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About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

TELL ME MORE

One huge leap for Anne, one teeny tiny step for womankind

22/7/2015

28 Comments

 
My first novel will be published tomorrow: a momentous event, and the only reason it isn’t the culmination of a lifetime’s ambition is that it wasn’t until I was almost 50 that I could allow myself to strive for things that weren’t about serving the needs of others. So, although I might not have been able to acknowledge it until recently, this is what I’ve always wanted. And I’ve worked damn hard to get here. Hurrah for me!

Yet in the larger scheme of things, my novel is insignificant. Although, because of its subject, it might help one or two people along the road to self-compassion, it’s not going to change the world. It’s not going to halt climate change or make the world a fairer place. Even on a less grandiose scale, it’s just one more novel in a world already bursting with books.
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How do I reconcile these two apparently contradictory notions of my novel’s importance? How do I allow myself that frisson of excitement as I gaze across the room at an entire shelf of printed copies, in the knowledge that most of the world’s attention is elsewhere? How do I celebrate my achievement knowing that most people would (rightly) be unimpressed? I don’t want to dilute what this means to me; nor do I want to delude myself that, outside me and my small circle, it’s a big deal.
What helps right now is to shift the focus from me and the magnitude of my (in)significance, to gratitude for the support I’ve received in the process of realising my (unstated) ambition. In the published version of my novel, the acknowledgements run to about a page and a half. But I also noted that I’d be adding some more names to the list via my website to spread the gratitude around. I must confess that this device wasn’t only to save space: with a novel that’s been in the works since October 2008, it can be hard to remember every single person who’s assisted it along the way. So there was a cheeky logic to the flash I composed about a year ago on the subject of writing the acknowledgements before the book. I wouldn’t go quite that far, but the advantage of having a web-based acknowledgement page is that I can continually update it as more of those helpful people come to mind. I’ve also added links, where possible, to those given a mention in the published book.

Meanwhile, I’m touched by the goodwill I’m encountering in the course of bringing the book to the attention of readers. From close friends to mere acquaintances, both those who love and those who have no time for books, those I meet in the flesh and those I encounter online, I’m amazed how much people are sharing in the joy.

So for now I’m going to indulge myself, partying with friends in the physical world at my two launch events, drinking virtual tea – or champagne – with my online friends on my tour of various blogs. I know there will be disappointments ahead – sagging sales, vindictive reviews, mere indifference – but I can’t lessen their impact by reining myself in now. I intend to walk around with a huge smile on my face for the next couple of weeks. Thank you so much for sharing it with me.

Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
28 Comments
Caroline link
22/7/2015 04:44:47 am

Many congratulations. An ac hievement to be celebrated!

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Annecdotist
23/7/2015 07:58:58 am

Thank you, Caroline, as you can see from the photo, I'm pretty chuffed.

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Claire King link
22/7/2015 05:30:13 am

Congratulations Anne on the fulfilment of a great ambition, and well done on all your hard work to achieve what you have. I just LOVE how happy you look in that photo, x

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Annecdotist
23/7/2015 08:00:13 am

Thanks for your support, Claire. We took a few others which were (only slightly) more refined but this one had to go with the blog!

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Sarah link
22/7/2015 08:21:47 am

Yay! :-) Love the photo. Congratulations.

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Annecdotist
23/7/2015 08:01:07 am

Thanks, Sarah, so appreciate your support.

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Nicci
22/7/2015 01:23:33 pm

What a lovely post! Double congratulations on an ambition achieved and a book published!

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Annecdotist
23/7/2015 08:03:35 am

Thank you, Nicci, so pleased you dropped by.

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Nikki
22/7/2015 02:42:54 pm

Well done, you should be proud. I shall take inspiration from your example as I move toward that seemingly elusive goal, knowing that with perseverance it can be done.

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Annecdotist
23/7/2015 08:04:29 am

That's wonderful, Nikki, it's an honour to be in a position to inspire other writers,

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geoff laptop link
22/7/2015 05:03:16 pm

cool tee! Very very excited for you!

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Annecdotist
23/7/2015 08:05:25 am

Thank you, Geoff. The T-shirt colours aren't exactly the same as the book, but good enough I thought.

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Norah Colvin link
23/7/2015 01:05:23 am

Congratulations, Anne. This is fabulous news! I'm very excited for you. The t-shirt and the smile say it all - you are justifiably proud!

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Annecdotist
23/7/2015 08:06:22 am

Thank you, Norah, I so appreciate you and others sharing in the excitement.

