I have so much to say about this. The first is this post is wonderfully honest. The second is I can feel your emotion, I wonder if the initial feelings of being tearful was around the birth of your book and the experience it linked to, a release of some sorts. The words are still coming to mind but it’s a hell of a lot to write about grief in such depth, and then have it out there for the world to read. An acceptance that these experiences happened to you, a full circle, here it is on the page.
Finally, I’ve preordered (obviously) and it’s worth every penny. The hours you’ve put into it! Your hourly rate is in pennies if not less! I’m sure those comments were in jest but it might also be a) a lack of understanding of the process and b) dare I say it the negativity that rises in others when they see someone else accomplish something. I don’t think people mean it in a bad way but still there’s always a reason. We all support you here! So so excited for you. I cannot wait to read, and I cannot wait to work with you on the burnout rebellion. You are awesome. We are all cheering you on! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 xxxx
I read a really powerful article today about a man who had a 'sound bath' experience, and found himself crying like a baby for 30 minutes afterwards. Not something he anticipated, but he likened it to 'passing an emotional stool' which I thought was brilliant. Sometimes the emotions come out when we least expect, when we think we're all done with them. I'm sure there is some latent grief still there. Thank you for pre-ordering you are so lovely, and yes my hourly rate is definitely not more than pennies over 2 years considering what I get for each sale, but that's not why I went into it. I just wanted to get those words into the world. Thank you SO much for your support, you really are a superstar. So looking forward to our burnout rebellion chat! xx
Congratulations!!! 🥳 I remember posting my first piece of writing on Facebook and feeling anxious and it wasn’t even that personal and it was only to people I know 💚🤣
Good luck 🍀 I found myself feeling less anxious once the positive feedback started rolling in and people praised my writing ✍️ I haven’t had one rude comment yet, and even if you do get one, meh so what. Can’t all like the same things. I’m absolutely sure your book is going to be enjoyed (based on the samples!).
Oh my what a rollercoaster 🙃 So excited for you, and hope to taste all of that myself someday. I often find it strangely hard to know what to do with successes and good things in life, somehow I'm much more adept at a crisis.... Anyway, very much looking forward to reading your book 😃
Yes I'm much better in a crisis, I feel calm and confident when the proverbial hits the fan (mostly) but like you, sometimes unsure how to manage the successes. Complex beings we are... Thank you, and I have no doubt whatsoever that you will find yourself in this very place before too long xx
Firstly huge, huge congratulations! I’m also struck at the contrast between your honesty & vulnerability on the page & the disconnect when that writing leaves you & it comes a book. It’s no wonder it leaves you feeling all the feels. What a thing you’ve achieved & are now entrusting with others. I’ll be ordering & if you ever fancy a trip to Yorkshire I know a lovely little indie bookshop writers group who’d love to meet you.
I feel a bit like I've given my book baby away at the moment. Others are owning it now, but that's how I wanted it to be! Oh I'd love to meet your indie writers group, I'll have to make sure Yorkshire is on my travels. Thank you lovely x
Yay!! So so happy for you and thank you for being real and taking us behind the scenes of the rollercoaster of it all. Pre orders are exciting because we have time and we can order it as Christmas presents to arrive as a surprise extra! There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be on that best seller list. Who’s going to call Lorraine?! ♥️♥️📚♥️♥️🌊
Oh wow Emma! I wonder what emotion you’ll feel when I tell you I’m inspired by you.
What an achievement to have written a whole book which is now available for pre-order…at Waterstones 🤯!!
I hope you will feel proud, satisfied and delighted that you have created something beautiful, which only you could have done & which encourages us all that we could do something amazing for ourselves too. Congratulations 🥳
Oh Karen what a lovely thing to say, that makes me feel very emotional indeed!! I still can't quite believe the book is there - it really is quite mind bending, although it really is wonderful. I do feel proud, and I hope that by knowing I came to this in my fifties (I'm 52), people will know that there is always scope to change path and follow that dream. Thank you so so much xx
What a beautifully honest post, about a book which sounds amazing and a journey to publication which is so authentic. I sometimes wonder at the world which drops in to criticise without care for the impact - your point about acknowledging the ‘fear rising’ and that intentional act of celebration is the perfect response. We’ll be here to keep you celebrating an incredible book - and my copy is due to land on the day my Dad would have turned 100. Even though that will be 10 years on from celebrating the life of that wonderful, kind man and the grief is now settled in to loving who he was to me, I always take his birthday off and pause and notice him, and as he loved books so much I usually buy and start a new book so this is so perfect I can’t wait.
