I feel like I have been thinking about nothing but my book’s release since I first woke up on New Years Day this year. I had woken up in the year of it’s release and there was no going back only forward to the day on April 11th when it would be officially published.
I shot the last section of the book about a year ago and it is almost two years since I first met with my publisher in London. She told me about how her three kids had all been in bed with her the night before when we were really meant to be discussing ‘book stuff’ and I really wanted her to sign me as an author because she understood the whole children thing.
I’ve never written a book before but as someone who reads an awful lot I knew in my heart that there was a type of book that made my heart soar and that was the type of book I wanted to be a part of creating. I have books that I pull down from the shelf and just pour over for hours and then when I’m done with them they go back on the shelf but I go on to create or potter or change something about in my house because I’ve been so inspired by what I’ve just been reading. That is the type of book I wanted to have my name on.
But it would seem that I’m starting to get really nervous about it all. You see I’m a mummy, a wife, a homemaker and a blogger. They are my qualifications. I studied the theatre not design or English or cordon bleu cooking. Everything I know I have taught myself by making mistakes along the way, absorbing huge amounts of info and millions of images, feelings and visions along the way.
I create feelings out of living environments, food, crafts and occasions. Good feelings, feelgood feelings, empowering feelings. And this is all well and good but I’m feeling insecure about entering a more public arena and taking my blog off the page and in to the hands of real live people. This process is no longer about the look and feel of the pictures, or the colour of the tablecloth used in a certain recipe.
It is about numbers and sales and column inches and stockists. I’m up against Lorraine Pascal and Nigella and Kirsty and Jamie and every other amazing author that I admire so much, but the difference is that I don’t have a TV show. In today’s climate that is almost a prerequisite for getting a book deal with a big publisher. I’ve had meetings with some production companies over the last two years. They are very exciting and allow me to get out of my leggins and hoody and head on up to London in heels. But it’s actually fairly hard, for TV folk, to pinpoint what I do. Am I a cook, a gardener, a crafter, a baker, an interior designer (!!)?.
Well, no, I’m a homemaker and I know that isn’t specific enough for those folk who like you to be in a box marked “BRUNETTE COOK WHO WEARS RED LIPSTICK” but there’s very little I can do about that until what I do is cool.
Something that is not very cool is something that happened to me just before Christmas. I was in a bookstore and I pulled a much publiscised book off the shelves and found I was basically staring at my book.
Yup!
I got on the phone and spoke to people about it and how I felt I was sounding paranoid but there was absolutely no way on earth that the publishers of this book that had been rushed out could possibly have recreated parts of my book so cleverly entirely by mistake. And it turns out it wasn’t by mistake at all.
It’s tough out there.
So it’s fair to say that I’ve learnt an awful lot about a whole new world. It’s an amazing place to be and I’m very lucky. I can’t quite believe I have made it this far so to be worrying a little bit about the final stage is, I think, fairly reasonable and to be expected.
So going forward in to the most intense time of this book’s journey what is going to be my plan?
- I’m going to be staying in the moment. Keeping present, eyes to the front and reminding myself to remember and enjoy every single second.
- I’m going to be thoroughly looking forward to meeting some of you at several launch events and signings that are being planned.
- I’m going to be remembering that when I meet people who read my website I am overwhelmed with a warmth and want to take many of them home with me.
- I’m going to remember that I can tell my kids that I was once a published author in a time when there were actual paper books and you could hold them in your hand and not just read them on a screen.
- And I’m going to remember that every single word, recipe, craft or photo that is in the book is an actual part of who I am. It is what I do and will do for the rest of my life.
If I can keep those thoughts with me then I think I’ll be able to start sleeping again. It’s been a ride, a journey, an adventure and a roller coaster. And it’s only just begun.
i love you
Cherry x
PS
AND it’s already been discounted!!!! Cheeky buggers!!!!!
