It's the big day. 29 October 2020 and IMMORTAL is officially out. All you wonderful people who have subscribed should already have your copies, and I know that some of you have even finished it (apparently long books are in vogue at the moment - er, something to do with lockdown - and probably just as well, given the size of this one). So there we are. Is this the end of a journey, or the beginning?
The answer, really, is both. It's the end of the fun bit for me, which is the writing. Things become scary when reviews start arriving, and they are already bubbling up, with Lark Reviews first to appear and a blog tour starting today with the Bookliterati site. Its blogger, Juliet, has made my day: she says the book has made her listen to some Beethoven, which for me means "mission accomplished". (Here's her full review.)
I'm also hoping to have a very special video to share with you shortly - and we're plotting an online event on Zoom for a couple of weeks' time, so there'll be another update with details of that soon. A proper launch party, with drinks and hugs, will have to wait until such things are allowed again, but if you have pledged for attending it, do not despair, we will get there!
If you have enjoyed being part of IMMORTAL's journey thus far, here are a few ways you can help this next stage:
• You could post a review on bookshop sites, a blog, social media, wherever you like - best, naturally, if you liked the book...
• You could buy extra copies for friends and family for Christmas and birthdays.
• If you're a member of a book club, you could suggest it for them. In normal times I'd offer to come and have a chat with the group - and if you meet online, come to think of it, I could still do so.
• If you're a member of a music society that is able to host activities or concerts, whether online or in person, you could recommend it to members or stock copies to sell at events.
• Persuade your local bookshop to stock some copies. This doesn't happen automatically.
• Simply tell your friends how much you enjoyed it (assuming you did!).
Thank you a thousand times, and please keep fingers crossed for us all - Luigi, Pepi, Tesi and me - in the days ahead.