If, when I emailed a short story to Nik in August 2010, you’d told me that it would be published in an illustrated collection of short stories I’d have laughed (loudly). Because writing that story was never about being published, no, it was about me writing again. I’d stopped writing, hadn’t written anything for a year. Writing short stories was to help me to remember why I loved writing, and those short stories did help, more than I can begin to tell you.

But twenty months on, fifty stories later, fifty illustrations later, a ridiculous amount of emails, a silly amount of phone calls, countless pots of tea, too many slices of cake, numerous disagreements and much laughter… we got there.

TODAY ‘Freaks!’ is published as a paperback and as an eBook. And to launch this collection of fifty short stories, each featuring a character with a real or imagined super power (co-authored with Nik Perring, illustrated by Darren Craske), a number of VERY FABULOUS folk are hosting one of the stories and an illustration on their blog (thank you, lovely folk!)

And, over on Twitter, we’re having a bit of a competition:

So, would you like to help us launch ‘Freaks!’ ? And would you like the wonderful Darren Craske to draw you, in all your super glory? Yes? Well, all you have to do is:

• Tweet one of us ( @Caroline_S, @darrencraske or @nikperring)
• And tell us your ideal super power
• And make sure you use the hashtag #FREAKS

And the prize for the BEST ideal super power (I think Mr Pack is judging) is an illustraion of the winner, as a superhero, for them to use as their Twitter avatar! Oh, yes, you will be made super!

Oh, and, Happy Publication Day, Mr Craske. And, Happy Publication Day, Mr Perring. And, Happy Publication Day, Me.

This Thursday is the official publication date for ‘Freaks!’, that collection of 50 short stories each featuring a character with a real or imagined super power (co-authored with Nik Perring, illustrated by Darren Craske). And, just like I begged for help with ’99 Reasons Why’, I am AGAIN begging for help, my lovely friends.

Nik, Darren and I are ‘asking’ for bloggers to host one for the short stories from ‘Freaks!’ on their blogs. Timing isn’t crucial here, but it’d be ACE if you could host it over the next couple of weeks. And, we’ll give all who host a copy of the eBook as a thank you (as well as my love, obviously).

If you’d like to be involved, do contact James at jameslynch@lightbrigade.co.uk (I know, not Sophie this time) and, as he’s rather lovely, James will email you all that you need for your blog post.

We’ll be using the hashtag #freaks over on Twitter and on the publication day we’ll be tweeting about ideal super powers with an ace prize up for grabs. It’d be utterly FABULOUS if you’d like to join in the online launch of ‘Freaks!’. There’s so much more that I could say, but I’ll just get all mushy and sob like a Gwyneth and no one wants that.

More, soon.

(And here is a review and another of ‘Freaks!’, for those who are curious)

The thing with writing and publishing is that as one book is out there, attention shifts to the next. ’99 Reasons Why’ has been published and some seem to have enjoyed reading it (there are a few Amazon reviews – thank you!). I really and truly hope that others will like it too.

I’m thrilled that iBooks are featuring ’99 Reasons Why’ on their front page in their ‘New & Notable’ book suggestions (it reached number 50 in their ‘Fiction and Literature’ chart yesterday).

And I’m super thrilled that Amazon have included ’99 Reasons Why’ as one of the 365 books in their Kindle Spring sale. This means that ’99 Reasons Why’ will be 99p until April 12 2012. Bargain? Yes, very much so, as it’s only been out 11 days! I’m hoping this means the book will reach a wider audience (I know there are negatives associated with that, but maybe some people will ‘get’ what I’ve tried to do).

But, now my attention has turned to the editorial suggestions from Mr Publisher for my next novel (which was called ‘The Drowning of Arthur Braxton’). I would like to stamp my feet, as some of the changes I’ll be making are challenging, but I know how much better the book will be as a result and I’m stupidly excited about it all. I’m aiming to have the edits completed by Easter. And, there is talk of the book, possibly, being out in January 2013… IF I can pull off the suggested changes and think of a new title. Eek!

See, that’s what I mean by attention turning to the next novel already. And I love that I’m back writing again. I love that I’m being reminded just how much writing excites and challenges me. I wish I could capture this feeling in a scent and sniff it when I’m feeling low (does that make me sound odd?). And, after Easter, I start a new novel. That one already has a title. We’re at the ‘second date’ stage in our relationship, I haven’t quite committed but know that I will (I’m sounding odd again, aren’t I?). More on that, soon.

(And for more on my ‘Arthur Braxton’ title dilemma – see my Facebook page)

IT’S HERE! PUBLICATION DAY IS FINALLY HERE!

I haven’t had a book out since May 2010, so today is very much a big deal for me.

I’ve spoken about ’99 Reasons Why’ lots of times before (here and here and here) and from today my best blogger friends and twitter pals are helping spread the word. I’m saying a HUGE THANK YOU to them and to everyone who has helped, I can’t even begin to tell you how much more pleasurable the publishing world is with friends supporting and holding my hand.

