So, I've been meaning to write this for weeks, but almost a month on from the launch of Crow Moon, it's been such a whirlwind that I've not had the chance to gather my thoughts.
But honestly, it's been an absolute blast and I'm still astonished, but very grateful, for the wonderful reception that the book has had. We've had a brilliant blog tour organised by Anne Cater of Random Things Tours, with more than 30 readers reviewing and rating the book and now almost 60 ratings and reviews already on Amazon, which is truly amazing.
Readers have taken Martha's story to their hearts and my weird little book seems to have touched many people, which as a writer is such a humbling experience. Many people want to see Martha on TV (wouldn't that be amazing) and are keen to know what I'm going to subject her to next.
Book signings and people spotting Crow Moon in bookshops across the land has also been fun. I've been struck by the kindness of booksellers in various branches of Waterstones, Golden Hare Books, Far From the Madding Crowd Books and Toppings in Edinburgh, where I've been able to chat to staff and sign books. It's been lovely.
The book has also been seen in Vietnam, Sweden, all over the UK and is off the Greenland and Cape Cod in the next few weeks. Martha never know she'd go so far!
Publication day was celebrated with my first reader and best book critic, my mam, and then we had a brilliant launch with over 60 people at Waterstones in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. Huge thanks to everyone who came and to fabulous writer and Team Orenda pal Michael J Malone, for hosting and to my publisher Karen Sullivan, for arrangements and support. It was a dream come true to chat to people, sign books and answer questions about the writing and the book.
And thanks to my partner Ian for the wonderful photographs.
As well as blog reviews and so much social media comment it's been fab, we've also had smashing newspaper reviews in The Sun's magazine Fabulist, a wonderful review in The Herald, Sunday Post, Dundee Courier and Press & Journal. And quotes from brilliant authors who have been my heroes for many years as a rookie, saying lovely things about the book.
It's been a wonderful month and hopefully people will keep reviewing and loving Martha and her story.
Next up, I've a series of events planned including author chats in Waterstones in Perth and Kirkcaldy in May and June, appearing at Scotland's Indy bookshop of the year The Book Nook at Stewarton with friend and gothic queen CJ Cooke during Indy Book Week in June, an event in Gartmore Hall with Stirling Libraries at the end of May, a planned event TBC with pal and brilliant writer Alison Belsham and The Edinburgh Bookshop soon and am stoked to be appearing at the amazing Capital Crime Festival in London at the end of May on the 'Who's Crime is it Anyway?' Panel with an array of cracking 2024 debuts.
And the best news of all? A crow has started to return to the garden. Tentative and shy, we hope that in time it will know how welcome it is here. Until next time!
Beannachdan feannag!