This is so exciting, but all of those emotions you’re feeling make sense in that this isn’t just some pieces of paper, it’s you and your story lovingly, and painstakingly, poured into a book. I loved the video! I will be pre-ordering! Looking forward to catching up xxx
I’ve had to do a lot of work to overcome the fear of repercussion in recent years and there’s been a lot around what I have to say and how people will respond to that. It’s great to know I’m not the only one preparing myself for this!
Cait flanders shared a brillluajt piece (behind her paywall I think) about her lessons learned writing a highly successful memoir - without therapy or space holders! It’s worth paying for her space just for that one piece. Or at the very least checking in on Who you have to hold space for you as you catapult yourself into the unknown and beyond.
I learnt loads in her sharing, identified with all the work I’ve done to prepare me for what’s to come which was really helpful and affirming. My biggest takeaways though were the feedback from others. Apparently it’s very common for readers to critique that it’s “too self indulgent” (a memoir, really!?!) and comment that “another privileged white woman goes on a journey”. I found it really helpful to understand those because at least when we might get them, we know it’s nothing personal. And then if we can apply that same knowing to every single one, then we’ll be laughing😃
I have so much to say about this. The first is this post is wonderfully honest. The second is I can feel your emotion, I wonder if the initial feelings of being tearful was around the birth of your book and the experience it linked to, a release of some sorts. The words are still coming to mind but it’s a hell of a lot to write about grief in such depth, and then have it out there for the world to read. An acceptance that these experiences happened to you, a full circle, here it is on the page.
Finally, I’ve preordered (obviously) and it’s worth every penny. The hours you’ve put into it! Your hourly rate is in pennies if not less! I’m sure those comments were in jest but it might also be a) a lack of understanding of the process and b) dare I say it the negativity that rises in others when they see someone else accomplish something. I don’t think people mean it in a bad way but still there’s always a reason. We all support you here! So so excited for you. I cannot wait to read, and I cannot wait to work with you on the burnout rebellion. You are awesome. We are all cheering you on! 🎉🎉🎉🎉 xxxx
I read a really powerful article today about a man who had a 'sound bath' experience, and found himself crying like a baby for 30 minutes afterwards. Not something he anticipated, but he likened it to 'passing an emotional stool' which I thought was brilliant. Sometimes the emotions come out when we least expect, when we think we're all done with them. I'm sure there is some latent grief still there. Thank you for pre-ordering you are so lovely, and yes my hourly rate is definitely not more than pennies over 2 years considering what I get for each sale, but that's not why I went into it. I just wanted to get those words into the world. Thank you SO much for your support, you really are a superstar. So looking forward to our burnout rebellion chat! xx
Congratulations!!! 🥳 I remember posting my first piece of writing on Facebook and feeling anxious and it wasn’t even that personal and it was only to people I know 💚🤣
It's so exposing isn't it!! Trying to be brave and stand behind my words. Wish me luck! xx
Good luck 🍀 I found myself feeling less anxious once the positive feedback started rolling in and people praised my writing ✍️ I haven’t had one rude comment yet, and even if you do get one, meh so what. Can’t all like the same things. I’m absolutely sure your book is going to be enjoyed (based on the samples!).
👏👏❤️❤️
Oh my what a rollercoaster 🙃 So excited for you, and hope to taste all of that myself someday. I often find it strangely hard to know what to do with successes and good things in life, somehow I'm much more adept at a crisis.... Anyway, very much looking forward to reading your book 😃
Yes I'm much better in a crisis, I feel calm and confident when the proverbial hits the fan (mostly) but like you, sometimes unsure how to manage the successes. Complex beings we are... Thank you, and I have no doubt whatsoever that you will find yourself in this very place before too long xx
Firstly huge, huge congratulations! I’m also struck at the contrast between your honesty & vulnerability on the page & the disconnect when that writing leaves you & it comes a book. It’s no wonder it leaves you feeling all the feels. What a thing you’ve achieved & are now entrusting with others. I’ll be ordering & if you ever fancy a trip to Yorkshire I know a lovely little indie bookshop writers group who’d love to meet you.
