With great anticipation and more, Knocknagoshel woman Tina Curtin launched her first book Am I Just Codding Myself ? in Browne’s Bar here in Castleisland on Saturday night.
It as a very local affair as the printing was done back Tralee Road by Walsh Colour Print and a swarm of family and friends gathered and offered whatever help they could.
With a collection of short, sharp sentences Tina explains what it’s like to be a first time, published writer.
She kept the shortest of all for the very last to deliver her verdict on the night.
Celebrity Status
“In my daydream of writing a book, I preferred to focus on the excitement of my new celebrity status with my jet setting lifestyle – whizzing between cities for book signings and readings.
And on my return home, making dates with my friends to tell them all about my new adventures.
However, with one foot in the real world I knew that dreaming alone would not get me to where I wanted to go. And so it began: jotting down ideas – sometimes scribbling on pieces of paper or on my hand. Drawing sketches on my tea break. Jumping out of bed at 6am when I woke up with a thought.
Editing and Refining
Hours sitting at my laptop. The torment and the gratification of finding the right words to express what was inside my head and my heart.
In April this year I felt it was done – except it wasn’t! Another seven months of editing and refining – weaving it’s way deeper and deeper into my heart.
Then it was time to hand it over. My baby. Off to the printer – decisions, decisions. Layout, paper, quantity, proof reading. Fear, anticipation, teamwork, trust, excitement. And it’s time to print!
What will it look like? How will it feel? How will I feel?
It was getting real. Other people would get to read my book – oh f**k – I really hadn’t considered this at all.
Date, Venue, Sandwiches
‘Just keep going.’ More decisions, more planning: launch date, venue, sandwiches, music, readings? Phone calls: the radio, the newspaper, bookshops.
Poster drops. Interviews and photographs. Posting and sharing. Friends, family, colleagues getting excited. Curious. Spreading the word.
Then launch night. Time for it all to come together. And I needed to keep it together – nearly there! How would I do it all? It will be fine. Breath!
My nieces coming to my rescue. Collecting. Dropping. Organising. Wrapping. Selling. Catering, Music. All sorted!
A Wet, Wintery Night
All I needed to do now was relax and enjoy. People arriving – many drowned wet from the wintery night.
Delight. Excitement. Hugs. Congratulations. Book signings. Book readings. Chatting. Laughing. Mingling. Fun.
The perfect night!
Book Available at:
Tina’s book is on sale at: The Forge Coffee and Market Store and Garvey’s SuperValu, Castleisland; The Dungeon, Killarney; Polymath Books, Tralee; Woulfe’s Bookshop Listowel; Benson’s Quick Pick, Inch; Garvey’s SuperValu, Dingle and the Leaf and Bower Bookshop in Ballincollig.
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