I ache all over and am exhausted, but it was totally worth it! Usually, I would have been happy to wake to the sound of torrential rain but yesterday I knew it would soon turn my almost perfectly straight hair into a frizzy mess reminiscent of candy-floss (except blonde, not pink). I got to the Team Valley at around 12pm, untouched by the drizzle, and decided to take a photo outside Borders. As I stood there, smile (and make-up) plastered on my face, my ever-reliable digital camera stopped working - I don’t want to hear any jokes about my face breaking the camera, please! I was so disappointed, as I’d really wanted to document the event. The annoying thing was that it worked perfectly that morning. Typical! I was a little sad that there was no mention of my signing in the window, but they did have a couple of posters in the doorway and it was only when I saw them that my stomach flipped a little bit.

Ron, my contact at Borders, was really friendly and put me at ease (in fairness, anyone who offers me Starbucks coffee is likely to put a smile on my face - it’s my first book-related freebie). When I’d had my caffeine injection, I spoke to Ron about the book, and writing in general, whilst Gordon went on a quest to buy a disposable camera. I started to feel a bit odd, sitting near the information desk, books in front of me and empty chair beside me, but I needn’t have worried as I was alone for barely 20 minutes the entire afternoon. I had a great time, and I have to say, it was the people I met that made it so much fun. It was nice that people spent money on the book, but nicer that they spent time with me - you know who you all are, and you made my day!

I sold some books too, throughout the afternoon (that was what I was there for, after all, so it came as a relief). There was one sale that I wasn’t sure about. It might seem silly that I was bothered about this, but I said I’d be honest with you: a young girl came over to the desk (I’m terrible at judging age, but I thought she was maybe 12 or 13) and she asked if she could have a book. I hesitated, as I wasn’t entirely sure it was suitable for her age-group, but felt it wasn’t my place to decide. So, I added the personalised inscription she’d asked for, then sat and worried for several minutes in case an irate mother came up to me and asked what I thought I was playing at!!! Of course that didn’t happen, but I am prone to an overactive imagination…

In the spirit of honesty, I’ll tell you about something embarrassing that happened (I told you I made a habit of inadvertently doing stupid things): as you know I was sporting my £10 bargain dress. Said dress fastens at the side (something I only found out after getting my head and one shoulder stuck in it whilst getting dressed). Well, on my way home, I realised that I’d done the entire event with my dress completely unfastened! D’oh! I thought that maybe it hadn’t been noticable, as no-one had said anything as I pottered around Borders. So I did a re-enactment in front of my full-length mirror…it was very noticable indeed. Even the knowledge that I’d probably flashed half the people in Borders didn’t put a dampener on the day. And here’s me regularly telling you how shy I am - what a hypocrite!

If I ever finish the roll of film on the disposable camera, I’ll scan some photos in…if they aren’t too revealing!

The title of this post is pretty cryptic, but let me explain: this morning at the unearthly hour of 9am, I was sitting in the hairdressers (trying to look at least a little presentable for tomorrow’s signing) and was offered a bundle of magazine to keep me busy as Lesley, my new stylist, did her magic. I don’t usually read OK, Hello, etc, but had a flick through. I couldn’t believe who they had as columnists: Kerry Katona (’singer’), that whiney woman from last year’s Big Brother (can’t even think of her name but she had a TV show in which she was insufferably rude to people, as she tried to do their jobs for a millisecond) and Jordan was the agony aunt! It made me think about all the people who have trained hard and tried to forge a career in the media and are unable to get a foothold because famous people are doing the jobs that they would have traditionally applied for. What qualifications does Jordan aka Katie Price have to offer advice, for example?

Rant over and back to the Borders event. I have rested up all week but that could be undone by a sleepless night this evening. I am genuinely concerned that I won’t sell many books, and people will just walk past, giving me curious stares (and secretly feeling a little sorry for me). I have left leaflets at various local places, but can’t imagine that will be enough to lure someone to the Team Valley if they had not intended to go there anyway. This reminds me of something amusing I read here, yesterday. I suppose you have to be very successful to have the guts to do that!

What else have I done? I contacted a few more Waterstones (Sheffield, this time), as my sister has returned from her hols and is convincing all and sundry in Sheffield that Karma is a must-have book. No response yet, but it’s early days. Oh, and I made contact with a fellow DA prize-winning author (via that addictive site, Facebook). It was comforting to hear that her journey had been similar to mine: an uphill struggle, but with some perseverence, maybe we’ll make it in the end!

By the time I next ’speak’ to you, the signing will be over - success or failure, I’ll give you an honest account on my return. And I’ll hopefully have some more piccies for the Gallery…

Well, it just had to happen, didn’t it? The people at Best, in their wisdom, used the photo I joked about them using in a previous posting. Yup, they used ‘The Real Me’ (see the Gallery). From today, I am in a national magazine in my pyjamas with no make-up on, surrounded by mess…oh, and I hadn’t even dragged a comb through my hair that day. It was weird having someone else put words in my mouth - it was written from my perspective following a telephone interview. I wish I could write about myself like that (but I’m not good at blowing my own trumpet - can’t even play the recorder), and I feel it was far better than the feature in the Chronicle.

On Monday, I used the secret signing at Borders (Gateshead) as an excuse to buy some new shoes (got a sale bargain to go with my dress that cost a tenner), so at least something good has come out of it. I was worried that the promo leaflets still hadn’t arrived, but they turned up this afternoon (phew). Now, the question is, what do I do with these leaflets - I have no idea where to put them (and had no intention of leaving the house until my pre-signing hair appointment on Friday). Are they even going to do any good at this late stage? I do hope so, as I have no other ideas for letting people know!

Well, I’m going to rest now. Have a Jane Green book to finish (usually love JG but am unimpressed with the storyline and the unnecessary/excessive swearing, including use of the dreaded C-word), and have just got a book out of the library (by Carole Matthews). Didn’t really need to go to the library as MaryAnne sent me a book called ‘Man Interrupted’ - however, the author of this wasn’t particularly nice to me on another forum, so it’s kind of putting me off reading his story. Maybe curiousity will get the better of me…

I’m starting to worry about Saturday’s signing already. What if I don’t sell many books and Borders regret inviting me - it’s hardly going to encourage other Borders stores to stock Karma. My little sister is going to start promoting the book in Sheffield, where she lives, when she returns from her hols, but I’m at a bit of a standstill now. It’s all very well getting little articles here and there (in ‘Best’ on Tuesday - wonder which photo they used from my website…) but what I really need is a review. When was the last time you read a review in a paper/magazine that wasn’t on an established author/ from a large publisher/ a celebrity? I read a book that has been defined as ‘chick lit’ and noticed that it was in the Richard & Judy Book Club list. I must say I was surprised, as it certainly wasn’t the kind of thing I would expect to see there. A few days later, I found out the author, Jane Fallon, was the long-term partner of Ricky Gervais. Now, I’m not saying that this is WHY she was included, but I bet it helped. Incidentally, I really enjoyed the book, Getting Rid of Matthew, despite wanting to dislike the main character!