Dream on Amber
Amber’s first steps
Yesterday was a great day. I held my book in my hands for the first time. It felt very normal, actually. Not overwhelming or momentous or any of the things I thought it would feel (weak knees, teary eyes). It was like I knew it already and we went way back. I was like, ‘Oh, it’s you.’ And my book went, ‘Yeah. Wotcha.’
I brought it home and put it on the table. It seemed comfortable enough. I think it felt at home. The kids met it and they liked it. Then it hung out on the coffee table watching telly with us and got picked up and read a bit so the cover looked a little bent and worn. It didn’t help me around the house or put any washing on. I was looking at it today as I was cooking and clearing up and I got a bit narked with it just lying there on the table. So I said, ‘Look. If you’re going to LIVE here you’re going to have to pull your weight. Just like everyone else in this house. OK?’
And what did my book do?
It pretended it didn’t hear me.
Charming.
Lots of people went home with my book yesterday. I hope it behaved better in other people’s houses. This was me at the event, reading part of chapter 10 aloud. Chapter 10 is a bit sad but I think it went well. No one yawned or puked or got violent or anything. They seemed to be listening (apart from all the people talking and on their phones). Not really. It was great.
So Amber’s out there. Taking her first steps. There’s a mistake or two in the print though. You get Brownie points if you notice them.
Woohoo!
52 days to go. Not that I’m counting or anything. Waterstones is doing that for me. On their page with my book for sale, there’s a countdown. I check it whenever I remember because counting backwards isn’t my strong point.
Scccchhhhooo.
52 days feels like ages.
The comedian Eddie Izzard completed 43 marathons in 52 days by running around Britain. That makes me feel lazy.
In 52 days, 11,000 Birmingham drivers were caught by one bus lane camera. That makes me feel anger towards city councils.
A human embryo at 52 days looks a bit like a shrimp. I was going to post a photo but I won’t because it made me feel a bit queasy.
In 52 days the walls of Jerusalem were built. That’s mega.
See what I’m getting at? You can do a lot in 52 days. Instead of just counting backwards and going ‘scccchhhhooo’.
59 days to go!
Today, I worked on a story, emailed a librarian, put together two book launch lists, realised I’d only invited my family and friends and emailed some more people to ask who else in the book world I could/should be inviting to my launch(es).
After that, I tried to put a screen protector on my phone. Jeez, doing that little task is so stressful. The first one got mucked up. I got a bit irate. I tried again, feeling very uptight. I had to lose it a bit with the company that made them and then calm myself down. Then I got it on and squeezed the bubbles out. Stupid screen protectors.
I didn’t want to waste a mood so I used it to complain about an advert I found sexist and offensive but I used a word that was a bit inappropriate so I think I’ll have to edit it. Moods are great for dealing with complaints but only if you’re careful with your words. And that was about it.The kids came home and off we went to the dentist.
You don’t get much done in a day. But it’s ONE DAY CLOSER to March 6th! So that’s one consolation.
Hopefully, I’ll get more done tomorrow. Probably not, but here’s hoping.
Up, Up and Awaaaaay!
So, here we are, on the eve of 2014, the year my book will be published. I signed with Chicken House in 2012 and 2014 seemed sooooo faaar away. But here we are. Only one day to go until 2014 and three months six days (not that I’m counting) until the release date.
So much has happened until this point and now it’s going to take on a life of its own. This year, I’ll be going to festivals, doing school visits, reading aloud to strangers and friends, writing some more and generally following Amber around as she high kicks her way across the world. So far, the rights to have Dream on, Amber translated have been sold in Germany, Italy, Turkey and the Netherlands, and it’ll be on sale in Britain, Australia, America, Sweden, Japan – all over the place – in English. Exciting stuff! I’ll be making this blog better and better, adding events and photos, blogging, linking to other cool stuff and uploading videos, so just imagine it’s a construction site and this is the very beginning. For now, though, this tired architect must go to bed.
Emma Shevah 