My first author lunch

Yesterday I went down to London to have lunch with my publishers!*

They introduced me to some sales and marketing people (one of whom asked me about promotion and answering questions for a biography and I almost swooned) and then we went to lunch...

... where I ate delicious tapas and blethered on endlessly about Harry. I woke up in the night and all I could hear was me jawing on about my son: childbirth, potty training, breastfeeding, big school... Sigh. Sometimes I forget that he may well be the most fascinating person in the world to *me*, but that doesn't make him the most fascinating person in the world to anyone else. (He is to you blog readers, though, right?!)

Anyway, we did actually talk about "work" - which reminds me: I waited for the train in Chorley, where the head office of my old company is and where I once went for a compulsory "induction" (despite the fact that I'd already been working there for about two years), at which I lost the very will to live. Standing on that platform, thinking "I'm going to London for lunch with my publishers because I've got a publishing deal" was the best feeling in the world. For some reason, I kept thinking, "On a Thursday!" like I'm so excited to be out and about on a school day. It's been almost three years (since I left work, not school) and it never gets old. :)

Yes, so work. They'd already mentioned that they weren't sure if FORGET ME NOT (which is written) is the right book to launch me with (anyone else picturing me being hit with a bottle and sent out to sea?), but the deal is for two books so we discussed what the other book might be. I suggested something, which we all seemed happy with and then I said, "So it won't be out next summer then?" and they looked at each other and said, yes, it could be. As long as I can have it written by the end of this year.

Eep. Okay then.
Of course, this means I absolutely, positively, *have* to have one of these.

But I neeeeeeeeed it (or at least I will, during the summer, when I - and Harry - don't want to be stuck indoors...unless it rains all summer like last year.)

Anyway, I deserve it. I'm going to be a published author, don't you know?

Also, when I got home (after Harry had greeted me on the train platform with "Middy! I MISSED you! I pedal my bike! My head bump bump ... like a bumblebee**"), my contract was waiting for me. It's been signed by the publishers, which, I guess, makes me a Signed Author. Yay!

* I'm trying not to use names (since I don't know if I can/should), so I'm being deliberately vague. In case you think I didn't catch their names or something!

** No, I've no idea. He's got a bump on his head, but it's got nothing to do with a bee.

N.B. The Snoopy pic is a notebook! From Forever 21. I need to go to New York again...

Comments

[SarahP]

Yay! Yay! Congratulations Keris, that all sounds wonderful! And I love your moment on the train platform - makes all the hard graft worthwhile, doesn't it? I am so proud and happy and excited... And I can't wait to hear about the new book idea, either! xxxx

[jill mansell]

I still get those Oh-my-God-I'm-an-author moments, and it almost always happens on trains to London! Wait until someone starts up a conversation with you and asks why you're travelling down to London. Then you can TELL them you're having lunch with your publisher, which is even better than thinking it to yourself. Unless they say 'Oh' and promptly move seats...
Happy writing!

[Keris]

LOL, Jill! On the way home from the first meeting someone did ask me, probably because I kept giggling. :D

[Erin Le Clerc]

SO excited for you!! Gosh, can't wait until I'm among the signed author ranks with you!

Also: can totally imagine you giggling away to yourself on the train :) Too cute!

Congrats again!!

[Stella]

Oooh, my tummy was doing little whirls while I was reading this. I am dead excited for you.

Or hungry.

[Helen]

I read this post with such excitement for you!

[shauna]

SO exciting! And I think cuteness of ones laptop is proportionate to the quality ones writing output so RUN DON'T WALK to Amazon and get clickin'! ;)

[Zoe]

Yay!
This is such great news, I'm so, so, happy for you! :)

[Lisa]

BUY IT! NOW! It's freakin' amazing, they do it in pink too, I've just checked! Obviously all that amazing stuff about schmoozin' with your publisher is really important and relevant too - you rule! - but c'mon, you HAVE to buy that 'puter, especially if they want book by the end of they year, how else will you write it? Old computers won't write new books. It's fact!

[Keris]

LOL, I know! I'm buying it Monday when I get paid. I like the pink, but something about the green really grabs me. Of course, then I'll need a new bag to put it in... ;)

Btw, I told my ed all about Lola's Land and how you're going to be a megastar and I sent her the link to the site this morning. :)

[Lisa]

What you like? I should employ you as my publicist!! No, the green is deffo you, I have added the pink one to my wishlist - is that bad? My mac is gorgeous and all, but it's still too heavy to take on trains and stuff and I go on trains A LOT!

Ohhh, you so need a new bag too, you're absolutely right! Any in mind? And I was thinking of going to NYC late Sept, no reason, but just for a long weekend and to buy cute stuff, wanna come? We can sit on the plane with our 'puters and tell people what important authors we are!

Loves ya Miss K!

[Keris]

Pththththt! Yes, of course I wanna come! I'll have to win the lottery or something first tho... Or do waaay more writing...

(I thought you were going to LA this year..?)

[Emily]

Very exciting! So FMN will be the second book? You have eradicated the infamous second-book nightmares!

[Keris]

OMG, Emily, I hadn't thought of that! Yes! Fantastic! Here's hoping the first book doesn't turn out to be a nightmare! ;)

[diane]

Congrats! I'm glad it all went so well :)

I like the blue eePC myself... x

[Sarah]

Glad it went well my soon to be famous friend!!! xx