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Cherry, I can’t wait to read your book! I’ve been reading your blog for several years and you’ve got a practical and beautiful sense of style and a lovely personality and honesty that comes across in everything you write. I’m sure myself and many hoards of other readers out there will be rushing out to get your book for the same reasons! I can’t wait to get it
I’m so excited for the book Cherry – it has been on my birthday list since you announced it would be coming out
Rose xxx
Just because you aren’t on telly doesn’t mean you won’t be known. It’s just pre publication jitters! You have alot of people who are inspired by your blog, some will buy your book, some won’t, but your readers will continue to be inspired and uplifted. x
Also, I don’t suppose you will be coming all the way up to bonny Scotland for a signing?
The book looks gorgeous! They are a bit cheeky for discounting it already but it means as a poor student I have been able to pre-order it myself so I don’t have to wait until my birthday to get it! Absolutely can’t wait, have been reading your blog and trying your recipes and crafts for over a year now and they are always so easy to follow and turn out great! Congraltulations, enjoy your moment in the sun!
xxx
Oh the cover looks fabulous doesn’t it? So happy for you Cherry!
I can not wait to get your book and sit and have a good read,so exciting!
I do hope we get to see you on TV i think you would be fantastic at it,you know for me you are the poster girl for pretty living.
Go grab a cupcake and a glass of bubbly and run a hot bubble bath….Oh and don’t forget to smile! you did it
x
I just pre-orered it! Well done cherry xxx
My son in the UK will be buying your book as soon as it is in the stores and posting it to me in S Africa .. I am so excited about that!! To me you are the ‘real deal’ Cherry, and I love reading about your life and times ~ my phrase of the year, and indeed from the day I retired ~ Make Every Moment Count ~
Pat X
Omgoodness!!! That is so exciting, Cherry, I would really love one. Congratulations on being published.
Ugh, you’ve already been plagerized, and it isn’t even published.
But of course, “the bad guys” could have culled things, from your blog on the World Wide Net. Bahhhh-humbug!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best of luck, to a sweet and dear Gal!!!
“Auntie”
Cherry, Cherry, Cherry…You have absolutely nothing to be nervous about. Your book looks stunning, you have an army of blog fans salivating in anticipation of it’s release, (I for one have been waiting a good year!) you have done this off your own back and through some quite testing times, not riding on the coat tails of a t.v show. Also the internet is the way forward, so many more people around the world can, and have accessed your blog, far more than would have seen a t.v show, you’re a trailblazer! So what if you don’t fit into a box, you work the way we all do, doing what you can to make your house a home and it is obviously appealing to so many of us. If television execs are too stupid to realise this, more fool them! I for one love the the variety of what you do, it appeals to the dilettante in me!
Over and above all of this, you have done what so many of us would love to do, you have written a book, (I would have written a book if I didn’t spend my whole time procrastinating and dilettanting!) and that is no mean feat! You should be so proud of yourself!
And finally my art teacher always used to say to me that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, we all know that you were there first and that is what matters. Enjoy this amazing time, you’ve worked hard for it and you deserve it!
Speech over!! L xxx
I don’t understand why it should be that hard to have a television show if that is what you want??? Surely producers can grasp that what you do is exactly what millions of women MUST do every day to make happy, functioning homes to live in. Perhaps they don’t get it because they have a multitude of hired help to do it for them or their wives. I don’t. And even if I did, I would point to your show and say “Here, this is what I’m after. This is the feel I want my home to have. Nice and cheerful but livable.” As a matter of fact, I can’t figure out how the British arrange furniture and I’ve yet to find a book that explains it. It’s completely different than the American way and I love it.
Your book has been in my wishlist since I first read about it here – can’t wait! Being a homemaker is the best job in the world
Penny
Cherry, my mum and I will definitely be treating ourselves to copies of your book – we only hope you may have somewhere in Lancashire on your book signing list please please please!
You have a fantastic niche because you CAN’T be ‘pigeon holed’ how fantastic is that! I, as I am sure have many others, found positivity and creativity on your blog these past few years. You have been brave enough to share your families tough times ,as well as your joys and I really do believe people can relate to that.
