A Taste of Happiness

Happiness is finally publishing your book after two years.

That was me on Sunday evening, sitting in my office, sending off for a proof of my paperback. I had a huge smile, and I think my shoulders had dropped a couple of inches. Finally, I had made tangible progress.

Why had it taken two years? That is a really good question, for which, I don't have a good answer.

The book was finished in 2023. It then sat and percolated for a while - something writers are often recommended to do - and then it took forever to go through the beta reading and editing stage.

Anyway, none of that is important now because, as of Sunday, I have sent for my author's proof copies, and the book will officially go on sale on Amazon at the end of the month. (All reviews gratefully received!)

This is book two in my fiction series, which follows the lives of the Beresford family. Book one, A Slice of Bakewell Tart, was originally written to see if I could write a piece of fiction and keep it going for several hundred pages. Until then, most of my writing had been factual and more journalistic, so short and sweet.

I thoroughly enjoyed the process of writing fiction and losing myself in a world of make-believe. Whilst writing book one, I had that experience where the characters come alive and start taking you in a specific direction. I often heard other authors talk about it, but I didn't quite believe it happened!

Like many authors, I drew heavily on my experiences to inform some storylines. In book one, one of the characters has dementia, for example, and that was based on my experience with my dad and how it impacted him and his relationship with family members. The story focuses on the two parent figures, with the children adding the subtext.

In book two, the story continues, but this time, the action centres on the trials and tribulations of one of the adult children. Throughout, I have been keen to explore love in all its guises and how it shows up in different ways: romantic, unrequited, platonic, etc.

The blurred line between fact and fiction

It's funny that we use our own lives to write fiction, and when we are writing for our business, we harness the art of storytelling. I know some people's social media feeds are full of fairy tales, but I don't mean we generally make up stories, more that successful communication relies on spotting a good story.

That is often the case with my clients. If someone comes to me unsure of how to position themself in the market, it is usually because they haven't honed in on the story they want to tell about themselves and how they help others. Once you have that clarity, it forms the basis of all your communication.

This is also true when it comes to PR. Finding the best angle to attract a journalist's attention is the difference between getting coverage or them ignoring your pitch or email.

Life lessons from being an author

When writing fiction, some 'rules' have become the accepted wisdom, such as 'show, don't tell.' This is where you describe how someone's heart is beating quickly, and perspiration is forming on their brow rather than saying the character was feeling scared or anxious.

This is not always easy to do, particularly as a new author, but it is highly effective and essential to the smooth running of the narrative. It is also a practice that is useful to adopt when writing about our businesses. The more we can paint pictures for people, the more they are likely to have an emotional connection with us, and that connection leads to them taking action.

If anyone else is in the throes of writing or editing their book and wants some moral support or words of encouragement or accountability, I am more than happy to provide it. These things are often much quicker when someone is egging you towards the finish line.

Having said that, publishing the book isn't really the finish line, as now I have to sell some copies!

A Taste of Happiness anyone?