The Great Big Book Launches Post!!

Yes, you read that right. LaunchES. As in, more than one. ACID ended up having THREE, which is probably why I'm only just getting round to writing this post. Why does no-one tell you that having a book published is so exhausting?!

The first launch was on publication day, an event for schools at Chesterfield library. I read from ACID, talked to Julie Potton, Children's Services Manager, about the book, and then answered  questions from the audience. There were some great ones! My agent and editor travelled up for the day, which was awesome, and some friends and colleagues came along too. It was lovely to finally meet DARK DAYS author and fellow Author Allsorts blogger Kate Ormand in person, too, and to see members of Brookfield Community School's writing club again, who I'll be doing another workshop for soon.

Me talking to Julie

A big heap of ACID!

Me and the lovely Kate Ormand

The book signing queue!

After that, there was much dashing around to be done before the book launch proper at the library where I work that evening. When I got there, these were waiting…

…cupcakes with a colour scheme that matches ACID's cover (including silver cake cases!)! Although this photo is a bit small, the spines of the books have 'ACID' written on them. So cool! The evening was fantastic – the library was packed and I was absolutely overwhelmed by all the support and good wishes from everyone who came.

Me with members of my writing group, Cathy Grindrod, the first Derbyshire Poet Laureate (3rd from R) and Hubby (first L)

But that wasn't the end of it! Because last Tuesday ACID had another launch party, this time at my local village hall, for everyone we couldn't fit in at the library. This one was a bit special because my parents were having a holiday up my way for the week, which meant they could come along. It was lovely to see so many people there, and I'm really grateful to this community for taking me to their heart since I moved here eleven years ago.

Signing more books!

So now it's time for some thank yous… to Duncan and our families for helping me get here in the first place; to my agent Carolyn Whitaker and Nat, Jess, Ruth and all the team at Random House Children's Publishing for making my dream of being a published author come true; to Julie and Sue and all the children's team at Chesterfield for organising everything on the 25th; to Kim Morris for the ACID cupcakes and for sorting out all the food and drinks for both the evening dos; to Pat Pass, Tracey Swift and Keelie Crowe for all their hard work on 30th April; and to everyone who came along, bought ACID, gave me flowers and hugs and helped make all 3 launches really special!