spent the last weekend hoofing around Copenhagen getting photos of the city for support purposes. If you are interested in seeing them they are on my Facebook page. (Facebook page???? I hear you ask astounded, as such things require technical abilities that we all know I hardly possess. But yes, I’ve done one of those too since I last posted. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT???!!!!)

So that’s what I’ve been up to. I think the next month will be mad. Please join in the mayhem on Twitter and Facebook and if you fancy a summer read, you can find the ebook on Amazon, Itunes, Kobo, and GooglePlay from August 3rd, (Paperbacks are out in October and can be pre-ordered.)

Wish me luck!!