Ladies Who Launch...

I wasn’t going to bother with ‘a launch’ this year. But, as usual, as the big day approached, I started to get that ‘Birthday’ feeling and before I knew where I was, I was buying raffle prizes and ordering buns. It had taken me 18 hard months to write this book and I wouldn’t let it go until I was happy with it – and dare I say proud of it. So why shouldn’t I celebrate its journey from the packing boxes onto the shelves? I am just SO glad I did. Because I sold about 150 books and the room was packed. Now, though this may at first sound like I’m bragging, let me explain why that was so special. Because when I held my ‘launch’ with book one no-one turned up – then one lone man stole into the room and I could have married him. Book launches can be soul-destroying. A few more people turned up with book 2, quite a few more with book 3 and there was a grand turn out for book 4 – over 100 people, full to the legal limits of health and safety, apparently. And the thrill is seeing that year on year rise because that’s the most exciting thing of all, that you’ve built up a readership and they’re coming back for more... and you’ve collected others on the way. It’s the endorsement we writers need that we’re in the right job.

I still have panics that no one will turn up (hold that fear - it keeps you getting too far up your own backside). I feel obliged to have an extra lure – in this case huge bright yellow cupcakes from my favourite bakery in Barnsley – Staniforths. Bless them, they never let me down whatever I order, whether they are buns covered in bumble bees or neon coloured confections. It takes me a while to realise that people are actually turning up to buy my books and listen to me ramble on and they haven’t just made the journey for a free cake. It’s a humbling experience and I still want to giggle in manner of someone who really can’t believe this dream I’ve held for so many years has come true: that I’m writing something people other than my mother enjoy.

I was resplendent in bright yellow – complete with accessories – the lovely raffle prizes were dressed in yellow ribbons, my sons had made sunny bookmarks to give away with the novels and my lovely friends from Haworthcatrescue.org (I’m their Patron, she says proudly) turned up to support me and went home with a surprise £240 in donations. I looked up from signing books to see a long queue snaking from me with people waiting with 1/2/3/4/5 books in their arms. There was bun scoffing everywhere, people smiling because they had won chocolates, scented yellow candles or book bundles and the ladies from our lovely library organising everything like an ultra-friendly military operation. I’m truly blessed to come from such a wonderfully supportive town. It was the perfect launch day. Sunny yellow roses arrived from my publisher, my friend and fellow ‘stable-mate’ Tara Hyland travelled up from London, mid-house-move, to cheer me on and my lovely publicist Nigel whisked me out for the best Italian meal – Nonna’s in Ecclesall Road in Sheffield - I have had outside of St Mark’s Square. Plus the waiter looked like Cristiano Ronaldo – and was the right side of touchy-feely. How much more perfect a day can you have? I arrived home full of home made lasagne, a red wine with even more body than I have and a smiley face like that big Sun on the Tellytubbies.

This job just gets better every year!