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Kate Evans
23/7/2015 01:07:16 am

Dear Anne, of course you must celebrate, what an achievement - yay! We all know the importance of narrative and story-telling and sharing our stories. It feeds something fundamental in us humans. I have books on my shelves which have touched me very deeply, have even changed the way I approach to life, have made me laugh or think or are touchstones in some ways. As writers it is often difficult to believe that our own work could be as profound, but maybe it is for somebody somewhere. And, given I am in the middle of reading it, I can say with certainty that your novel tells a story worth telling in a very rich and engaging way. It is one of those books which is touching me emotionally. Pop open the champers!

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Annecdotist
23/7/2015 08:10:29 am

Thanks for that endorsement, Kate, and such a good point you make that it's hard to credit that our own words might touch others the way that others' words have touched us. But even if the impact is less profound, it's worth celebrating. As you say, we have a story-telling species – and it's an honour to get ours out there.

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Elissaveta link
23/7/2015 04:51:06 am

Congratulations Anne! I have just read a review of your book by Geoff and just wanted to let you know I have added your book to my reading list.
PS: I am in love with the cover!

Reply
Annecdotist
23/7/2015 08:12:44 am

How lovely that you found your way over here, Elissa, via Geoff's generous review. Thanks for connecting and I do hope you enjoy Sugar and Snails. And I agree, the cover is just gorgeous.

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Gargi link
23/7/2015 08:03:45 am

Many Congratulations, Anne! I feel nervous and excited for you as if its my book! Wishing you all the best!

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Annecdotist
23/7/2015 08:15:19 am

Thank you, Gargi, and I do know what you mean about the vicarious nervousness and excitement on behalf of our writing friends. At the moment, I'm basking in all your support along with some quite lovely early reviews.

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Charli Mills
23/7/2015 12:02:07 pm

Picturing you with that broad smile and colorful cover brings me great joy! Interesting how in today's book market authors find themselves on the spectrum between dilution of enthusiasm or delusion of success. Go all out, Anne, and hold tight to your well-earned excitement and celebrate each measure of success! I'm going to toast you this weekend!

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Annecdotist
24/7/2015 03:42:15 am

Thanks so much for your support, Charli, wish you could be with us at tomorrow's launch party but I know you'll be there in spirit.

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Kimmie link
24/7/2015 05:26:25 am

So, so pleased for you Anne.. Congratulations!

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Annecdotist
24/7/2015 08:42:26 am

Thanks, Kimmie, appreciate your support

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Joy
26/7/2015 11:13:23 pm

Just finished "Sugar and Snails." I'm in love with your book. Thank you for writing it!!!

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Annecdotist
27/7/2015 05:34:38 am

So glad you liked it, Joy. Thanks for reading it so quickly and for letting me know.

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Sherri Matthews link
28/7/2015 10:51:05 am

So happy for you Anne, many, many congratulations on the launch of your debut novel, hip hip hooray! You inspire me greatly, I didn't start to write until after I turned 50, thanks to a series of adverse circumstances having the unexpected result of kicking me in the butt hard enough to get me writing at long, long last. I'm still working on the first draft of my memoir, over 2 years, and reading your thoughts here inspires me to keep going. I wish you every success with your book. I have a few backed up on my Kindle which I've promised to read, Geoff's is one, and I am a slow reader to my shame, because I like to contemplate, ha! I will let you know when I read yours as it sounds fascinating. I send a cyber toast your way as you head out to all your well deserved celebrations. Wonderful moment for you!

Reply
Annecdotist
29/7/2015 04:35:40 am

Thanks Sherri, I really don't think age is a barrier as long as we have our health and the time. As the narrator of my novel says at one point “I never thought of myself as Ms Motivator” but it’s a lovely feeling been able to inspire others on their own writing journeys. And thanks for making space on your Kindle for Sugar and Snails.

Reply



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    Anne Goodwin's books on Goodreads
    Sugar and Snails Sugar and Snails
    reviews: 32
    ratings: 52 (avg rating 4.21)

    Underneath Underneath
    reviews: 24
    ratings: 60 (avg rating 3.17)

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    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.56)

    GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4 GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4
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    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.44)

    The Best of Fiction on the Web The Best of Fiction on the Web
    reviews: 3
    ratings: 3 (avg rating 4.67)

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    Annecdotist is the blogging persona of Anne Goodwin: 
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    slug-slayer, tramper of moors, 
    recovering psychologist, 
    struggling soprano, 
    author of three fiction books.

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