As much as I love Kirsty
I feel much more inspired by business women who are self made and not trading in on the back of a celeb busband or super wealthy father …. no names mentioned!
I work as a supplier to the library industry and am a huge supporter of REAL BOOKS, so well done to you and wishing you every success – what a fab achievement.
I know you have lots of American fans out there as well which is great. They sometimes have a much more positive and celebratory view of success than we seem to have here in the UK – focus on that and just let your worries go …. xxx
I just looked on Amazon, and we can’t get it over here until June … darn! Looking forward to it!
Can’t wait to get this book
This is such fantastic news. When I first started reading your site a few years ago now, I thought ‘she should write a book’. You have a way about you that is just lovely to read. And personally, I think Jamie, Nigella, Lorraine and Kirsty should watch out!
I’m serious. I think this is the start of many good things, and I still haven’t given up on seeing you with your very own tv show.
I can’t wait to have your book. Been looking forward to it since you first spoke of it.
Just don’t forget us when you are rich and famous
xx
aww bless your heart (hugs) I for one cannot wait to get my hands on your book ! Stick your Ms Alsops et al i’d much sooner spend half hour reading your blog
Much love xx
April 11th – I can’t wait
Sorry to hear you had such a horrid experience just before Christmas!!
Keep being you Cherry, no matter what all these people think who want to pigeon-hole you, we all keep coming back because like all of us, you don’t fit in one single category!! I’m not even great homemaker material (seriously, it’s not my forte at all), but I still keep coming back!
I think back to when I first found your blog way back at the very beginning of 2007, and how much has changed since then. It’s been a real pleasure to follow your journey and one day I really do hope I get to meet you, though you do realise you’re up there in the “eeeek, what on earth will she think of me, she’s just so organised and I’m just a bit of a clutz” catergory”
Can’t wait to see the book… it’s my birthday at the end of April so I wonder if I can sneak a few not-so-subtle hints to Tim about it?!
Cherry, I’m looking forward to this book very much and excited for you and for myself as well. I’m planning to be in England just after it is launched and can’t wait to get a copy:)
You have done an amazing job to get it all together during what must have been the most difficult time of your life. I admire you so much for the way you just kept on and believed that it would all come right in the end. You’ve been through the worst parts, so hope you can enjoy it all from now on.
xo
It looks great and I don’t think you’re being paranoid either, the rushed out much publicised book does look similar to yours, I have it and the styling of the pictures is almost identical! I think you’ll have much better luck though as you have worked hard on it and have taken your time and most importantly it’s all your own hard work. I can’t wait to buy it. Good luck.
Your book will be amazing. And look on the bright side – everyone who searches for ‘Handmade Home’ (and is into Kirstie) will find you, which I’m sure is intentional. There is room enough in the book market for you too, and the fact you’re publishing at a different time of year will go in your favour too. Can’t wait to see it. It’s certainly going to be beautiful!
Hi Cherry,
I just wanted to say how much I was looking forward to receiving your book (pre-ordered a few weeks ago!)
I stumbled across your site a few weeks ago whilst I was searching for a quilt pattern as a distraction from trying for a baby and felt completely inspired by your achievements and the beautiful things you have made.
I have a long way to go with my quilt as do far all I have is my fabric squares! I don’t even have a sewing machine or the first idea where to start in buying one but I wanted to let you know how inspiring you have been for me.
Hurry up April!!
Anna.. X
When is it out cherry???
I just wanted to say a huge congratulations on the publication of your book – it looks absolutely beautiful and you can see the heart, soul and home you’ve poured into. I’m always frustrated by my real life not keeping pace with the ideas I have. So often they pass me by, fleshed out by someone else who managed to pull it all together, whilst it sat languishing in a notebook for me.
So the fact that you have this real, physical, actual book existing in the world is a great, great achievement indeed.