First up, you've all been obscenely patient, and I'll spare the 'All good things...' cliche. But, here we are, final proofs, a cover being conceived. And thanks to a recent surge, we're closing in on 80%.

I've spoken before about this model being a curious, unorthodox one, and what I hadn't anticipated was the fear once I'd committed that the book would flounder. So a big thank you to all (circa) 185 of you who believed in the project. We can never know how a book will be received, and as authors we're too close to the work to appraise it. But my hunch is it's my best work, a literary form that occupies the forgotten corridors of commercial literature, yet one that can bring great delight.

So just remains to push on that final 20%: the guided writing retreat (complete with wine, food, log fires, cat, tuition) has come down in price, if you know anyone who'd fancy it.

Warmest

Tom