Good afternoon! Typing from bed again, but this time I am fully dressed having just been to the hairdressers - lovely new ‘do and nowhere to go! Trying some energy conservation…

I got some really good feedback from the Julia Hankin interview, and it has opened up some very interesting opportunities for me. I don’t want to say too much in case they don’t come about, except to say that I am very flattered and that they include several interviews! Plus it was great to get ME/CFS into the public eye - I’m sure I’m not the most eloquent person to represent people with this condition, but I will try my best to describe it and to bring some awareness to the public, if I can.

If you’re wondering what’s been happening regarding the book promotion since I last posted, here goes:

• WHSmith - no news (so, as I said before, not good news)
• Waterstones - spoke to a very friendly woman last Thursday and sent some info, so the ball is in their court
• Borders - still haven’t summoned the energy (OK…the courage, to go in and ask about it). I think it’s because I don’t feel like a ‘real’ author, and still feel like a bit of a fraud…

I am still without a website (despite finding a few trial pages on the ‘net at the weekend), and still have no copies of my own book! It’s really quite frustrating for me.

The ‘book launch’ is going ahead, as planned, at Sarah’s bookshop (www.henrysbooks.co.uk) on World Book Day. She’s still waiting for ‘official’ posters/leaflets, so printed some of her own. I spent yesterday evening pounding the streets (well, two streets…my own and an adjacent one), posting leaflets. Actually, I managed three houses before my husband had to take over from me - we were cold and exhausted when we were done, but the dogs enjoyed their walk! I am starting to worry that nobody will come to the signing…I’m concerned that the eyebrow wax and blow dry I’ve booked will be all for nothing!!! NOTE: on re-reading the previous sentence, I should say that my eyebrows are not so bushy that they need blow-dried…I meant my hair! Smile

Before I go, something has been bothering me, and I wanted to make sure I remembered to post this. As you know, Mark Jones (who really doesn’t know me from Adam, having only met me for about 6 seconds), has been really supportive - but I’m not really in a position to do anything for him, except this (and I hope he doesn’t mind me doing so): on his website (www.markjoneswebsite.co.uk) he mentions that he is running the London Marathon, and is trying to raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust. If you are interested in sponsoring Mark or simply making a donation to this charity via Mark’s Just Giving page, you can do so here: www.justgiving.com/markbjones

That’s all from me for now - if you’re bored, and are looking for something to do, why not check out all the websites above? Oh, and www.bdmlr.org.uk - I wanted to find a way to mention them on the radio, but it was all I could do to remember my own pen name!

Well, I had my 15-20 minutes of fame!

I had trouble getting to sleep last night, as possible question scenarios kept coming into my head. I woke up at about 5.30am with butterflies the size of chickens in my stomach, and could barely eat anything.

My mam drove me to the BBC Radio Newcastle studios, and we got there an hour early, so sat in the car park for half an hour, as I didn’t want to go in too early. When I was waiting to be called, I could hear the show going out. It was surreal when the presenter announced that coming up was an ‘inspirational author’ - I was thinking “Who’s that? Have they forgotten about me?” D’oh, that was about me!

I was shaking so much, that my chair felt like one of those vibrating massage chairs! Julia Hankin was fantastic though - she really put me at ease (no mean feat, believe me!) She is every bit as friendly and down-to-earth as she comes across on the radio. I even got a Tipple Tool (Julia’s regular listeners will know about this).

I don’t know how people can put themselves through that on a regular basis - I only hope I didn’t say anything stupid. I can’t bear to listen to myself, even though it’s on the internet. Sorry that I didn’t manage to mention Johnston’s Press in Chesterfield for my sister. Got Mark’s name in, and several mentions for Sarah’s shop!

So, not sure what I do next. Perhaps I’ll get my tea and think about it on a full stomach…

I don’t believe it! Little old me is doing a LIVE radio interview on BBC Radio Newcastle tomorrow, with JULIA HANKIN - I love that show!

I am SO nervous (yet again, I’ve agreed to something then am going to panic about it until it happens). I bet I say something stupid. Must make a mental note not to mention reading in the bath - that’s all I remember saying in my last radio interview!

The problem is that I’m liable to mix my words up - clear thinking is NOT common in M.E./C.F.S. sufferers. I hope that I don’t freeze up or develop my nervous cough… Now I’m putting worries in to my head! Julia always comes across as a nice person, so I hope she’s gentle with me. I may have a face for radio, but I certainly don’t have a voice for radio!

Off to do some more panicking now!!! Oh, and I’ve also had a response from Waterstones, but I’ll tell you more about that soon - can’t think straight at the moment!

Hear me make a complete fool of myself here at 3.10pm, 15th February 2007:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/local_radio/index.shtml

Hello - technically, I’m not much further forward with regard to promoting my book, but optimistically, my Publisher tells me the following publications have requested a review copy:

• In Balance magazine
• What Doctors Don’t Tell You
• Essentials
• Woman and Home
• She
• That’s Life
• Woman
• The Guardian
• The Observer
• The Daily Mail
• The Daily Telegraph
• The Guardian Weekend Magazine
• The Times Magazine
• The Sunday Sun
• Newcastle Evening Chronicle
• Newcastle Journal

I realise the fact that they requested a review copy doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll a) review it or b) like it, but it’s still pretty exciting to a newbie like me! A nice lady at the website, Trashionista (www.trashionista.com), has also offered to review the book. Naturally, I hope they all enjoy it, but I also have to prepare myself in case there are any negative reviews (large bar of chocolate and some tissues on stand-by…) No word on my website yet, but it’s coming soon!

And, believe it or not, following my last post, I idly typed in “thinking cap” in to eBay - there WAS one!!! Fair enough, it was just a baseball cap with the words “thinking cap” embroidered on the front, but still..