We Want to Publish Your Book

Years ago when I passed my nursing exams, I opened the confirmation letter to read these words, “We regret to inform you…” I took several deep breaths before going on. The sentence concluded: “Licence fees have gone up…” Licence fees? Well, they wouldn’t be telling me that if I hadn’t passed. Right?

Right.

It took several rereads to discover that, yes, I had passed, and had actually read page two of the letter first. (Curses on the bonehead who stuffed the envelope.)

The e-mail I got on Monday from a publishing company saying they plan to publish A Biased Judgement in October was far less confusing but no less mind-numbing.

For about two hours I didn’t even reread it. I thought about the contract which I had skimmed, the letter, likewise, and wondered who to tell. Or should I tell anyone? Maybe it was a mistake…

By Monday evening I was able to function. OK, I fell down the stairs, but that should in no way be considered evidence that I was distracted. I reread the letter.

They want to publish in trade paperback.

The print copy will run about 330 pages.

A copy will be placed in the British Library.

The British Library.  

You Are Here…

At that point I really needed to sit down.

It wasn’t until Tuesday that I felt ready to tell people.

Probably it seems odd that it took me so long to start sharing the news. It seems odd to me too. I think I just needed to process it internally first. Once I did share the news the response was wonderful and I continue to receive emails and tweets of congratulation.

What happens next? I don’t know. I’m still writing my reviews for the Dublin Writers’ Festival and working on a new novel. There’s a short story nagging me to finish it too. All of which is great because it keeps me focused, properly, on the work. But as things develop over the next few months, I hope you’ll share the journey with me.

It should be, in the words of Arthur Shappey (a Cabin Pressure reference for the uninitiated), BRILLIANT!