It’s a book! Announcing my exciting news ….

I have written a LOT of words since starting this writing adventure of mine four years ago – hundreds of thousands of words, in fact, and far too many to actually count.

But there have been five words which I have wanted to write more than any other and as I sit here at my kitchen table, staring at this blank ‘Add New Post’ screen, I cannot quite believe that I am finally – FINALLY – able to write them down. Three times!

I HAVE A PUBLISHING DEAL!!!!

I HAVE A PUBLISHING DEAL!!!!

I HAVE A PUBLISHING DEAL!!!

*does fifty cartwheels, drinks three glasses of champagne and faints in a heap of hysterical excitement on the floor*

I am just SO ridiculously happy to say that I have a two-book deal with William Morrow (HarperCollins) who will republish ‘THE GIRL WHO CAME HOME’ and will also publish my second novel ‘DAUGHTERS OF THE FLOWERS’. Planned publication dates are April 2014 and early 2015.

There is so, so, SO much I want to say about what this means to me and I owe a million thank yous to tonnes of people for supporting me, cheering me on and calmly dealing with my various writing dramas, but I will try and express all that in another post, another time, when I have calmed down a little! For now, I would just like to thank Michelle Brower, my brilliant agent, and Lucia Macro, my wonderful new editor, (my editor!!)  for turning my writing dreams into reality and my tears of frustration into tears of joy. I think they should both be given stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Yes, they are THAT important!

And because I don’t think I can express my joy any better than this brilliant image which I found recently, I will leave you with a raised glass of champagne and this …

I DID IT, MUM. I DID IT!!!!