So this just happened...
...I got a book deal!
It is a big deal!
Yep a real, actual book deal.
Just as I was on the brink of self-publishing, trying to work out which path I was going to go down and how I was going to fund it, I got the call.
I was on hold to British Airways at the time, in an interminable complaints queue, so when I placed them on pause to speak to my agent, and received the news, I think I just said ‘ah ok great, thanks’ and got back to Delibes’ Flower Duet.
Over the weekend it slowly began to sink in, and when I had the conversation the following Monday with ‘my publisher’ (darling), things began to feel ever so slightly real. Print runs, hardback styling, cover designs, publicity, book tours, radio interviews, timelines, announcements… I kept looking over my shoulder, but no, he really was speaking to me. And they were offering me money to pay for my writing. In advance of publication.
Most odd.
Not a life changing amount of money I hasten to add - nowhere near - but nonetheless an indication of value, and money that I don’t need to pay myself to birth my book baby into the world. It’s a really big deal for me. Well, perhaps not a ‘big’ deal, but you know what I mean.
So here I am, at the age of 51, having written my first book - Breaking Waves - with no professional background in writing or literature, and less than one thousand followers on social media, with a bona fide book deal from a traditional publisher. Go me. I think I’m actually gonna let myself have this moment.
How does it feel?
Well now that I’m ‘allowed’ to talk about it, with all paperwork tied up, it feels bloody marvellous, I’m not gonna lie. People are being very lovely about it, and whilst I have worked very hard to ‘own’ being a writer and to lay my imposter syndrome to bed, it is challenging to do so.
Having come out of two decades in aviation due to ill health, I remember the first time I told someone that I was a writer. I was at the side of the lake about to go for a swim, when I was asked that perennial question that is the affliction of Western Society: ‘What do you do?’.
Well she didn’t know me. She had no clue that I was flailing, mourning the loss of the life and career I had once known and wondering what on earth I was going to do next. ‘I’m a writer’. I answered. And she believed me; although I had to cover my nose to stop it sprouting into a long twig, complete with birds’ nest on the end.
‘I’m a writer’, I repeated to myself. And so it shall be.
What happens next?
Well I have actually written the book already, so that’s handy… but there will be much more in the process to come. Things kick off next spring and I cannot wait. Book publication is due March 2025!!! (yep, 2025). My lovely best friend was so excited to hear my news, she said she was going to buy everyone a copy of Breaking Waves for Christmas…this year. It was with a heavy but happy heart that I had to explain that wouldn’t quite be possible!
In the meantime I will be refining and editing Breaking Waves to be the best that it can be; continuing with Book 2, Little Tufts of Tea; and also launching a new series here on Substack called ‘The Book Deal Diaries’. It will (I think) appear in your inboxes just like my other posts, although it is a section of its own should you wish to delve into it more rigorously (or come away from it!!).
The Book Deal Diaries
I’ve very excited about ‘The Book Deal Diaries’, as whilst I will be writing in the style that you will know from Lemon Soul, this series will give more of an insight into the writing and publishing process itself, including into areas such as:
Why and how I started writing
How I decided what to write a book about
Where to start and where to get help and support
Finding a literary agent
The writing community
The path to publication
Riding the rollercoaster
Writing life and maintaining self-kindness
…and much more…
This will be a vibrant and exciting series where you can really get to know me and what I have learned, not just through writing a book, but through wholesale transforming my life. Additionally I will be taking you on the rest of the adventure with me as I experience it - up to “the actual launch and beyond”. That would sound far better coming from Buzz Lightyear.
Most importantly, throughout this series, I will be holding space for you. Through ‘diary’ slices of my experience, as well as live Zooms, writing prompts, reflections and collaborations. Drawing on my years as a coach and mentor, and my training in Coaching Psychology, I will be sharing guidance as well as some of the invaluable tools and resources that have helped me along the way. The groups that have supported me, the mentors that have generously shared their wisdom, and the communities that help to lift and cheerlead other writers along what can sometimes be a path strewn with self-doubt and loneliness.
