As I approach the one month countdown to the publication of my second book, LITTLE RUINS, on 28th August, my mind is awash with thoughts and feelings. I want to share a few of them here.
SECONDBOOKISTAN
This is a phrase I first heard from my friend Jason Webster. I remember him telling me that I needed to tread carefully. With our first book “brother. do. you. love. me.” I was a debut author. No-one was expecting anything. Everything was a pleasant surprise.
With my second book, there is a certain expectation; perhaps that it meets with BROTHERS success or surpasses it, perhaps that it is as good as or better than the first.
If the truth be told, I have been very aware of this along the creative path. I have dug deeper. I have written more redrafts. I wanted it to be better, richer, more sophisticated.
As writers, so much of our working life is spent alone. Even our greatest friends have no real way of supporting us. They can make us cups of tea and offer us warm hugs but they can’t really support us in the writing process. That work has to be done in a lonely space of isolation. I am slightly envious of painters or sculptors who work in a studio that friends can enter and say “WOW – that is brilliant!” in a heartbeat. A writer’s wait for reassurance is far longer.
That wait for me is almost over and as more and more friends and critics read proofs of LITTLE RUINS, my paranoia and worrisome ruminations are abating a little more each day. Less than one month to go and to be totally honest, after 4 years and 9 drafts I am so ready to see it on bookshop’s shelves.
If you feel you are able to PRE -ORDER it, that would help immensely as pre-orders help the algorithm of certain websites. It matters now where you order it from. I love the idea of ordering it from your local bookstore and having a chat with a bookseller about it. If you are in EUROPE or OUTSIDE THE UK, then use BLACKWELLS as they are great at shopping overseas.
In the meantime, thank you for your continued support. I look forward to connection with readers after publication and am very excited about the UK tour. It will be short and sharp and I cannot wait for the important conversations with some extraordinary chairs guiding the events. Maybe I’ll see you there? Feel free to share with friends and loved ones who might be able to attend.
LITTLE RUINS…
Because we all have a little ruin inside us.
Love and warm wishes
Manni x
