It’s the small things…

Twitter followers: 53! Oft (but 307.7% increase from my last update…and some of them are real people).

Book Sales: Erm…

Book Reviews: 9 (all 5 stars, thank you very much)

New book: 45,860 words so far

Mojo: Found safe and well.

I was sitting watching telly last night, periodically checking my book’s sales account as it gets lost further in the jungle that is Amazon, when my cousin posted that she loved my book –Fanbloodytastic was the term to be exact. And I was so chuffed, I can’t even explain! I didn’t look at my account again and, after several weeks of brutal self-doubt, told my husband repeatedly what a good writer I actually was, making him read the message again and again. Just for setting the scene purposes, I had had a glass of wine. “I know you are love. I never doubted you,” he said as he tried to watch the match whilst I insisted on giving him a blow by blow account of each character, plot twist and turn of my new book and bless, he really tried to seem enthused as his team got beat. You would have thought he’d have learnt by now to accept defeat with more grace and pride having been married to a Scottish woman for so long. “That sounds great, love,” he mumbled.

Earlier last week, I noticed that someone had bought 25 copies of my book. I was wracking my brain – who would do such a thing? Mum? No, not Mum. Not when her texts look like: I lOVe!!dnfksndahsyoUfi4yr4yrih>>wlbscxxx and she still calls KFC JFK’s and my sister has had to password protect her from her own Amazon and Sky accounts for her own safety after she enjoyed, what she thought, was free cinematic bliss. “Well, a didnae know, did a?” Bless her! Note to self – never, ever, buy the woman an Alexa device. Oh, I could write a very interesting blog on her alone, and if I included my wee dad, it would be dynamite.

But my fostering agency sent me a message showing a box of my books in their office – one to be sent to each of their other 24 offices. Problem solved! I couldn’t believe it! I have to say, they really are the most lovely, supportive bunch.

And on that note – I am going back to teaching…for them! Just a morning a week but I am so excited about it. I will be teaching unaccompanied asylum seeker children English in a broad Glaswegian accent. Should be interesting…Repeat after me, children – Aw yae canny shove yer granny aff a bus! Yee Ha! Yae can shove yer other granny aff the bus…

But it is those little things, the messages which say someone enjoyed my book or the fostering agency who do such thoughtful things and are so supportive of my writing which mean so much to me. Just as well, as if it was sales, I would have thrown my laptop in the bin and taken up crochet. Still might take up crochet…it always looked tres difficile and I like a challenge – but I’m not throwing away the laptop just yet.

So, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all those who have read the book and given me feedback or written a review or have shared the book in some way because those small things are huge to me, just like the knickers I’m going to crochet for my ma. Honestly though, it really is very much appreciated!

Have a lovely weekend whatever you are doing! I am going to paint the boy’s bathroom, re-grout the tiles and reseal the bath. I think an industrial face mask, rubber gloves and a tetanus jab may be required given the state of it yesterday when I went in to clean it. Wish me luck! xx