I have in my hands...

A book.

To me, it’s a very special book. It’s not because of the cover, lovely though it is. But no one else will feel the need to coo and stroke the gold embossed bits as I have today. It has a delicious new smell but then, don’t all new books have that?

It joins the millions of other novels that are on sale. It could end up on a remainder pile or it could do really well. Who knows? It has to take its chances, along with all the rest.

But whatever happens, opening the package that contained it today was a moment pretty much up there with saying ‘I do’ and hearing ‘It’s a boy!’ for the first time. Because it’s my book.

It’s not even the first one that I’ve had published, but it’s the first novel and the only one that wasn’t written as a work commission. Instead it was a true labour of love.

I just want to thank all of you – you know who you are – for propping me up and cheering me on during this whole rollercoaster of getting published.

I’m told by more experienced writers that the first time will always be the most special.

So I’m going to take a little time just to enjoy this moment and feel thankful. Maybe I’ll stroke the gold embossing again and give it another little sniff.

There’s always tomorrow to start obsessing about Amazon rankings....

Dark Ride by Caroline Green, published by Piccadilly Press

Watch a trailer here

17 comments:

Lindsay said...

Congratulations Caroline. I wish you great success with Dark Ride. As a would-be novelist myself, I appreciate the difficult journey to get to this fantastic end/beginning!

Caroline Green said...

Thank you Lindsay! And the very best of luck with your own writing.

Neil said...

Congratulation! It is a real buzz, isn't it, when it finally comes after such a long, long wait?
Beware the amazon rankings, they are such a drug - they change every hour, so it's either 'Yay! It's going up,' or 'Aww, it's gone down.'
And don't get me started on waiting for reviews. Try to rid yourself of expectations, the important thing is that your book finds it's audience, big or small, and you know there are people out there somewhere who think your book is a thing of beauty.

Caroline Green said...

Thank you Neil...I am going to try and avoid driving myself mad with that whole Amazon thing!

Luisa Plaja said...

Huge huge CONGRATULATIONS! I'm so happy for you!

Hilary said...

Congratulations Caroline! Enjoy every moment and never forget what it feels like! xx

Emily Gale said...

Could not be happier...no, wait - I could be happier - with a copy of Dark Ride IN MY HANDS. Can't wait to read it. Em xxx

Anonymous said...

Have you taken it to bed, yet?:):)

Yes, enjoy every moment. YOu deserve it.

Sam x

JW_Firth said...

It must be an amazing feeling, well done - savour the end result of all your hard work :)

Unknown said...
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Debs Riccio said...

Oh Caroline, how lovely for you - I can almost smell it from here - so many congratulations, and may it be the first of many more!

Susie Nott-Bower said...

Oh, what a wonderful moment, and definitely one to be fully savoured. Congratulations, and may Dark Ride be a huge success.
Susiex

Geraldine Ryan said...

Thinking of you for tomorrow, Caroline!

Gillian McDade said...

Many congrats again, Caroline! Xx

DT said...

Well done Caroline! Every writer here is proud of you for taking it to the printed page.

As a friend of mine used to say, 'One gets better - we all get better!'

Caroline Green said...

Thanks so much everyone. The deleted comment was because my son had logged into Blogger and my comment appeared as his!

CekaTB said...

Well done, Caroline, may there be many more. Enjoy
Celia