2008 has been one of the best years of my life so far.

Absolutely and on so many levels, life changing and enhancing. You see, I’m one of these annoying people who by the end of December (like today) likes to reflect on what has happened and to look to the future year with fresh goals and this sense of total renewal.

The year that was 2008 saw my first published novel; By The Time You Read This… hit the shops.  Those of you who have followed my Blog from the early noughties, know how much I had wanted this and for just how long. The hard slog, the tears, the prayers and determination that got me here.    And watched as it all grew in 2008. 

It finally happened!!!! My writing was published into a real life, green book thingy and appeared in real life shops… like, where people BUY STUFF!!!!

I threw a launch party (what a night that was) with lots of screaming (from me) a sparkly dress (me again) and looked on as I felt my dreams coming true (well, almost all, a girl’s gotta have more than one!).

I have never worked so much in my life.

I have never enjoyed so much in my life.

2008? What a year. 

 So at this point I really want to thank you ALL for your best wishes, reading my Blog, posting on the Guestbook, the emails and actually LIKING my book. I have had so many beautiful emails from lovely people and moving Guestbook entries from those touched by my book. At times I have been moved to tears.

It’s been amazing. 

I wrote that book for ME and to know that others have enjoyed it, cried (sorry) and just felt enough about it to write to me… well that’s just too amazing.

Thanks so much.

PS –for those of you that have been trying to contact me via my website email… it has been on the blink for the best part of the year so that is why I have been unable to reply. My sincere apologies (including you Mr Will Smith) and please try again…

So, before I stop the typing, a quick recap on 2008;

•         I published my novel

•     I passed my driving test

•         I hugged (and let go of) Will Smith

•     My pics and peices about my book appeared in major publications such as Marie Claire Pride, Glamour, New Nation, The Sun and Prima

•    And something I’m going to leave for myself… but may tell you about another time

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!!!!

….erm, even though I err… haven’t finished the novel yet! (I’m still editing/changing/deleting…).  As usual, Tha Editor asked my opinion on it and as usual I replied like someone lacking a brain; ‘I can’t get past the fact my name is on a book cover!’  Which of course is actually no use to someone actually seeking some form of opinion from me,  is it?  Truth is, I’m just so useless at all that ‘opinion on my book cover’ stuff.  My mind seems to go blank when one of my book covers are placed in front of me.  It will soon begin to sink in though and then I will manage to generate an opinion (I hope!).  So I passed the cover around various work colleagues who seemed to unanimously squeal and then say they luvved it.  Especially the raspberry pink cover.  Yes pink. The colour of my blogs and website… Meaning that at last, my book cover is going to unite with the other stuff that currently has my name on it…Knew we’d get there in the end….  

…. And I get the feeling I’m becoming a bit of  a’pro’ when it comes to those. I can ’smile’ on order, pose against the window, on a table…. Okay, I think I have been practising the ‘poses’ ever since I was a little girl! At last all that practice hasn’t gone to waste. 

Actually One of the highlights of the evening was being referred to as a ‘model’ by the Shoot Directer; THAT WAS SO COOL!

RECOGNITION AT LAST (at my old age).

Oh and don’t get me started on the apartment… it was BEAUTIFUL. Apparently, the home of an architect, it was so unique (bath in the bedroom,  that type of thing). I could really imagine myself writing my novel sat at the glass table in the oblong kitchen…. ahhh if only.

As always I totally enjoyed the hair and make up session. Sparkly eyes and everything!

Hopefully the pics will be up on the newly revamped Harper Collins website due around end of December, early January.

 I had a peep at the ‘call list’ of other authors expected and names such as Tony Parsons and Lionel Shriver spun out at me.  And that was nice.

… and unlike Beyonce who can probably demand a Hummer, Limo or Bentley, I got to pose on this big mean machine whilst chatting and posing with MP’s and users of a Learning Centre at Unison. What great people!  and I really enjoyed my talk on ‘chasing your dreams and never giving up!’By the end of it, I did think I’d end up looking like ‘The Joker’ with all that smiling though.  And my signature ended up looking a lot like ‘Zola’ after signing one hundred copies of By The Time  You Read This… Today was also the first time I’d set eyes on the bound proofs of my Quick Read and it looked really good. Can’t wait for the final copies…  Now bring on the Aston Martin and let me pose!!!!

I did an NHS health fair for my Day Job today - right beside a large book shop! So I went in and may have strategically placed my book nearer the front… (how very authoress of me!). But the best bit was selling three books to my fellow NHS colleagues (two of whom I’d never met before). It felt a bit strange and surreal-esque accompanying them to the store and then signing the books!  HOW I LOVE BEING A WRITER! Talking of which, I have a writing event on Tuesday.  The first for my Quick Read book; Reaching for the Stars- How to Make Your Dreams Come True (Out in March 2009!) and I’m very much looking forward to it.  It isn’t open to the public, so won’t post the details.Will let you know how it goes…

Continued….. …. So, will Pizza lady (see day 3) now look at me differently following this historic election win? Whether she will or not, this historic election win will go a long way (I hope) to changing people’s often negative perceptions of ‘others’.I am proud. I am happy.  And I still can’t believe Barack Obama is the new president (elect, I know!) of the united States.   Amazing and wonderful all at once.

And the first thing I do after waking from the jetlagged induced coma is switch on my TV. Victory for….Barack Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It said. I got on my knees and cried and said ‘Thank you God!’. And then I cried again. 

Don’t talk to me. I’m flying back to England tu-day!

I met with my New york publishers today. It was so nice to finally get a look at and meet my editor, who I have been emailing for months! Such is technology that you can actually ‘talk’ to someone without actually… erm… talking to them.  I also did some filming for their website.  I must say it was strange talking about the book coming out next year and plans for 2009/2010. It seems so far away. But hey, that’s publishing! Afterwards I took a walk to Rockefeller centre where outside, the carpets was being laid and huge screens were being erected… The election buzz was very much in the air and I must say, I got caught up in it all (Okay, I have been all week). It warms my heart to hear people talking about voting, young people especially, saying they are going to get in line at 5 am… 

I began the morning on a sombre note.  It was a bit chilly as we made our way up to the African Burial ground, which is now a national monument. www.nps.gov/afbg For brunch, we went to BB King’s Blues Bar and Grill in New York…. for Soul food and best of all, The Harlem Gospel Choir. One word;BRILLIANT.A must see.  I was excited as they all sang so beautifully and spititually. Amazing.  So much so, the lovely ladies picked up on my excitement and invited me on stage to sing along to their rousing rendition of ‘Oh happy days’. Which I did (after getting over the shock and getting up on that stage).  All those faces staring at me was scarier than a book reading! But I belted out that song as best as I could (okay I mimed to most of it as I had a sore throat, my voice was going and I had a meeting with my publishers the following day- what could I do??). It was a great experience though and the choir were wonderful and so VERY, very talented (www.harlemgospelchoir.com) They were also very kind to give me a free signed CD.  I have a grainy mobile phone picture of me looking gormless on stage which I will try and post either on here or on Facebook. But it did happen!!! I was on stage with The Harlem Gospel Choir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!