As a key part of holding space for you, I really would love your input on how the content for this series evolves. I want to know what it is that you want to know, what support you need, and I will guide you as best I can. Perhaps you’re thinking of writing a book, perhaps you’ve written one already? Perhaps you just know you need to make a significant change and start to live in a way far closer to your heart and soul but just don’t know where to begin? Perhaps you have had some difficult experiences along the way and your self-belief and self-confidence is suffering? Perhaps you are looking for a warm, friendly community to champion you along the way?
It’s so hard to write this stuff without sounding like a TV evangelist, but that’s just because I feel so bloody passionate about it, about building a community with like minded people. I won’t even ask you to sell a kidney to join in… This is me showing up as an interactive, present and connected writer, coach and friend here on Substack, not a marketing machine or mass producer!!
So please do tell me, what would you like this to bring you? What would you like to know?
I am going to attempt to start a ‘chat’ thread (?!) for ‘Book Deal Diary’ subscribers so that there is an easy way for me to share short prompts and listen to your thoughts - watch this space! (and if anyone feels like explaining to me how to actually do this I would be most grateful!!) 🙏
Togetherness
I’m super excited to have some collaborations in the pipeline for ‘The Book Deal Diaries’ already! Keep your eyes peeled in January for a guest interview with the brilliant best-selling self help author and truly wonderful Substackian (actual word)
. If you haven’t come across Beth before, hop on over to her Substack to start to get to know her, and I will be sharing some of the myriad ways in which she has helped me and thousands of other writers, as she prepares to launch something exciting of her own next year.
I’m also thrilled to be working on a collaboration with
in the New Year - another brilliant Substackian and ‘multi-hyphenate’ (to quote ) who writes beautifully on her passion for ‘positive and creative career change’ as well as lifting the lid on her gorgeous and inspiring interior design business. Very few of us ‘just’ write for a living after all…There are other partnerships pending, and if you’re interested in collaborating with me, please do pop a note below or email me directly on emma@emmasimpsonauthor.com
Be part of the adventure 💕
Whilst ‘The Book Deal Diaries’ will focus on writing life, it is not just for writers. I am an experienced and accredited life and leadership coach with a postgraduate certificate in Coaching Psychology from Birkbeck, University of London. What I share is from my soul, and what I teach and advise is gathered from decades of learning, knowledge and experience.
A lot of ‘The Book Deal Diaries’ will be paywalled - both due to the hard work that goes into creating it, and also the high value of the content - but as always, if you’d like to be part of it but don’t have the affordability, please message me and I will comp you a 3-month subscription. No questions asked. You really don’t need to sell a kidney. If you can afford it, then hooray (!) 🙏 and here is a little additional Christmas discount that will last for the entire lifetime of your subscription. This discount is only available for the next couple of days. Thank you, from me to you. I really hope to meet you back here.
If you think someone you love would appreciate access to ‘The Book Deal Diaries’ as well as all my Lemon Soul archives and Exclusive Book Content, you can gift them a subscription - ‘what a marvellous Christmas present!!’ I hear you cry.
Or, if you would like to support this work but don’t have anyone in mind to gift it to, Substack have a gorgeous option of donating subscriptions which remain available here for someone else to take up - someone who may not otherwise be able to access it. A donated subscription will last a whole year, and is a really beautiful way to support writers that you believe in.
Gosh all this gifting and benevolence would make Tiny Tim weep.
Anyway I have been DYING to share this news about the book deal and my new series. I feel a bit like a delirious balloon whizzing around the ceiling now that I’ve been able to let the breath out. I am absolutely rubbish at keeping secrets about myself - I only told a couple of hundred people in confidence before today.
A huge thank you as always for the support and community on here, I can’t wait to share more.
Do let me know your thoughts and reactions below!
Love & lemons 💕🍋
Em xx
This is amazing news !!!! I love how you’ve set up a coaching platform for other aspiring writers - so quickly as well !!! I love that you’ve been telling people you’re a writer - me too !!!! I was on benefits over Covid and whenever I told the job centre that I was writing books about my journey they were super supportive and didn’t poo poo it, I couldn’t believe it! Love the buzz light year reference too, I’ve been referencing “to infinity and beyond” today saying that’s where my treatments take you 😆😂🤣 are you permitted to say which publisher you are with yet?
Congratulations Emma, I’m so happy for you - and for your future readers.