I am writing a daily blog detailing how I am pursuing a new, fresh, start in my life.
I went to the food shop in the village this evening to get a sandwich for dinner. We’d had a large lunch and I wasn’t keen on a large dinner, neither were my son or husband, so as my son ate some food with friends, my husband didn’t want anything, I went to buy a sandwich. The whole enterprise should have taken me about 20 minutes including walking to and from the shop. It took me 45 minutes. Why? Because people answered my questions honestly, and a quick chat turned into conversations where they told me what was really going on in their lives.
It is quite an honour, I guess, for people to feel so comfortable with me that they are completely honest with me about what is going on in their lives. I can’t do anything other than listen and empathise, I have nothing else to offer really. And I shouldn’t offer anything, they just wanted to vent which they probably need to. But it meant that my visit to the shop took me a lot longer than I had intended and was expected. So, on my way back from the shop I saw my son walking towards me. He was worried about me, and actually came out and said he was worried I was having another heart attack. It broke my heart, my poor boy concerned that I was having a heart attack because I was later back from the shop than he had expected me to be. I reassured him that if I ever needed to use my spray (something you’re given and told to keep with you at all times), the first person I will call is his father and all will be well.
I explained to my son what had happened in the shop and he said that essentially, I was too nice. But that he liked that I was. I’m taking that as a win.
I received all the feedback on my trilogy yesterday and it has just been so helpful, I can’t begin to say. It was amazing and has given me so much to think about, so much to plan and work on that it’s hugely exciting. I could have folded, I could have decided that the level of feedback I was given meant I was rubbish at writing. But I have reminded myself that I am a debut author, of course I can’t get it right straight away. And another debut author who I admire has taken two years to get her book to the way she wanted it working with a development editor. I can do this. I can make my books, which the editor has expressed real admiration for, even better. And take them to the levels of success I aspire for them to be.
It’s been a good day overall.
Because I am soaring. I am thriving. I am successful. And I am immensely grateful.
Louisa Simpson 