Hello,
So it's almost here...Christmas! My lovely family and I are going to Las Vegas for Christmas this year and then it will be New Year and then it's 2013! Can you believe it? Anyway, with so much going on during the next few weeks, I thought I'd do a quick end of year blog. If you want to pop the kettle on or get a biscuit, now's the time. OK, ready? Here goes.
2012 has been an incredible year for me personally. I went from struggling self-published writer, working part-time in a job I loathed and doing a college course in Web Design because I figured I should start trying to get a 'proper job', to getting a publishing deal with one of the largest publishers in the UK. I quit my crap job, stopped the college course and now I'm a writer - that's it. Before when people asked what I did for a living, I would never say author because it sounded a bit shit considering I wasn't earning any money from it. But now if you ask me what I do for a living, I can say with pride, I'm an author. I write books for a living. In the words of one funny bastard (Alan Partridge)...back of the net!
This Thirtysomething Life is all wrapped up now. Hodder has the final copy and its in production. That will be their eBook from the end of January and a splendid paperback from April 25th! I saw the design layout today for the paperback and it's stunning. The designer at Hodder did an amazing job. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the printed book! I've also been given a publicist who I'll start working with in January. I'm super excited to start talking about advertising campaigns and so on. Two months ago it was just me and now I have an editor and a publicist! Blimey!
Now Thirtysomething is done, I've started work on the edit for Happy Endings. I've had a few meetings with my editor and we've talked about it a lot and agreed on the direction we're going to take the book. It's incredible how much more scope she has given me. It feels like I was working with blinkers on and now working with my editor, I've been set free to really make this book amazing!
So what's happening in 2013? Well, I have two books coming out next year in eBook and paperback with Hodder. This is my dream come true. Actually I only dreamt about having one book published so to be having two in one year is something special. I'll be over in London during the last week of March, hopefully doing some promotional stuff for the book. I pitched an idea about doing book signings in pubs rather than book shops, but I think it's a non-starter due to me probably getting drunk too early in the day. Still, you never know!
2012 has been a wonderful year for me. I've realised a life-long dream, but I'm hoping that 2013 will be an even better year. I'm very excited about it and all it will bring.
Thanks to everyone who bought my book, gave me such lovely reviews, sent me wonderful emails and chatted with me on Twitter. I hope I can keep writing books and I hope you keep enjoying them.
All I have to say now is merry Christmas to you all and all the best for the new year.
Hugs,
Jon X
