I thought it would never come.
For those of you without a darling fledgling book at home, it might help to think of it a bit like graduation day for your child. You’ve nurtured the dear one, fed it, seen it off on its first overnight, its week abroad, told it not to take too many drugs and watch out for spiked drinks, encouraged it to marry rich and stop wearing such short skirts, given it a fiver a week pocket money and an extra £100 here and there for impractical shoes.
Yes, you’ve brought the little blighter up as best you can, and now it has to spread its own little wings and soar like an eagle. Or plummet out of the nest, break its tiny neck on the pavement and be eaten by a cat.
Whatever.
“Why aren’t you more excited?” My daughter always wants to know when I don’t crack open the Dom Perignon and hire the Flying Karamazov Brothers to swoop around our living room whenever a book comes out.
“I’m too busy banging my head against a wall, praying the next one comes out OK,” I answer.
“Praying to whom?” she demands to know. “You always tell me there is no God.”
There is no Dog, actually. But in any case, having set out to write a great atheist tract, I now feel convinced that there really must be a God after all. Who else would be clever and sadistic enough to invent the world of publishing, which requires writers to prepare another manuscript for delivery a few months after publication of the last one, on the off chance that the one coming out now doesn’t make everyone rich.
It’s exactly the sort of crazy mixed-up system you’d get if you appointed a 19-year-old to run the place.
I could have told you it would never work.
Brilliant! Here’s wishing your newest “little blighter” soars like an eagle. Very much looking forward to reading TING. Cheers, Basil
Dearest Meg,
My fat little finger stuck to the laptop keys due to a dollop of sticky toffee pudding. I meant, of course, TIND.
I prefer TING, actually, Basil. Has a nice TING to it.
Can’t wait!
And that is just why your book is so perfect.
Good drills Meg .. My little one is resolutely folding its arms and poking its tongue toward my efforts to Edit – I shall overcome… Even if it means fixing bayonets
Tough love, Ray. Tough love. Don’t be afraid to Take Steps.
It’s a great book though Meg. A cracker…..
Haven’t had the pleasure of reading it, but I wrote advance copy for it for a bookseller, and I have to say it’s a brilliant and original concept. Can’t wait to read it, and I’m sure it’ll cause loads of controversy and discussion.
I also know exactly what you mean about the fear of releasing your words into the wild… it all seems so simple when you’re writing them. but the thought of everyone and their Uncle Bob having an opinion about them… that’s a bit scary. My publication date is a bit further away, though… next March, so longer to angst about it!
Rosie
Can’t wait to read it! The extract you read out at the carnigie medal thing afew months ago made me want to read it ( by the way you’re a great reader as well as writer!)
Thank you, Emma….. x
“I could have told you it would never work.”
– your inner 19 year old venting there, Meg?
All the best!
A
So looking forward to reading this Meg – I spend my time hoping my little darlings will find a friend in the playground and let go the hand of the teacher….
Totally unrelated, but I do believe we have the same birthday.
Hey, It’s the birthday phenomenon!
Yes it is!
I have hired the FKBs (Flying Karamozov Brothers) for you. They will be there at noon.
I mean, of course, on the fourth.
I am so excited for your new novel! Despite living in the US, I just ordered it from Amazon UK because I can’t wait the extra months
Can’t tell you how happy that makes me, Julia. Now if only my (numerous American) family members would follow suit…..