Too Many Magpies arrives

I am at this present moment feeling sick - with excitement and nerves. An hour or so ago the doorbell went, and there was the postman with my copies of Too Many Magpies. I was actually shaking. Up until now the book has just been a manuscript in my head, and - god knows why: it's not as if I haven't had a book published before - it seemed a real thing to have it turned into a physical book. I dunno, maybe it's like childbirth and it's always the same but you forget... I must say though, I don't think I've ever been so nervous of opening a new book in case I see mistakes... Maybe it's just that the older you get the less arrogant you get, and the more experienced as a writer the more critical of your own writing you become...

Ah well, it's here now, and, like a new baby, it'll soon be part of the fabric of my life I'm taking for granted... and all in time for its little christening this weekend at the Didsbury Arts Festival, and all the other outings I have lined up for it...

I can't thank my publishers Jen and Chris enough. To think that in May they were looking at the abyss, and yet look what wonders they've worked. Here we are, with an autumn list being launched, and my book on it. I am so lucky...