Here it is… The big news. The showstopper. The little thing I teased a few weeks ago when I talked about shoving large amounts of cake in my face (it was my birthday too around that time – hence the over-interest in cake!) The big kahuna.

My poetry collection ‘Bone Ovation’ is going to be published! By the undisputed fabulousness that is Valley Press!

I still can’t quite believe it. They had at least 650 professional quality manuscripts to consider and out of the few they’ve chosen – I’m one. I had hoped so much that this would come together but everyday had half expected the ‘lovely no’ email. The further on down the path I got I feared it all the more. But there it is – it’s going to be published. It’s real! I met with Jamie McGarry to discuss the chapbook a couple of weeks ago in York and enjoyed a literary lunch surrounded by my pages of poetry and my enthusiasm – made tangible. What a feeling. We discussed release dates, covers, the length, and also comments from his reader group which I lapped up like honey. I’ve never before heard feedback that wasn’t meant for my ears and it felt wonderful, genuine, true.

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks doing a few edits here and there, researching cover ideas, and filling in lots of official looking information for VP. Last Thursday I even went and had some professional photographs taken of me – thank goodness my friend is a photographer, as that made the whole thing a lot less cringe-y. Big thanks to Sean Elliott Photography though! It was about time I had some nice pictures – I’ve been fobbing everyone off with Facebook photos thus far. I’m definitely going to make these last as long as possible – unless I suddenly become thin and glamorous, whereby I will ask Sean if he’ll snap pictures of my mush yet again.

ANYWAY – I couldn’t be more pleased! VP was the first publisher I sent ‘Bone Ovation’ to, and I’d thought at the time the least likely publisher to accept it. Their current author list is intimidating enough as it is when you list their accolades, awards, and previous publications. It must be a good fit for us both, though somehow I feel like I’m the one better off. 🙂 The little collection is currently set to be released on October 5^th 2017, so I’ll keep you all up to date with how everything is progressing and a few sneak peeks here and there.

But for now, I’m going to keep glowing, any enjoy this moment! I’m going to work so hard to make this the first of many. Yes. Yes I am!