What a crazy debutante year...

Has any of it sunk in yet? NOPE

Last night, I went to an amazing event. It was to celebrate Penguin’s 2025 slate of releases, and also the iconic publishing house’s 90th birthday. Did you know that Penguin invented the paperback, bringing high quality fiction to the mass market for sixpence a go back in 1935? Did you know that 100% of the paper they use for their books is sustainably sourced? It’s quite a company, that little birdie graphic iconic even to non-readers and to say I am honoured to be published by them is the understatement of my life.

It’s also absolutely terrifying. This was my second year attending the Meet The Authors preview, and I thought I’d feel absolutely grand and blasé about it, having done it before. Not so. In fact, when I got there I realised that I was even more nervous having done it before because I know now a little more about how the industry works. About how everyone is dazzled by numbers and charts and awards, and how some of the people in the room are literal stalwarts of Irish fiction around the world. There were million-selling authors there, as well as bookish content creators, booksellers, media and staff, and it was all hugely overwhelming.

Now, I am no stranger to an evening event. Over my years as a journalist I attended countless soirees designed to promote or celebrate something. The difference with this one was that a) I was walking in alone - it’s not a plus one scenario and b) I was attending as an author doing the wooing, not there to be wooed. I can shake a hand and make small talk with the best of them, but going to an event solely to promote your book baby, something that owns and captures a little piece of your soul, is daunting to say the least.

Everyone was LOVELY. Book people are notoriously sound, emotionally intelligent and empathetic by nature. I’ve been so welcomed by all and sundry, so supported and really feel the love. But still, I feel that imposter syndrome. Still, there’s a voice in my ear, a devil on my shoulder telling me that I am not good enough, that my books aren’t important or worthy and they don’t sell millions of copies… yet.

And therein lies the rub, because when you’re published by Penguin anything is possible. You have the support of the best team there is, and all of their resources around the world. That iconic little birdie? She’s working for you!

I have to remind myself that this is all still very new. Reality Check is still very much a book baby, I have been a published author for only nine months. My second book is coming in three months. I am allowed to feel shaky and unsure. What I’m doing is literally incredible, and it is going incredibly well!

My debut experience has been amazing. As someone used to what it takes to promote a new book, a new writer (albeit from the other side) maybe I didn’t really take stock of how brilliant it was to be on national television and radio talking about my story, to have a five page spread in VIP or a cover of the Sunday Times HOME. To be chosen as the Tired Mammy Book Club’s summer pick, to be a top five Irish Times bestseller on my first go. As always, I tend to focus on the negatives (of which there were thankfully almost none) and my own insecurities.

What I’m most grateful for though, is the support of other authors - women I’ve looked up to my entire life, who made me fall in love with reading. Yesterday, I saw the full jacket for LONG STORY for the first time complete with all of these wonderful endorsements from Marian Keyes, Cathy Kelly, Sheila O’Flanagan, Patricia Scanlan, Edel Coffey, Andrea Mara, Liz Nugent and many, many more… people all so amazing, I don’t think it quite goes in to my brain that they’re talking about me.

We all like to diminish our own achievements - if we didn’t, we’d be unbearable narcissists. But I am so proud of myself. I’m proud of the books I’ve written and how they’ve been received, with warmth and love and kindness. I’m proud as punch of this new career I’m slowly but surely building for myself.

So here I am on the record saying that I am GOOD at this thing I’m doing. I am not only able and proficient but *whispers* talented. No, that feels like a step too far. I’m too Irish for that.

⭐️ WIN! ⭐️ To celebrate LONG STORY, the wonderful Farnham Estate has given me an amazing prize for pre-orders - the Ultimate Girly Getaway! Every pre-order of LONG STORY from Eason will be entered in to a draw to win an overnight stay for up to eight in one of the luxury 4-bedroom Resort Houses.

Arrive to a delicious afternoon tea, then catch up on all the gossip whilst enjoying full use of the hotel’s award-winning spa facilities including indoor/outdoor hydrotherapy pool and Thermal Suite. Later, return to the comfort of your homely haven for a cozy and fun evening of mix-your-own cocktails and freshly-made pizza ready to pop in the oven. Begin the next day with a hearty full Irish breakfast in Maxwells restaurant and make sure you leave time to explore the estate’s 11km of woodland walks.

T&Cs apply. Prize is subject to availability, non-transferable and not valid for Christmas, New Year’s Eve or bank holiday weekends.