Dear everyone,

Hope you all had merry Christmases and happy new years. I’ve not been particularly in the mood for festivities this year, if I’m honest, but I’m looking hopefully to 2019.  I am just picking up the crowdfunding again – we've just reached both 35% and 200 supporters. That’s more than a third of the way there. Yay. Writing has really taken off this past month or so. I finally followed the advice of several people cleverer than myself and downloaded Scrivener, which has been a complete game changer. I’m watching this book take shape before my eyes and it feels like a bit of a miracle. I think it’s fairly typical of a larger project that you fall in and out of love with it, and in and out of love again – certainly the PhD thesis was like that – but now I’m beginning to glimpse what this book will be. I’m excited. I hope you are too.

I’m so looking forward to fulfilling these pledges – not just having the postie bring you this book, all finito, with all your names in the back, but also meeting up with some of you in London for Real Talk, and picking out which of my favourite books to send others. We’ll have a book launch. There’ll be cake. It’s worth mentioning that if you’re anything like me and once you get paid you must spend that shit immediately, and if you want more good book-themed stuff, you can log in on here and upgrade your pledge at any time.

One side effect of crowdfunding this book is basically exposure therapy for my fear of rejection. I am definitely feeling it. It helps to look forward to being done! And it helps immeasurably that this book feels ever more significant, important, needed. Most of all, it helps that so many of you have signed up and are here, having embraced me and my book with open arms. I’m leaning into you as I write up the grim bits whilst muttering, “Argh, this is grim. Grim grim grim.”

I came across this quotation from Wendy Ice:

“By my definition, a patron is anyone who supports another in the authentic unfolding of self. Since writing this is for me a vulnerable act of self-expression, if you choose to give up your time to read it, you are supporting me. You are my patron. And if I manage to write something that affects you, I will become yours. Patronage, in its truest form, is always symbiotic. When we encourage another in their authenticity, we cannot help but affirm the importance of our own.”

So thanks, once again, for being here. Onwards and upwards.

Much love,

Laura x