Today is GCSE results day in the UK. It's the day when sixteen-year-olds across the country find out if all their hard work has paid off. If they're going to get the grades they've hoped for, or if like me, they're going to be horribly, crushingly disappointed.

I never realised how much work went into producing a book. Not when I was a reader, not when I first started writing The Choice and not even when I won the Good Housekeeping Novel Competition and signed my book deal with Orion.

I was completely clueless about the whole process and I think in a lot of ways that was a good thing. It might have scared me off from ever pursuing my publishing dreams. 

Guests, cake, dress, photographer... just a few of the things I've been dreaming about for my perfect book launch for the past few years. Well, probably seven years since I first started writing The Choice, or Class A Cake as it originally started out as. It felt like a dream, maybe less realistic than getting married, but today I went to Norwich Waterstones to discuss my book launch. A real, honest to goodness book launch for my real, honest to goodness book!

Dream. Come. True.

A year ago today, Jo Finney the Books Editor of Good Housekeeping sent a momentous tweet. At least it was for me. It meant I could finally reveal the big secret that I'd been keeping since the 16th of May.

I had won the Good Housekeeping First Novel Competition with my novel.

Like the title of my novel, I've gone through a lot of changes in the last twelve months. The Box became The Choice and I went from a writer to an author, learning that there is so much more to the publishing process than I had ever anticipated.

I've been through structural edits, line edits, copy edits and I'm about to go through my proofs to do a final check before the book is finished and ready for printing.

I've got to know my amazing agent Amanda Preston and editor Victoria Oundjian.

I've had to work hard to pace my energy so I could meet my deadlines and stay well. 

I've found The Choice on Amazon, Waterstones and the Book Depository.

I've seen my cover and you'll get to see it soon too. 

I've been to London to speak at the London Book Fair.

All of this and The Choice isn't even published until Boxing Day, 26th December. I'm so excited about it finally being released, I want to get my story into your hands so you can share Olivia's adventures, her highs and lows.

Have you ever had a tweet that changed your life? If not, what tweet would you love to get? Let me know in the comments.

'Eat the best, leave the rest! Remember Mother knows best.'

Olivia Pritchard lives in constant fear since Mother Mason came into power. Everything from healthy eating to exercise is controlled by the government, all in the name of health and happiness. Olivia hates being dictated to, but to protect her family she must follow the rules or face a stay in the Shame Box - a perspex box, placed in a public place for everyone to judge.

After Olivia witnesses an innocent woman being violently arrested, she is no longer able to ignore the injustice. The underground rebellion 'Cut The Apron Strings' is gaining momentum and for the first time in years Olivia has a choice: keep her head down or join the fray...

#CTAS #JoinTheFray

The Choice is available to pre-order from Amazon, Waterstones, Book Depository

​DETAILS
Published: 26th December 2019
Publisher: Orion
ISBN: 1409187748