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February 28, 2008 12:06 PM

GUEST BLOG: Lola Jaye

Lola Jaye's monthly blog on the road to publication...

Babble alert: So the first uncorrected proofs have arrived. And they actually look like REAL BOOKS. You know, with a back, front, middle, printed pages, picture on the back; basically REAL BOOKS!

They arrived at my place of work wrapped in a HUGE package. Savouring the moment as I opened them up, I smelt them and basked in the experience of seeing my first ever… book.

Okay, this is what really happened: I ripped open the package in front of a startled receptionist and couldn’t actually catch my breath as I set eyes on them for the first time. The receptionist asked what they were and I just said, "These are my books!!! Sort of."

"Wow!" she said. (Yet another person, I hadn’t yet told…). And she wanted to talk. Whilst I just needed to bask in ‘the moment’. Alone. So I finally went in search of a quiet corner. A bit tough as the office was packed and the corridor was full of workmen refurbishing the building.

Where to go?

I finally ended up in the staff toilets (hey, its private, there) where I was fully able to embrace my happiness, flick through and smell the pages. By the end of the day, the corner of my eyes began to ache because of all the smiling (and will probably need emergency Botox at some point). 

I still refuse to get attached to the cover, as it’s not been agreed yet, but I have to admit the book’s looking great so far. Very nice. I handed them round to work colleagues like chocolate covered gold, and they swooned, whilst I continued to smile like a madwoman. And because they seemed incapable of not taking overlong peeps at the first few pages, I allotted a two minute ‘look per person’ because, as I kept reminding: “You have to wait until its published to read it.” (Plus, I need the royalties).

I have an ‘official’ picture (please see above) which will be appearing inside or on the book. Yes, I’m in the ‘pink’ again… I know. Ironically enough, I only embraced my true ‘pinkness’ as I got older – and I don’t think I’m alone in this, am I? Help me out here ladies..!

What else happened this month? My Writers News magazine piece has now been put online and you can read it here.

I also now have a Facebook page so feel free to add me as a friend (uh oh, this feels like being at school again…).

I’ve also been hard at work on the new book and that heady exciting stage of wondering if what I’ve written is complete tosh, has hit me again … Oh the joys of being a writer!

Until next month…

By The Time You Read This…  By Lola Jaye (Harper) is out July 2008, £6.99 (eek!).

Read Lola's previous entries: November | December | January

Came straight to this page? Visit www.trashionista.com for more female fiction news, reviews and interviews.

Posted by Keris on February 28, 2008 in Guest blogs | Permalink

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