OMG!
I know I slightly overuse those three little letters, but this is definitely an OMG moment.
My book is coming out on Friday!
I had been vaguely thinking about contacting my darling agent to see when (or even if, I admit I am a terrible pessimist and publishing is a fast-moving, cut-throat and jolly picky world) the book was coming out. I kept getting cold feet, as she is bound to, rightly, tell me off a bit about slow progress with Novel 2. Then this morning, I had a brainwave. I would check on the German version of Amazon.
Well, I did, and look what I found:
http://www.amazon.de/Schokoherz-Alice-Castle/dp/3547711533/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
Even more exciting, I already had two reviews and 3 and a half stars!!!!!
Then I clicked on the reviews, translated them, and found this:
“Brilliant SF novel about the people in an extreme situation
The earth’s climate has changed completely. The ionosphere, which protects the earth from excessive solar radiation, no longer exists.
The polar caps have melted, the sea level has risen dramatically, Europe is a jungle, where a climate is like in the Cretaceous.”
Ahem. Sadly, my book is not a brilliant SF novel about an extreme situation, though I’m beginning to wish it was. It’s the humorous tale of how a mummy journalist crashes out of her career, then finds her true self by transforming herself into a chocolatier. I love the title of the book reviewed, though – it’s Carnival of the Alligators. Shiver! I may just have to order it for myself. But you go right ahead and get your copy of Schokohertz – it’s only euro 14.95!
Incidentally, I have been put in a bundle offer with the wonderful JG Ballard, who wrote the autobiographical Empire of the Sun but whose novels were mainly dystopian SF. I’m thrilled, I think he’s fab. Maybe my next novel will have a SF element. Yes, I can see it all now ….Chocolatier mummy sets up her new shop ….then gets whisked away by aliens in a spaceship who give her out of this world chocolate recipes! Right, off I go, 2,000 words by lunchtime ….
March 8th, 2010 at 6:51 am
How very exciting……I really hope it all goes well! Love the review…hehe. xx
March 10th, 2010 at 9:12 am
I know, the review is priceless ….shame no-one was there to take a pic of my face when I realised ….or rather, probably a very good thing!
March 8th, 2010 at 7:00 am
Yummy chocolate or boring climate change? I know which I’d rather read about!
Very exciting news, best of luck xx
March 10th, 2010 at 9:12 am
Thank you!! Too kind. Yes, I’d go for chocolate any day of the week ….and I do ….
March 8th, 2010 at 7:24 am
Oh how fabulous and congratulations! Don’t forget us mere mortals will you!
March 10th, 2010 at 9:13 am
I’ll try not to, Rosie, but I’m not promising anything ….no, seriously, there’s always room in my stretch limo for you xx
March 8th, 2010 at 7:24 am
OMG…there, I said another one for you. How fantastic. Congratulations and good luck
x
March 10th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Thanks so much, Karen, lovely of you!
x
March 8th, 2010 at 7:50 am
How incredibly exciting! I’m going to buy a copy and leave it on my coffee table, saying things like: ‘oh that? A friend wrote it…’
Won’t be able to understand it, but pfft x
March 10th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Well, that makes two of us that won’t understand it …..you are a doll, I’ll send you one if they ever send me any xx
March 8th, 2010 at 9:27 am
This is fantastic news! I’m not surprised you’re so pleased. I hope it happens to me one day.
CJ xx
March 10th, 2010 at 9:15 am
Oh, I’m absolutely certain it will happen to you, CJ, and in English too …how’s it going with the work in progress? xx
March 8th, 2010 at 10:06 am
Fantastic news DD! I trust you’re planning a book signing tour of the Germany to celebrate (all expenses paid, obviously!). Need a bag carrier? Even Germany has to be warmer than Moscow!
March 10th, 2010 at 9:16 am
Well, actually, PM, I definitely do need a bag carrier, or should I say fellow champagne-swiller, on my German tour and you’re it! Just got to twist the arm of my lovely publishers so they see it all the way we do …
March 9th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Fabulous! Congratulations!!!
March 10th, 2010 at 9:17 am
Thank you, MM, I feel quite bashful getting all these lovely congratulations …but I love it of course!
March 9th, 2010 at 11:09 am
Yay, congrats and hooray! When do we get the English version? My Deutsch is a bit rough these days.
I think the SF sequel (Hot Hot Chocolate?) could definitely take off. As it were. No doubt James Cameron will option it for his next blockbuster. You’ll be huge dahhling!
March 10th, 2010 at 9:18 am
Ooooh, now you’re talking, Mamma P! Soooo exciting …we’ll have to work out who’s going to play us in the film …..
March 10th, 2010 at 9:19 am
….And sadly I’m already feeling huge, dahling, but that’s because I’ve just eated two cupcakes in quick succession
March 10th, 2010 at 4:16 am
Well done. Congratulations. Brilliant News. Can’t you post the English version up somewhere? xx
March 10th, 2010 at 9:20 am
Hi Kate, yes, I probably should post it up somewhere, but I’m hoping against hope that if it’s a success in Germany, some lovely English publisher will succumb ….xx
March 10th, 2010 at 8:01 am
brilliant, DD, just brilliant. But I missed the bit about why it’s in German?
You’ve inspired me to start a novel. Really. I’m going to go and start one now. Possibly set in space.
March 10th, 2010 at 9:22 am
It’s in German because my clever agent took it to the Frankfurt book fair and it got snapped up, much to my surprise and delight ….I’m so thrilled that you’re starting a novel! That is just brilliant. Please write it quickly, I’m dying to read it
March 10th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Very exciting, good luck!
And yes – could you please post the English version as well for non-German speakers like myself?
March 12th, 2010 at 10:48 am
I’ll do my best ….still hoping some lovely UK publisher will do all the hard work for me!
March 11th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
how exciting!! well done you i will buying that! the story sounds fab xx
March 12th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Thank you Amy, that’s lovely of you xx
March 11th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
That is very very exciting. Brilliant. Looking forward to reading it. Lxx
March 12th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Thanks, FA, I am very excited I must confess xx
March 18th, 2010 at 8:51 am
Big congrats darling!! yes the reviews are funny…currently at a loss where to buy the book to be sent to usa though
any ideas?
March 26th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
How exciting for you – I’ll keep my fingers crossed it does really well x