GUEST BLOG: Lola Jaye

It's a sad day because this is Lola Jaye's final blog. But it's for a happy reason - the book is out! Over to Lola...

Publication day, Will Smith and… PUBLICATION DAY!!!!!!!

Hi All,

It’s been a long, rainy, sunny, amazing, unbelievable and yet… real month.

First off, I got to see in front of my very eyes… thousands and thousands of copies of my novel popping out of HUGE, noisy machines in a printing factory in Suffolk (a treat arranged by my publishers Harper Collins) AND I must say it was one of THE MOST AMAZING DAYS OF MY LIFE. I was jumping about like a mad woman, screaming, the works – because I just couldn’t believe I was witnessing the printing of my novel. See for yourself how mad I behaved by clocking the video here.

Fast forward to my launch party! (I know, when did THAT happen??) It’s June 25th and I’m running late, thinking only a few people had showed up anyway, when…  walking into the bar I find myself faced with a hundred or so people waiting for me! I am astonished and amazed that folk have dressed up and taken the time out to come (even though I had in fact, invited them!).

Clapping and cheering followed before I went completely bonkeramas and started screeaaming at the top of my lungs, jumping up and down like a malfunctioning Energizer bunny (see previous video) – only this time, I was dressed in a very short sequined number complete with kitten heels! 

What an amazing moment and what an amazing night.

My family, friends and work colleagues all packed into one room, talking, drinking and eating green cupcakes (to go with the book of course!) as I floated around the room, trying to give equal time to each guest (about 30 seconds) laying off the alcohol and trying to remember to just breathe. And then we did the speeches. My Editor Claire spoke first and said stuff about me being enthusiastic and hardworking (which produced scoffs from a few former work colleagues!). And then I took the mike, pulled up a couple of really untidily written scrawls and gave a mini lecture about my road to publishing deal and thanking those who have helped me along the way. People did seem to be listening as opposed to snoring...  Yippee! And the laughter and claps followed as I read pages from the book.

The night was perfect.

I signed A LOT of books that night – glad I chose a pink glittery nail varnish for the occasion – and it was strange to think that people would soon be peering deep into my thoughts through those pages.  You see, I’d been so private with my writing in the past and now almost everyone I knew was about to start reading my stuff! And what an amazing and scary thought! At one point, I may have been tempted to say, “Be nice. It’s fragile. It has feelings….”  But I didn’t, because actually, my book is strong, it’s robust and it’s the book I have always wanted to write. It can look after itself now.

The morning after, I was checking out of the hotel I’d booked myself into as a launch treat and who do I see walking towards me? Mr Will Smith the actor (leaving a press conference for Nelson Mandela’s birthday celebrations).

!!!!!!

This was BIG on so many levels.

Not least because I have always imagined Will Smith as my main character in By The Time You Read This… feeling deep down that he would make the perfect ‘Kevin’: a loving father, witty, handsome, sensitive and manly.  It was an absolute joy to see Mr Will Smith the day after the launch party and the day the book had started to appear in shops (yes, you heard that bit right, too!).  He hugged me and I had the audacity to tell him that I had written a book with him in the lead role and that I wanted him to play it!!!!!!  I only had a few seconds, so gave him my card, which he took very graciously, before joining his beautiful wife Jada in the car…

What a 24 hours…

As I said, copies have been spotted in some stores (even Luton airport) 5 days before the official publication date.  So, I couldn’t resist taking a peep in one of my local supermarkets. The sun was shining and it seemed the perfect day to see my babies…

And WOW!  What a sight!

ALL THOSE YEARS OF STRUGGLE, HOPE, LACK OF HOPE, PRAYER, DAYDREAMING, SWEAT, HAPPINESS AND TEARS AND ITS COME DOWN TO THIS WONDERFUL MOMENT…

So, now as I finish this post off, July 1st 2008 has arrived.

The sun is shining (again) and a beautiful bunch of pink flowers have just arrived from my publishers.

How do I feel?

Because there had already been gradual sightings of my book in stores I feel I have had time to slowly adjust to the fact that I HAVE A BOOK IN SUPERMARKETS, NEWSAGENTS AND AIRPORTS IN AND AROUND ENGLAND, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND PARTS OF CANADA!!!!!

But, for me, the ride started some time ago… just over a year ago to be exact.  From the very first day I found out I was finally going to be a published author, my life changed – I just hadn’t realized it. If you look back at the posts, it took a while to sink in. I suppose for me the first time was just a few weeks ago when I saw my books being printed (please see video above!). And, as I write this, I have taken a month off from my day job and truly, madly and deeply, now feel like a writer. Carrie Bradshaw in fact (minus her magnificent tum!).

I have decided to really allow myself to enjoy the moments that have come and will come. Being a writer is better than I could ever have imagined and writing this blog, having you guys on my journey has been a supreme pleasure. Please don’t forget me and keep clicking back to my other Blog at www.lolajaye.com/blog from time to time to see how the writer thing is going. And PLEAAASE buy my book!

And also, a bit of advice: if you have a dream… keep going, work hard, believe in your abilities and grab it with both hands (pink nail varnish optional!).

By The Time You Read This… (Harper) by Lola Jaye is out NOW!

Grab your copy at Amazon here!

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