This year marks ten years since my first book was published. Ten years! I can’t quite believe it. Sleep is my ninth published book which isn’t bad going considering I didn’t have a book published in 2010 (second book syndrome meant I had to rewrite Home for Christmas three times), 2012 or 2013 (out of contract).
Despite being a published author for an entire decade 2019 is turning out to be a year of firsts – first hardback, first UK book shop tour, first foreign event, first book poster (in Australia), first Goldsboro book launch, first review in The Guardian and the first time one of my books has spent four weeks in the Sunday Times top ten.
It sounds like a massive brag, listing all those things one after another, but it’s incredulity and gratitude rather than a desire to show off. Every career has their highs and lows and, whilst I don’t always publicly share the lows (although you’ll know what they are if you’ve ever come to one of my keynote addresses!), I think it’s important to record the highs.
Rather than type out an essay here’s a few photos of the last few weeks:
So that’s it. A whistle stop tour of an exhausting but exciting April. A HUGE thank you to everyone who has bought, borrowed, stocked, sold, reviewed, blogged or recommended Sleep. I’m incredibly grateful.
If you haven’t bought a copy yet you can still get hold of one!
Signed and personalised hardbacks of Sleep
Only available from Max Minerva’s Marvelous Books in Bristol (postage available)
Unsigned hardbacks, ebooks and audiobooks
Amazon.co.uk
Hive.co.uk
Waterstones
Audible (narrator: Clare Corbett)
iBooks
Kobo
Google play
And if you have read and enjoyed Sleep I’d be very grateful if you could nominate it for the Cancel All Plans, Cat and Mouse and Most Recommended Read awards in the Dead Good Reader Awards. You could win £100 worth of books too! Thank you.
Now it’s back to the first draft of my seventh psychological thriller. I’m just over half way through with under seven weeks to finish it (and two panels at CrimeFest, Bristol next weekend) . Once it’s delivered I need to rewrite my second YA thriller and deliver that too. If I’m lucky life might calm down a bit by the middle of November…
It’s certainly been a busy time for you! Looking forward to receiving my personalised copy when you’re next at Max Minerva’s!
Thank you, Simon. I visited on Monday actually so your copy should be winging its way to you very soon!
Congratulations! Having met you on a writers’ retreat I know you work incredibly hard long hours, and you’ve earned those highs!
Alan
Call of the Page
Thank you, Alan that’s very kind. I found the little notebook you gave me when we left the other day. Lovely momento.
It’s no brag. I’m really pleased for you. I’ve loved all the books and keep hoping you visit Scarborough sometime for our “Books by the Beach” literary festival held in April
Thanks Bren. I’d love to visit Scarborough. Fingers crossed for an invitation one day!
You been very busy with book signings and tours and work to be completed how do you manage to find time for a holiday. Ordered a copy of sleep from the book people nice price only £4.99
Ha! I don’t. I take fewer holidays as an author than I did when I worked as a manager at a university. No break for me until August and then it’s just two weeks. I hope you enjoy Sleep.