Annnd she’s out!
Jodie Jones is out in the big bad world, and she is getting lots and lots of love. The launch was jubilant thanks to the amazing Rev and team at Waterstones King Road, the DFB team, and everyone who came along to celebrate. Anthony, my editor, gave the world’s best and most complimentary speech. My oldest and bossiest friend came and spoke to everyone there, I think: I’ve known her since I was six (we walked to primary school and secondary school together every day, were besties at sixth form college, had kids around the same time, and have stayed in contact ever since). She’s on the left in photo two with my wonderful agent, Jessica Hare, in the middle of us. In photo three, my colleague Shivani is giving me grief, telling me I have to write something spectacular and original when I sign her copy of the novel, and beside her is my uncle, over from Thailand, who is one of my most favourite humans.
The reviews keep coming in, and they are astonishing. On Friday, Imogen Russell Williams of The Guardian included it in her round up of the best new books for children and teens, for which I’m ineffably grateful.
https://share.google/ptd8sESlobBJ5U2Rz
It’s time to write something else but for now, I’m letting Jodie enjoy her newfound freedom. I know she would just love that.
Emma Shevah 