Trailer Launch on January 27th

Today I have mostly been sitting in the Covent Garden Hotel trying to prepare for my first ever My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece event this evening. And by prepare I mean making tea in the little teapot, staring in the mirror and trying to conquer my nerves. Orion have organised a bit of a shin dig for me and some literary folk to premiere the book's promotional trailer (you can find it on the books page if you're interested). The director and actor did a great job capturing the spirit of the novel so I'm delighted with it! Hope the reviewers etc like it too. I'm then going to do a small interview type thing hence the reason I'm on my third PG Tips, practising my answers. 'Hi, I'm Annabel, author of The Mantelpiece Lives on My Sister…' Never done anything like this before. Will let you know how it goes.

Earlier this week I was in Suffolk at a book signing. When my publicist said I would be signing 1500 books, I imagined a long line of excited school kids and me perched at a table with a brand new fountain pen, discussing literature with enthusiastic teenagers. The reality was somewhat different. I did sign 1500 books, but in a cold printing factory not a book shop. Still. It was amazing. Up there with my life highlights actually. Up until then, I hadn't seen a finished copy of the book, let alone 1500 of them, all piled up and brand new and ready for the shops. It even had a blurb. A blurb. On my story! I guess I can finally say that Mantelpiece is a proper book and not just a manuscript on A4 paper on my IKEA desk in Yorkshire. Exciting times.