A big day for me

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Well my blog was posted on GN yesterday. The link to the book is there too. I had asked GN if it was OK to give info about the book as I didn't think I'd be allowed to advertise. The lovely people at GNHQ suggested that I write a guest blog and said they'd add the link and voila!
After Blackwells bookshop liking the book before Christmas they asked if they could host the launch. Huge turn out and amazingly the book is still No1 in their Scottish bestsellers chart. I'm doing a sort of tour visiting various libraries and ladies groups (including a session at forthcoming GN conference in Edinburgh if time permits from the chatting!) Take heart writing Grans -much is possible!

Well done Jane10 You have been excitingly awaiting this day. A lot of work but must be amazing to see it in print. Enjoy all the other experiences associated with launching it. Congratulations !

Sorry, only just noticed that this thread had sprung to life again. I didn't give details of the book as I thought it was against GN rules-no advertising. Its not officially available until January.
I was lucky to have met up with a writers collective which is where a lot of the help and support has come from. I write a blog on their website, we all Tweet and Facebook like mad as that seems the thing to do! I also help the others in any way I can by reading and commenting on their stuff. I've got some speaking engagements lined up too. Its a whole new world for me. Its definitely not been as easy as all that sounds. The actual writing is the easy bit! I have a domain name but am putting off setting up my own website as its so scary. I don't understand the words used in web development. Will have to find a teenager to help me!

Hi Jane. As you can see from the rather presumptuous Username - I call myself an author. Unaware that there was a Writers Section on Gransnet, I have lauded the joys of writing in retirement on another thread.

I am green with envy that you found a publisher. I too dashed off into Oxford (bad move!) to drop my precious cargo through the letter box of Curtis Brown (no, I have no inhibitions when starting at the top!). By a whim of fate, my husband and I went to "celebrate" (ha, ha) in the local pub and ended up sharing our meal with the founder of the Dangerous Sports Club. Apparently he started the club when at University and did the very first bunjee jump off the Cleveland Bridge.

This had to be an omen, surely?

No. Curtis Brown didn't even bother to write. Just a curt email saying they weren't taking any new writers. To rub salt into the wound, I had used the book of one of their authors when researching Victorian England. Huh! Sour grapes? Who me?

So now I have my 412 page historical novel on Amazon and Smashwords. I didn't try any other publisher. Felt a bit shirty that my "baby" should be subject to more shunting around anonymous desks. My achievement was, after all, in writing the book and feeling extremely proud of doing so.

Incidentally, it was inspired by an entry from the 1881 Census that may belong to my Irish Great Grandfather. What I read had such a profound effect on me that 412 pages later, Áine was born!

I did take heart from a published writer Michael Grant who now uses Amazon and Smashwords. He said he preferred self-publishing for the fact that your book was out there indefinitely whereas a publisher will initially promote your book and then move on.

But I wish you every success! You didn't give us the name of the book - or have I overlooked it? Do let us know. I shall be the first to buy!

p.s. I did my cover too! Jack of All Trades ...

What a fabulous achievement Jane, well done.

Well, they say that 'everyone has a book in them'

I can't find mine, so congratulations and very well done Jane10!

Crikey! That's amazing!

Yes, you've got to tell us what it's called. Link to Amazon, pretty please?

I'm so thrilled for you. I had a novel published in 2008 but I had so many rejections before getting taken on by a publisher, and nowhere near the help you've had from yours. I can only assume your book is far superior to mine! What is it called and when will it be available to buy? And very best wishes for your reviews and sales.

Congratulations on your personal achievement. [flowes]

I've wanted to write now for over 27 years but it just won't come. Hopefully, one day. Well done.

Very well done Jane!
Hope it does well through Amazon for you.

You must be on cloud nine! - hearty congratulations!

What a fantastic achievement! You should be very very proud of yourself. Do let us know when release is imminent, then we can all pre-order and get you on the best sellers list! What a feeling that must be, holding your own book......(can you guess, I am envious.....)

Its a bit frustrating because its not for general release until January. That's for reasons I'm not entirely sure about but I'm not arguing about it. It's on Amazon now I see but not available until Jan.
Its just a light novel. Not autobiographical but set in the 1970s. I think its really about the characters. The story just wrote itself. That's why I'm doing the next 2 books. I feel I've created a world and I can't just walk away. I suppose its more like a literary soap! Feelgood stuff but with some twists

Congratulations on a great achievement.

You must be feeling fantastic after all that hard work...just like giving birth,which in a way it is. And just like a new mum it's all slightly scary...but in a good way .

Keep us posted so we can read and review.

jane congrats, that's wonderful. Do tell - is it fiction? Semi-autobiographical? Historical novel?

Congratulations Jane.

Sending a piece of writing off is like sending a child to their first day at school. You've cleaned and scrubbed it up to the Nth degree then just afterwards you're filled with the 'did I scrub behind the ears' feeling.

Well done!

What a lovely thing to have achieved Jane. They say there is a book in everyone, but actually writing it is something really different. Well done, you deserve to feel really proud and happy. Thank you for sharing and making the day a happy one.

Yes, well done. A fantastic achievement. I want to know more now. What's it about?

Lona yes! More protracted and less physically painful. DH did hold my hand (metaphorically ) too!

Jane10 That's fantastic! Well done to you, that is a great achievement.
Is it like giving birth?

How fabulous for you , you be as excited as you like I know I would be if I were that clever

What an achievement! You've every right to feel happy and proud of yourself.

Fantastic, good for you.

Jane

Blimey, I understand your euphoria, brilliant !

Congratulations.