I’ve three lovely bits of good news to share- actually four if I count the email that’s literally just pinged into my inbox. So this week has involved rather a lot of social media sharing, phoning my mum, shouting from the rooftops. It’s been a giddy whirl of loveliness that’s left me grinning idiotically!
Firstly, on Saturday The Snow Sister was named in The Times as their Childrens Book of the Week. The write-up was so nice, I got a bit teary!
On Monday evening at 11.45pm, I finally finished my first round of edits for Strange Star. I’d been working pretty much flat out on these for the past six weeks- first edits for me often involve tons of re-writing, and this was no exception. The opening looks nothing like it does in this picture anymore!
Then, on Wednesday on my way to YAShot (a brilliant day had there, but that’s a future blog post), I got the heads up from Faber that the trade announcement for my American deal for In Darkling Wood had been made in Publishers Weekly. Suffice to say this was one MAJOR piece of news I’d had to sit on for a couple of weeks, so it was great to be able to go WOOHOO in public. I’m so so excited about this. In Darkling Wood will be published by Delacorte in Spring 2017, with another book the following year. You can read all about it here: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/68496-rights-report-week-of-october-26-2015.html
The final bit of good news is that In Darkling Wood has been shortlisted for a regional prize. I’ve probably got to sit on that one for a bit too, but it’s a very nice way to end the week.
Suffice to say writing life isn’t always like this. For every bit of good news there’ll be ten more disappointments or frustrations or tedious things to do like tax returns. Not that I’m asking for violins or a quick whip round with a hat. I know I’m incredibly lucky to be writing books. Especially right now!