Who would have thought I’d become a PR & marketing expert? Promoting a book is tricker than writing one that’s for sure! There was a programme on Radio 4 this week (alerted by a friend) about self publishing versus being a published author. I took from it that unless you are famous or very well connected you can either spend hours and hours and hours finding an agent and publisher or you can spend hours and hours doing it yourself, either way it’s a very time consuming excercise. I rang the show and got through to the producer sadly 5 minutes before the end of the show so I was too late to be on air but the woman asked me about my experince - I said ‘you just have to keep going, face your fears, ignore the inner voices damming your every move and get your head down and work, work, work. You have to remember your voice is as valid as anyone elses’. Bless her - she said - why didn’t you ring earlier this would have been sound advice for our listeners. As you know I’ve battled with this most of last year but thankfully stuck to my guns and having chosen the self publishing route I am now delving into my second batch of books, orders are still comimg in.

Last week I spent 5 days Up North in Lancashire - a road trip of sorts. St Helens WI was my first stop. I was to give a talk. I forgot what I was saying - twice! Last year I would have freaked out but not now - it didnt matter, it doesn’t matter. I dont claim to be an expert at public speaking and as you know it’s not where I am at my most comfortable but I managed to wing it with a bit of humour.

The following day I set off to the Ribble Valley to do a couple of interviews, one of which was with my 82 year old godfather, ex racing driver and jazz pianist. I tell you, the next time you’re sat with someone you think you know well, ask them a question and dig a bit deeper. I’ve known this man all my life but actually, I didn’t know him at all - I do now!

For the next couple of days I stayed with my oldest friend (since the age of 5) and chilled for a couple of days, soaking up the suprisingly beautiful weather, walking, eating, chatting and restocking book & gift shops. I think I might have invented the best job ever, although I did come back to London hoarse which wasn’t so good as I was booked in to be interviewed by the Daily Mail for a feature - COMING SOON!

Father & son making space for my very own She Shed!

Now for the best bit of news, I’ve gone all Virginia Woolf ! I’m getting a room of ones own. Next week the foundations are being built for my very own studio. My husband and sons half term task is to get in touch with their inner ‘wild men’ and bash up the old shed and dig.

Next week I’ll be back with another post from my latest interview - if anyone knows any elderly gents who would be up for a chat please do get in touch, I’m trying to get 10 men from each age group and looking for some octogenarians, nonagenarians and centenarians.

Have a lovely week

Overwhelmed & slightly disorintated but essentially winging it!