Blast off!

My second baby is born.

My book officially launched on Wednesday, the launch event was brilliant, big thanks to Giddy Arts, Cap and Collar and all who came.

I was honoured by the turn out and the support from so many lovely people in my life. If you’ve read my previous blogs you’ll know public speaking is not my thing and reading out what is essentially my personal diary to a room full of people had been giving me the jitters. However, I did it. I may have been a bit wobbly in parts and had to pause a few times to take deep breaths regain my composure, but I blooming well did it. The round of applause I got at the end and the kind and thoughtful comments after, made it all worthwhile. I’m not ashamed to say I was a little bit proud of myself. I’ve done things I thought I couldn’t do and it may sound clichéd, but I’ve realised the only thing holding me back was myself. A little bit of credit to my husband here, over the last eight years, he’s helped me to believe I can do a whole lot more than I’d decided I could. You’re not bad 😉

To go back to the start, slightly over a year ago, I excitedly wrote my first blog post I’ve written a book. For a long time, I was nervous about telling anyone what I was doing. Due to a lack of confidence, I thought people might not take me seriously. Probably more importantly, I thought I might not take myself seriously. That I might one day throw it all in the bin and chastise myself for thinking I could write or that anyone would be interested in my story. But deep down, I knew. I knew I have a story similar to so many others, the pain and heartbreak of struggling to make a baby. The fear that it may never happen, the angst and despair as what starts out as excitement and hope morphs into worry and dread. The obsession that takes over your life, the inability to see things clearly, the way trying to conceive dominates your life and affects your relationships with others in ways you couldn’t have imagined. I know this resonates, I know I wasn’t alone in what I went through. None of us are, and yet the long road of infertility is a lonely and isolating place. I hope my little contribution will offer others a connection point, something to relate to and maybe, just maybe raise a few smiles in the darkest of hours.

Lots of love to all.

Tori x

P.S. You can buy the book here.
Follow me on Twitter @Toridaywrites

Promoting my self published book

So there’s five days to go until my official launch and things are hotting up. I’m on Amazon and I’ve got some reviews already, how exciting!

Since I last blogged, I’ve been on the radio again, with the lovely Stephanie Hirst on Radio Leeds (go to 46 mins in if you want to listen). I’m up straight after George Ezra and ‘Bupapest’ will now forever make me feel nervous. Sitting in a studio like the ones I’ve only seen on the telly before, waiting for a light to go red which means I’m live on air and 30,000 people are listening, was a nerve wracking experience. But Steph was lovely and as soon as we started I felt myself relax and am proud to say when I listened back, I sounded reasonably articulate and quite comfortable with the subject matter (which I am, totes). She even let me get a selfie with her after – see below. My husband said ‘You didn’t sound like a numpty’ (erm cheers) and my sister said ‘Just listened. Made me teary. You are brilliant.’ (love her)

So that’s that and suddenly more people are reading my blog and I have sold some books already! I’ve said before, being an #indieauthor is tough and self-promoting can feel uncomfortable, but if I put aside that I’m promoting my own work and think about the people I’m hoping to reach and possibly offer a bit of comfort to, then that motivates me to keep going.

I’ve been interviewed in our local magazine (pg 22) which was a pleasure. Print is much more my comfort zone than being ‘live on air’ (mini shudder). Thank you to my friend Jenna who knows the editor and passed on their contact details when the standard ‘submissions@’ address yielded no results.

And big thanks to Fertility Network UK for posting my press release. 10% of my profits will go to the charity and they’ve also been supporting my release on their social media channels which has given me a boost. Happy days.

Oh yes, so what have I learnt? What’s my advice to other #indieauthors? It’s this; put yourselves out there, ask people for favours, find ways in. Believe in yourself (said in a non-cheesy way) and use your own networks to promote – friends and family will be your biggest advocates and word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool.

Five days to go – eek!

Love Tori x

Sugar’s getting real

I say sugar because I’m so used to substituting words when my husband swears in front of our toddler, that my mind now automatically does it. Sugar is getting real as, there’s 24 days until my book is launched and available to the world. Eek!

I’m having a launch event, which I’m excited and terrified about in equal measure. A local arts shop has agreed to host my launch (yay!) and to stock my book (double yay!), thanks Giddy Arts.

I’ve planned the event meticulously, invited friends and family, my book club and writing group and there’s much anticipation. BUT I’m going to have to do a reading from my book and shock horror, maybe even a speech. I’m not a natural public speaker, there’s a reason I’m a writer – I much prefer to write things down than say them to a room full of people. On this occasion, I’m going to have to step up and give it my best.

I usually try to make my blogs useful to others by saying what I’ve learnt in the self-publishing process, I’m not sure I have anything to offer on giving speeches for people who don’t like public speaking just yet. Aside from imagining everyone naked, I’ve been told practise, practise, practise. So I’m doing lots of that. Mostly by myself in my bedroom at the moment, but my book club are going to get an advance showing this week, and my writing group the week after, so I’m hoping after that, I’ll be a pro – or as good as I’ll ever be!

Wish me luck.

Love Tori x