I can’t believe we’re a quarter way through the year.  Gawd, what an old person’s thing to say that was!  Needless to say, time has flown with my life peppered with highs and lows.  Secrets was published in early February as a special edition for the UK airports – some of you loyal readers even made the trip to an airport just to grab a copy.  I thank you from my heart.
I’m a perfectionist control-freak when it comes to my novels – some authors are quite content for editing work to be done on their behalf.  I throw a hissy fit if anyone dares tinker with even a comma!  Although I have done 10 novels in 12 years – an output many people marvel at – I do not ‘churn them out’.  Each novel is carefully considered with in-depth research undertaken and by the time I submit it to my publisher, it’s in third draft.  To arrive at those 130,000 words of original fiction, many thousands more words are written in the process!  Then, after editing and copy-editing (which is to double check if the character’s eyes are blue in one chapter, they’re not suddenly brown in another!) the 5th and final draft of the novel is typeset and two rounds of proof-reading commence.  Typesetting is bewildering.  Somehow, entire sentences disappear!  Elsewhere, paragraphs suddenly appear in italics.  Invariably, words are split at the end of a line and look bad for it.  Finally the work is ready to be sent to the printers – and I await my final copies.
The thrill of seeing my novels in book form has not diminished over the years.  It’s the highlight of so much hard work, hope and energy.  Imagine, therefore, how distressing it is when mistakes are made utterly beyond your control….After the early edition of Secrets was published, a number of readers (mainly in Ireland) contacted me to say that there had been a printing error – towards the end of the novel (at a crucial stage in the action!) suddenly earlier pages of the book were reprinted instead.  I was absolutely devastated.  Of course the publishers swung into action, tracing the problem to human error at the printers and the local reps tried to ensure that faulty copies were taken off the shelves.  Most importantly, the readers with dodgy copies were sent pristine versions immediately.  But it was hugely disappointing – for all concerned.  I’m so sorry.  As I’ve said before, if I could I’d write my novels by quill on parchment and hand-bind them for you… But at some stage, I have to ‘let go’ and trust others to do their job.  So, as I write with four weeks to go until Secrets is launched nationwide, there is a wee part of me praying that all aspects of the launch will go smoothly.
In other parts of my life, the ride has been easier – not least for lovely Nathan, my perfect pony (ok, he’s a strapping 15.3hh Irish Sports Horse rising 7 years old – but I always call him Little ‘Un because I’ve known him since he was a toddler!)  I moved him from the yard he’d been at for the last four years to a wonderful wonderful place.  It’s a farm in Hertfordshire – peaceful, beautiful – where the lovely owner (hullo Ruth) breeds quarter horses.  Best of all, it’s very small – just 5 of us owners and we’re all into purely natural horsemanship (hullo Pat and Linda Parelli).  It’s the best place for me to go when I need brain-rest, fresh air, like-minded company, and a break from my sedentary life writing my novels from my local urban library!
My children, Felix and Georgia, are very well.  Georgia has lost her first tooth and tried to have me negotiate with the Tooth Fairy because she felt that £1 doesn’t buy much these days.  Felix has been involved in a very lengthy countdown to his birthday in mid April.  Since January…  There’s a very long wish-list on the Lego website, he informs me.  The two new rescue cats, Buddy and Flower, have settled in wonderfully.  And dear, generous, brave BuddyBudster has taken to honouring me with gifts each night.  Last week, 6 nights in a row, he brought me a lovely big squelchy LIVE frog.  I keep telling him I’d prefer chocolates…
Andy involved me in the Best of Britain show at ExCel which was fun to do and enabled me to establish my wonderful contacts with the powers-that-be in the North East – a result of which is their invitation for me to join their ambassador programme to promote the North East.  This is a truly great honour for me – I’m looking forward to working with them and spending more time up there in my spiritual home!  Of course, it’s not all work work work – we had a fun mini-break back in Spain over Valentine’s and are looking forward to Easter in Wales with my cousins and then Whitby soon after where I’m giving a talk.  In terms of culture, in addition to evenings at the Groucho (!) we’ve been to see The Pitmen Painters (incredibly moving), Jersey Boys (toe-tappingly good) and this weekend, long-awaited tickets for War Horse (I won’t be wearing mascara…)  I have just about recovered from watching all five series of The Wire on the trot.  I now harbour a school-girl crush of prodigious proportions for Dominic West.
Once Secrets is out there, holding its own, my thoughts must turn to my 11th novel.  I would have liked a wee breather (10 books in 12 years – and no maternity leave!!) – but there’s no rest for the wicked, apparently!  And anyway, you lot would certainly have something to say about it if I made you wait too long between publications!
Happy Easter, y’all.  Mine’s a giant Lindt chocolate bunny please…

Tags | Advice, North Yorkshire, Parelli, Secrets, writing