Tuesday 16 April 2013

Looking backwards and forwards

So, I am now a year older, and five days more exhausted than I was on Friday!

Looking Backwards
I had such a great time with Kyra Lennon - first at lunch, then at the Fozzy gig in the evening. My mum cooked a great meal, and baked a birthday cake with far too many candles in it (although unfortunately it was the right number). Manchester City won the FA Cup semi-final, although some of the unsporting behaviour was awful and best glossed over. And the Duke Special gig that Hubby took me to last night was such fun because he played my favourite album in its entirety, so I knew all the words and I started to get a flash of a story while he was singing... I just don't know what the story is yet.

The free promotion for That Sadie Thing seems to have been successful - lots of copies were downloaded, including three in Germany and two in Canada. It's lovely to know that these poor old stories are getting a second lease of life, and aren't just languishing in my filing cabinet. So, thanks to everyone to now owns a copy, and I hope you enjoy it.

Looking Forwards
So now I'm ready to get back to my novel, possibly tonight, but definitely tomorrow. And I'll be practising a lot for my first ever book reading on the 23rd April for World Book Night. The venue is the library I worked at for fifteen years (I left three or four years ago, I can't remember which!) so it will be like going home. Several of my old colleagues still work there, and I'm dragging another ex-colleague alone with me for moral support. Fingers crossed I don't turn into a puddly mess!

The other thing that's happening is Hubby is undertaking 24 gigs in 24 hours in aid of our two local air ambulance charities. I'm going to be following a couple of gigs, but I'm not getting up before dawn! If you live around Plymouth (that's the UK version, not the several worldwide ones), then why not check out the times on the link and pop along.

58 comments:

  1. I bet you're do great at your reading! And I wouldn't get up that early either.

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    1. If the dream I had last night is anything to go by, I'm not sure I will be great :-/

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  2. Is it your birthday today? If so, happy birthday! And it sounds like you have a lot of interesting plans for this year. Good luck (or should I say break a leg) on your reading for World Book Night. I wish I could go to that, because it sounds like it'd a lot of fun to go to a literary event where everyone there also loves reading.

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    1. It was a couple of days ago, thank you! I'm hoping the book reading will be fun :-)

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  3. So glad you had an awesome birthday! That concert deal sounds awesome :)

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  4. Happy to hear you and Kyra had a great time. Good luck at the library with your reading. I know you will do a wonderful job!

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  5. Glad you had a fun weekend. I'm sure all will go well with the reading and hope the charity concerts are a huge success.

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  6. Glad you enjoyed your weekend, Annalisa, and that you had tons of downloads. Best on the reading and getting back to your novel.

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    1. I've been working the novel this morning, so good to be back!

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  7. So much exciting and satisfying behind and ahead of you. What a perfect place to be!

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  8. I'm so glad you had such a great birthday!

    Best of luck with your World Book Night reading. I'd be a nervous wreck if it were me, but I know you'll do a fantastic job.

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    1. I'm not a nervous wreck at the moment, but I had a dream last night where the words wouldn't stay on the page!

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  9. Hi Annalisa - Happy Birthday and am so pleased to read you had so many happy times! The library reading for your book and World Book Night sounds wonderful .. while your hubby doing 24 gigs in 24 hours is pretty amazing .. all for a good cause though. Enjoy the year ahead ..

    Cheers Hilary

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    1. Thanks Hilary. I think I'll be mostly happy after next Tuesday :-)

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  10. You also have one download from Jamaica. *Grins* Here's to the future.

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    1. Thanks Sheena, yay for Jamaica! Hope you enjoy it :-)

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  11. Came by you through Alex, enjoyed your post , great to read.
    Hope your hubby don't get too exhausted with so many gigs.

    Yvonne.

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    1. Hubby's already planning how to sleep for longer over the weekend :-) Thanks for the follow.

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  12. Happy belated birthday!!!! Did you have lots of cake?? :)

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    1. Thank you. I had far too much cake. And far too much chocolate... yummy!

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  13. Hi Annalisa - I too got her through Alex's post--yea for Alex! Good luck with That Sadie Thing--inspiring cover!

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    1. Thanks for the follow, Amy, here and on Twitter!

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  14. So glad you had such a great birthday. Good luck with the reading, I'm sure you will be a big success! :)

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  15. New follower from the Alex shout-out :) Happy belated birthday and congrats on all the downloads of your book.

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    1. Thanks Johanna, and thanks for the follow. I'm following you back :-)

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  16. I really wish I lived near Plymouth! Looking forward to hearing all about the reading - good for you! (I take it you're reading your own work?) 24 gigs in 24 hours? Wow, he is really going to crash out after that! It all sounds loads of fun :-)

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    1. Yes, I'm reading my own, but I really must practise! Hubby is going to be shattered, I imagine, but he's aiming to switch his body clock around so it would be too much of a shock. Lots of coffee for him, I think!

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  17. Sounds like an awesome birthday! Holy cow, your husband is going to be tired! What a thoughtful thing to do.

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    1. Hubby has mad ideas all the time, but this is the maddest! And he's a thoughtful kind of guy :-)

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  18. I'm glad I followed Alex's suggestion and came over to check out your blog. Love the cover of your book.

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    1. Thanks Maryann. I'd love to check out your blog, but you have so many - which do you consider your main blog and I'll pop over?

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  19. Happy Birthday! I wish you nothing but the best and I hope that more of your dreams can come true. Best of luck to your husband and his many gigs and I hope you enjoy the few you are going too as well.

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  20. Your husband sounds a lovely man. What a kind thing to do.

    Oh, and a very happy belated birthday to you, Annalisa!

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    1. Hubby is lovely, but apparently slightly mad :-D And thanks for the birthday wishes.

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  21. What a great birthday! I have my copy of your book. Now I need some time to read it! :)

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  22. So great! And I'm jealous of your library job. I will have to look in to that.

    Sarah Allen
    (From Sarah, With Joy)

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    1. The library was great, but I was glad to move on. I still miss the smell of libraries though, and have a compulsion to tidy the shelves whenever I'm in one!

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  23. Congrats on your feature over at Alex's place yesterday!
    I've downloaded my copy and have already started reading...

    Writer In Transit

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    1. Thanks. It's was such a surprise to see my name on his blog - he never gives a warning! Thanks for grabbing my book, I hope you enjoy it :-)

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  24. Annalisa, you are going to do great at that book reading! So happy for you :)
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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    1. Thanks for having faith in me - I just did a read-through.... Oh dear... :-)

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  25. Hey Annalisa,

    Wow to you, my friend. I've no doubt your book reading will be a most inspiring moment. Huge kudos to you and your husband.

    In kindness,

    Gary :)

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    1. Thanks Gary - I'm sure Hubby is going to have a much more fun time than me!

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  26. *pokes head in* So happy you had a great birthday weekend, and it was great to share some of it with you!

    Good luck to Peter with his gigs, I hope he does brilliantly!

    And, I have no doubt that you will rock that book reading :D

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    1. *everyone wave to Kyra* :-) I'm trying to think positive thoughts. And it'll be a good reading practice for the book reading/signing in June!

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  27. Woo! Happy late birthday! And have fun getting back into it :)

    Allison (Geek Banter)

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    1. It's a huge amazing mess of words with no ending, at the moment... How can I NOT have gun lol

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  28. Happy Birthday! Sounds like age isn't slowing you down at all. Good luck with your book reading:)

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    1. The zimmer frame might slow me down, but age won't ;-)

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  29. That's gotta be exciting, your first book reading! :)

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    1. Exciting, nerve-racking, terrifying, running away in the other direction... Take your pick :-D

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