I'm a published author!
It felt very weird typing that.
I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet, but I’m a published author. This is my first ever piece that’s been published and it’s in a bloody book!
It very nearly didn’t happen, either.
Back in spring the Scottish Book Trust announced their theme for Book Week Scotland: ‘adventure’. The call goes out to everyone across Scotland to share their stories.
I took it very literally. My mind went to trying to climb Leum Uilleim in Corrour last year. I fell in a bog. Scott had to pull me out. Not really worth writing a story about it. I figured I would let this year pass me by.
But I kept mulling. Something prompted me to go back to their website and read the writing prompt in detail. The phrase ‘a new career’ jumped out at me. I was planning on quitting a career that I’d been working at for nearly a decade. Bingo.
The story flew out of me. The night I submitted it I was out for dinner and drinks with a friend. I knew I wanted to have a final read through of my piece so I cut the evening short. As I walked back home through Queens Park, the sun setting, and my belly full from Seven21 it felt right. Just committing to writing and submitting my work felt like an accomplishment.
I felt good when I hit send. I knew it would be a while before they’d contact the shortlisted. But then the weeks went by. Quite a few weeks. In early July, whilst waiting for Abbey to take a shit on our walk, I voice-noted my friend: ‘I really thought this piece was it. I thought it was so perfect for the collection. It feels crap to not even have been longlisted.’
I took the leap into running my floristry business full time at the end of July. During the last week of my notice period the email from the SBT landed in my inbox. Congratulations, your piece has been selected. I’ll confess, I was scrolling and checking my email whilst on the loo. I wish I had a better story, but there we go. I actually squealed with delight, right there on the loo.
Leaving my part time job was scary. During that final week the fear was settling in. But getting the news I was going to be a published author during that week was the sign I needed.
About the book
The book contains essays, stories and poems from 30 authors. There’s stories in English, Scots and Gaelic. You’re taken from Glasgow in the 60s, to the Falkirk Wheel, up to Shetland and back down to the Central Belt. There’s stories from all walks of life.
I read it in one sitting. Candles lit, bathtub bursting with bubbles, I read until the water turned cold. It’s such a special collection.
My piece is called ‘A Floral Tribute’. I tell you about my Grandma’s final adventure to Glasgow, how I ran a wreath workshop for my friends during lockdown and that planting the seed for Rook Botanics. Then how I got the call to tell me my Grandma was dying and how I was unable to visit her due to restrictions. I was able to go to Derby for her funeral and made her a heart shaped floral tribute with pink carnations. This ended up being the catalyst for my return to floristry.
It was hard to write. But I’m so pleased I did. It’s the best way I could honour my Grandma. This might sound ridic, but I’ve been so absorbed in my own head about being a published author, that I forgot people are actually going to read my work. The other day I received a message on IG from someone telling me my piece really resonated because they’d lost a grandparent during the pandemic. That feels so special.
All the authors were invited to record an audio version too. I’m not going to admit how many times I re-recorded the line: The evening sun pierced through the clouds, streaks of gold were painted across the loch. Every single time it sounded like ‘lock’. I imagined receiving hate mail for being too English.
The book launch
To be expected, I went all out. I foraged rose hips and ivy, and bought a wee pink rose plant. With these I made myself a floral headdress. I was allowed to invite two guests. I also made flowers for them, a buttonhole for Scott and a mess of hips and greenery for Lucy’s hair.
Scott bought first class train tickets over to Edinburgh, so it would feel special. In reality, there’s very little difference, except a slightly nicer fabric on the seats. We bought cocktail tinnies from M&S, I felt flushed and giddy when we pulled into Waverley.
There was free prosecco. I knew ‘author photographs’ were on the agenda, so I drank fast. Regardless, the photographer told me I looked ‘terrified’.
After photographs I was asked to sign a couple copies of the book. Utter panic. I like to be prepared, you see. Do you use the signature you use at the bank? That seems boring. Do I use my full name? It’s so long. So I settled on ‘Sarah’ followed by a wee daisy. Due to the prosecco, each daisy very much had it’s own character.
I’ve spent the last week signing more copies to post off to friends and relatives. If you’re struggling to get hold of one and would like a copy, let me know - it will be signed of course!
I really hope there will be a time when I’m writing to tell you I’ve published my own book.
Yours sincerely,
A published author
I hadn't realised it was the Scottish Book Week book ❤️