I feel a bit like I've given my book baby away at the moment. Others are owning it now, but that's how I wanted it to be! Oh I'd love to meet your indie writers group, I'll have to make sure Yorkshire is on my travels. Thank you lovely x
Yay!! So so happy for you and thank you for being real and taking us behind the scenes of the rollercoaster of it all. Pre orders are exciting because we have time and we can order it as Christmas presents to arrive as a surprise extra! There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be on that best seller list. Who’s going to call Lorraine?! ♥️♥️📚♥️♥️🌊
Haha yes let's call Lorraine!! Thank you darling for your constant advice and support. You're just brilliant x
⛳️📚✨✨✨
Oh wow Emma! I wonder what emotion you’ll feel when I tell you I’m inspired by you.
What an achievement to have written a whole book which is now available for pre-order…at Waterstones 🤯!!
I hope you will feel proud, satisfied and delighted that you have created something beautiful, which only you could have done & which encourages us all that we could do something amazing for ourselves too. Congratulations 🥳
Oh Karen what a lovely thing to say, that makes me feel very emotional indeed!! I still can't quite believe the book is there - it really is quite mind bending, although it really is wonderful. I do feel proud, and I hope that by knowing I came to this in my fifties (I'm 52), people will know that there is always scope to change path and follow that dream. Thank you so so much xx
Fucking A indeed Emma! Congratulations!!! 👏
You'll work the rest out, just celebrate for now! 🎉 😘
Yep, I'm not very good at giving myself those moments, which is interesting... One to work on! Perhaps with some champagne xx
Oof! Thank you for writing so honestly, Emma.
Too honest?? (You can tell I’m not very robust right now!!)
Brene Brown writes about her ‘vulnerability hangover’. Its not that you’re ‘too’ anything ❤️
ooh that sounds interesting. I'll have a look at that. I do love a bit of Brene...
Beautifully, llovably honest Emma ❤️🩹
🫶
What a beautifully honest post, about a book which sounds amazing and a journey to publication which is so authentic. I sometimes wonder at the world which drops in to criticise without care for the impact - your point about acknowledging the ‘fear rising’ and that intentional act of celebration is the perfect response. We’ll be here to keep you celebrating an incredible book - and my copy is due to land on the day my Dad would have turned 100. Even though that will be 10 years on from celebrating the life of that wonderful, kind man and the grief is now settled in to loving who he was to me, I always take his birthday off and pause and notice him, and as he loved books so much I usually buy and start a new book so this is so perfect I can’t wait.
Thank you Sarah, and your book sounds beautiful. Is it about your dad? When will it be out? ❤️
So excited for you Emma - Can't wait to order my own copy and have you sign it!
Thanks so much Emily, I hope it can get shipped to Canada - I honestly have no idea how that even works!! xx
This is so exciting, but all of those emotions you’re feeling make sense in that this isn’t just some pieces of paper, it’s you and your story lovingly, and painstakingly, poured into a book. I loved the video! I will be pre-ordering! Looking forward to catching up xxx
I’ve had to do a lot of work to overcome the fear of repercussion in recent years and there’s been a lot around what I have to say and how people will respond to that. It’s great to know I’m not the only one preparing myself for this!
Cait flanders shared a brillluajt piece (behind her paywall I think) about her lessons learned writing a highly successful memoir - without therapy or space holders! It’s worth paying for her space just for that one piece. Or at the very least checking in on Who you have to hold space for you as you catapult yourself into the unknown and beyond.
I learnt loads in her sharing, identified with all the work I’ve done to prepare me for what’s to come which was really helpful and affirming. My biggest takeaways though were the feedback from others. Apparently it’s very common for readers to critique that it’s “too self indulgent” (a memoir, really!?!) and comment that “another privileged white woman goes on a journey”. I found it really helpful to understand those because at least when we might get them, we know it’s nothing personal. And then if we can apply that same knowing to every single one, then we’ll be laughing😃