Dear supporters!
Wishing you the very best for the festive season! I hope you’ve had a good Diwali, Chanukah, Bodi Day, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Sinterklaas, Office Party or other seasonal festival and are feeling that this December is a time for celebration.
This time last year we were celebrating our fundraiser “Not the Office Party” which was one of my favourite events pretty much ever. But the greatest gift this year, for me, is that we are about to hit “print” on the first run of 100 Voices books. Look out for our stunning cover coming VERY soon to social media and if you want to find out what literary legend Kit de Waal thinks of our book read on…
It’s been a funny old year, but in the spirit of reflection that accompanies the inevitable feasting in my home at least, and because we’re all about celebrating achievements at 100 Voices, I thought I’d take a look back on what we’ve done this year.
Winter
This year has been momentous for 100 Voices, as thanks to you we got our book funded on 11 January 2021. Wow.
6 February 2021 marked three years since I launched the project, with a dream of bringing together 100 women’s stories on the 100 Voices for 100 Years podcast. I couldn’t have imagined then exactly where the journey would take me and the brilliant writers that I would meet over the 100 days in 2018 that made our podcast. We laughed, cried and raised our fists in solidarity with the stories that were shared. They were honest and above all human, and that’s what made them so powerful. It meant they needed an afterlife.
Fast forward a pandemic and two long years of fundraising and we crossed the line.
Spring and Summer
By March 2021 we had submitted the first edit to Unbound. In April and May, while the country was slowly unlocking, I went exploring the hills of the Peak District where I found myself living, chatting on the phone with writers about edits and rewrites following the first set of comments back from Unbound. By late August we were done. In September and October the text was typeset. In November we made the final changes.
Autumn
In July, while on Honeymoon, I received the first cut of the front cover. During the summer and early Autumn, while my Dad was turning 70, we revised this, and we are just about ready to share the final version - which has a beautiful quote from the amazing Kit de Waal on it. Kit inspired me to bite the bullet and fundraise through Unbound in the first place, so it’s an honour to have her name attached to this fantastic book. I sent her a selection of the stories back in September and here’s what she said:
This wonderful collection comes straight from the heart of over 100 women, showing that despite the differences in age and background, geography and lifestyle, there is so much that binds us, so much we share, remarkably brought together, heartwarming and uplifting. Kit de Waal, 2021
January will mark a year since we hit 100% and while my sister is having twins, I will be planning the launch of the book. In March 2022 the book will be published and you will all get your glorious hardcopies. We’ve also started the reward fulfilment process, so if your reward didn’t include a copy of the book, you should receive an email from the Unbound team soon.
This project has been such a big part of my life over the last few years, and I owe you all a huge thanks for making the book a reality. But it isn’t about me, this is a project that encompasses some of the best writers in the country right now, alongside household names from the world of acting, business and across the arts. Women who have a story to share, and know how to do it.
You are going to love this book, and I can’t wait to get it into your hands.
In the meantime, sending you all the very best for the holidays and hoping you get all you wish for.
Miranda and Team 100 Voices
