THANK YOU

So tonight I launch my second book, The Little Book of Anxiety - Confessions from a Worried Life. And I owe it all to you guys. Okay, not the anxiety part. I can't blame you for that. But to you, I owe the books. Writing this blog has allowed me to gain confidence in my writing, to understand what works and what doesn't (generally anything about sex works, generally anything about politics doesn't*), and to know that I am not alone in my struggles.

I couldn't have written this book two years ago. I wrote my first book, When My Husband Does The Dishes... two years ago and I love it and am incredibly proud of it. I still giggle when I read it back. It's funny and honest and I wouldn't change a word.

But the Anxiety book is different. It's still funny and honest, but it packs more of an emotional punch than the first book, it reveals far more of me than Dishes, and I feel extremely vulnerable releasing it to the world. And yet you guys have made me feel safe. As a couple of people have said to me on Twitter, you all have my back. I know that. I feel it. And that's why I thank you. Because I couldn't have done this without feeling safe.

Chloe Maxwell and I were just congratulating each other on Twitter, as we both have books being launched today. Hers is about her journey with Max, her beautiful son who has autism. She commented about releasing a book, 'It's just like giving birth, isn't it?' Which it is, exactly.

And then I added, 'And when it's out, you're not quite sure whether you're ready for other people to hold it!'

So, for making me feel comfortable handing my baby over to the world, I thank you.

And I thank penicillin, which was injected into my bum yesterday after a brutal dose of tonsillitis threatened to keep me away from my own launch.

Either that, or do the launch from my bed. But I don't think even you guys are ready for that.

xxxx


*although as I've never actually written about politics, that theory is untested