Dear all, 

I'm thrilled to say that Song is out in Canada and the US.

I've long wanted the book to be available in the States, I'd hoped it would find a readership there... given its themes of migration, race, belonging and identity, and of course its setting in the Americas. 

I also wanted to let you know that I'm launching a literary/travel podcast soon, called The Wandering Book Collector…

Dear Supporters, 

Do hope this finds everyone safe and well. 

I wanted to let you know that Song was published in paperback a few weeks ago, which has been a wonderful landmark moment for me. If it wasn't for the hardback you supported, I wouldn't be here. 

Later this year in August, Song will head across the Atlantic to be published in the US and Canada.

And meantime, I wanted to let you…

To my Song supporters... 

Song has gone forth steadily...and I'm grateful to you all for that. For buying Song, for reading Song, for sharing Song. Thank you. 

Meantime, I have a few (free) events coming up in London in case you are able to join. 

Firstly this week -- an alternative Valentine's Day: Voices of the Enslaved: Tales of Love and Longing with an incredible line-up on either side…

What a wonderful wondrous month it has been. I still can't believe Song is out there and being read. Sounds obvious perhaps, but not from here -- in this vulnerable, post-publishing silent bubble. Song is in the hands of readers. Joy.  

I've put together quotes and links from reviews. 

Another update soon! Michelle 

"A strong picaresque element powers this saga." 

— The Daily Mail 

It's just past midnight and I can now say, in the past tense, that Song is published. But I still can't quite believe it. 

I was passing Heywood Hill today and poppped in -- just in case. And there was Song on the shop's bookshelf so I knew it was for real. I had a couple of photos sent to me during the day adding to the body of evidence. One from Imo Denny at Unbound -- thanks Imo! 

In…

Song is about to launch. Tomorrow!

Thank you so, so much for all your support getting me to this point. On the brink of.  

We are mid-way through the Blog Tour, which is a daily online review starting on Monday and continuing all week. Do follow the bloggers to read the reviews. And I'll be retweeting them all @michellejchan. 

Here are the first two

https://thepaperbackpiano.wordpress…

Hello to all Song supporters!

Am heading to Unbound on Wednesday to sign books. It feels like it's a-happening now. Soon after, the publisher should be sending books out to all supporters. Silghtly earlier than they'll be appaearing in bookshops. 

Meanwhile I thought I'd send news of a few events, etc. 

This one in Gloucestershire on June 25th. 

http://www.calcot.co/event/michelle-jana-chan…

Dear friends, 

The first advance copies of Song are out... and I have one in my arms. 

I'm surprised how good it feels. After numerous to-and-fro pdfs and attachments and loose-leaf manuscripts, I thought holding the book would be only mildly satisfying. LIke it is when I've edited a magazine. But it is nothing like that. I fell quiet. Smiled. Nodded. Held it close. Relief, perhaps, was the…

Dear all, 

I have a publishing date! July 5th. Although Song should be in the bookshops perhaps a week earlier. And your advance copies should be in your hands about a month prior to that. 

Backstage, we're now trying to push the book. Hoping for reviews. Hoping for namechecks. Hoping for interest in the themes of the book -- the timeless tale of the economic migrant, and its strong thread of…

Dear all,

Happy New Year, if it's not too late at the end of January.

It's been a while since my last update because there's not been a whole lot going on. Corrections were being incorporated. Jacket art was finalised (see attached -- although the tagline will change). What do you think? I hope you like it. We're now plotting a marketing plan. Backers should receive their copy of Song in May…

An exciting update... 

I hand-delivered the annotated proofs to Unbound last week. That's a print out of the manuscript -- not bound and in an A4 format, yet resembling how a page will look. It was covered in my scribbles making last-minute tweaks and corrections. Imogen Denny, my wonderfully rigorous and perceptive Unbound editor, assures that she can read my handwriting, which I find extraordinary…

To all my backers,

Do hope everybody's had a great summer...

It's been a busy head-down few months trying to get Song into good shape. The manuscript has been edited (rewrites/reworks) by the incredible Liz Garner; copyedited (to make it bang-on accurate) by the astute Miranda Ward, and now I'm looking at dust jacket designs (presently verdant, lush imagery). It feels almost tangible now.

Dear all,

I write a weekly column for Conde Nast Traveller and this week is about the rainforest of Guyana -- the setting for  much of the novel. 

More here http://www.cntraveller.com/recommended/culture/where-to-go-right-now

Also, I wanted to update everyone on Song's progress. As you might know, the book is already written but happily I have a few sessions with an excellent editor... and…

Song is fully funded. Pinch me. I can't quite believe it. Thank you to everyone for getting me to this point. I confess I'm as nervous as I am excited. 

The view from here 

This image is from a few years back when I was making a short film for the BBC on Guyana. I climbed to the top of a hill to capture the view above the rainforest canopy in Iwokrama. When I think back to that trip, I start…

80 percent! Thank you so much to everyone for their support. Unbound tell me that Song is their best performing book of fiction in terms of pace of pledging.

What a rollercoaster weekend it has been. Friday was unthinkable. Saturday, some solace. 

It's Monday here (on the banks of the Ganges, in the foothills of the Himalayas) so I'll be refreshing my weekly column. This past week it was…

Happy New Year!

It's a month since Unbound launched Song and today we reached 60 percent of the target. Thank you to everyone for helping us reach this milestone. 

My last column for Conde Nast Traveller -- 'Where I want to be right now' -- was one of reflection, wondering about what went right last year, what went wrong. And musing on plans, hopes and dreams. For me, so much of 2017 is about…

A big thank you to everybody who's pledged. It's not yet two weeks and we're nearly half-way there. THANK YOU. 

I've had some press to help me on my way (thank you, Conde Nast Traveller).

And I'd be grateful if any of you might be willing to share the link: http://www.cntraveller.com/recommended/video/song-michelle-jana-chan

In case you might want to read some of my writing over the holidays…