Tuesday 17 February 2009

153 days to go: Basking in Reflected Glory




I am holding a first novel.
I am so excited.
It is not my novel.
But I have lived and breathed the process for the past 18 months.
A lot less than the book's writer - Jenn who started writing it aeons ago.
Jenn is the librarian at the prison where I work as a writer in residence.
We started working there around the same time and became great friends.
When she told me she had written a novel and had an agent I was v excited.
But that was just the beginning.
It took ages (or what seemed like ages) before a publishing house bought it.
And then everything happened at once.
I saw the sketches for the book cover.
There were meetings with agents/publishers/publicists.
I saw the revised photographs for the book cover.
I heard about interviews with radio stations/magazines and newspapers.
I read the novel - A Kind of Intimacy- in manuscript form in one evening. I loved it.
And here it is in my hot little hands.
Jenn received the book through the post in a thick padded envelope on Valentine's Day.
Can a writer receive a better gift?
Today I took Jenn out to lunch to celebrate.
And she showed me right at the back - the acknowledgments.
For "being in her corner" I am thanked, listed between such literary luminaries as Anne Fine and Jenni Diski.
There is only one more thing left to say - you can buy it here.
Enjoy.

I wore:
Pink Coat - Next
Pink gloves - Jasper Conran
Underneath - grey dress and black boots - Dorothy Perkins.

12 comments:

Darla said...

Congratulations to your friend and fellow writer Jenn. How nice that you took her to lunch to celebrate.

Love the pink coat. What a bright spot in the winter landscape.

Darla

Jean said...

What a lovely gesture to mention you in the acknowledgements - that's something to cherish.

I love your pink coat - such a happy colour.

Jane said...

Thanks Darla - Jenn took the picture in the pub car park with my mobile phone.
You are right nsm - pink is my happy colour, especially this shade.

Imogen Lamport, AICI CIP said...

Congratulations to your friend on her great achievement (as many know, it's not easy to get a book published!).

I also know how great it is to see yourself in the acknowledgements (there are a couple of books out there with my name in them). Congratulations for being in her corner!

Christina Lee said...

this post gave me such warm feelings for your friend b/c as a writer this is one of my biggest dreams (isn't it for all of us writers out there?)!! That is SO very exciting!!!!!!!!

Heather Bestel said...

OMG - how wonderful - for both of you! What a lovely early birthday prezzie for you.

Something to cherish forever.
Well done, both of you.
I'm putting the book on my Mother's Day list.
Heather x
PS. Lovely coat and love the matching gloves.

Jenn said...

Hello Jane

Your coat and the book were MADE for each other!

I hadn't realised we'd known each other for such a long time...

Thank you for the lovely lunch and big plug!

Kelly said...

Hi Jane,
How wonderful for Jenn! I would love to read her book sometime, I wonder if it will be available in the U.S.?
Love your pink coat too!! Beautiful color, one of my favorites to wear next to my face! It looks lovely on you!

lunarossa said...

Congratulations to your friend for her book and to you for supporting her. I'd be interested to know a little bit more about the book. As I mentioned before, I'd be interested to leran a bit about your work in prison. Ciao. A.

Mervat said...

Congratulations to your friend Jenn. I don't think there is any better incentive for a writer than to have proof that publishing is (italicised!) possible. Thank you for posting this.
Mervat
xo

Michelle@Life with Three said...

That IS exciting -- both for her and for you! I can only imagine how great it must feel for your friend to finally hold her published book in hand. Congratulations to her!

Love that coat, btw. :)

Sheila said...

What a wonderful accomplishment and a great story. And a real tribute to you, for being there, how nice!

You look so bright and cheery in the pink coat - lovely!