So, today, right now, ’99 Reasons Why’ is available for the Kindle or for the iPad. I’m really really hoping that some people like it.

And from today, across the web, people will be blogging one of the eleven endings. I am too.

This is Reason 99, the eleventh ending, one that doesn’t feature in the Kindle/iPad versions of ’99 Reasons Why’ and the last ending that I wrote.

It feels right to start this story’s journey at the very end of the whole process.

99: the reason why I was only worth ninety-nine quid

It’s been six days since the little girl in the pink coat went missing and me Uncle Phil’s in me bedroom.

We’ve been watching the little girl in the pink coat’s mam on the news. She was appealing to the public for witnesses.

‘Didn’t realise she had a mam,’ I says, looking at me telly.

‘Everyone’s got a mam, pet,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

‘She sold her story to The Sun,’ I says, looking at me telly.

‘Got a few quid,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

I nod.

‘She wanted nowt to do with that bairn before all this,’ me Uncle Phil says, looking at me telly.

‘Do you know where she is?’ I asks me Uncle Phil.

‘Belle?’ me Uncle Phil asks me.

I nod.

‘She’s safe,’ me Uncle Phil says to me. ‘Your mam’s keeping an eye on her.’

‘Can I be her mam?’ I asks me Uncle Phil.

‘No, pet, you’re a filthy whore,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

I nod.

‘Can you make Andy Douglas come back, Uncle Phil?’ I asks me Uncle Phil.

Me Uncle Phil shakes his head.

‘I love him,’ I tell me Uncle Phil.

‘Andy Douglas is your brother, pet. You didn’t seriously think Princess Di was your mam, did you?’ me Uncle Phil asks me.

I nod.

‘You’re a cradle snatcher just like your mam,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

I nod.

‘Your mam miscarried when she found out I’d been banging Betty Douglas. Betty was expecting you,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

I don’t speak.

‘When you was born, your mam went mad and I ended up buying you from Betty Douglas for ninety-nine quid,’ me Uncle Phil says.

‘Ninety-nine quid?’ I asks me Uncle Phil.

‘I paid a hundred but got a quid change for some chips for your mam and dad’s tea,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

‘You bought me?’ I asks me Uncle Phil.

I’m a little bit sick in me mouth.

‘It was the right thing to do,’ me Uncle Phil says to me. ‘I got Betty Douglas pregnant straight away with Andy.’

‘I’m pregnant,’ I says to me Uncle Phil. ‘I’m pregnant with me brother’s baby,’ I says, and then I throws up on me purple carpet.

‘You’re a filthy whore,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

‘What am I going to do?’ I asks me Uncle Phil.

‘You’re going to have the baby,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

‘Have me brother’s baby?’ I asks me Uncle Phil.

‘Then I’m giving it to Betty Douglas to bring up,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

‘You what?’ I says to me Uncle Phil.

‘It’s the right thing to do,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

‘I can’t—’ I says to me Uncle Phil.

‘It’s either that or I’ll make you disappear,’ me Uncle Phil says to me.

I don’t speak.

I’m thinking, they’re all a bunch of nutters.

It’s been quite a twenty-four hours. I’ve been on tubes and trains and walked around Windsor. I’ve been asked about my favourite cheese, made a paper aeroplane and shown an audience a pop-up Kama Sutra book. The Firestation Book Swap was all kinds of fun, but while I’ve been eating cake the publicity surrounding ’99 Reasons Why’ has continued:

• Lots of fabulous bloggers have agreed to host an ending next week and they’ve all been given a copy of the book (which now means people are reading ’99 Reasons Why’!)
• I’ve written a guest post for the Authonomy Blog, explaining how and why I wrote a novel with 11 endings.
• The lovely folk at Stylist.co.uk have given a sneaky peek at one of the endings.
• And, finally, Reuters have released the video of me and my publisher talking about ’99 Reasons Why’, (which can be viewed all over the world – eek!).

Only 3 more days till publication…

As some of you know 19 March 2012 (next Monday) is the publication day of ’99 Reasons Why’, my novel with eleven endings.

There seems to be some confusion about how it all works, but really it’s quite simple. Everyone will have the same core story until they reach Reason 88, then the decision on which ending to pick will be made by the reader. There are two editions:

• The Kindle edition will present the reader with three questions at Reason 88. These questions are entirely arbitrary, working much like a playground paper fortune-teller, to lead the reader to one of nine possible endings.
• The iPad/iPod edition will present the reader with a spinning wheel at Reason 88. The reader will spin the wheel and be offered one of nine possible endings.

But what of the TWO other endings, I hear you ask?

There will be a tenth ending that only ONE reader will see. This one will be handwritten and auctioned to raise money for charity. And an eleventh ending will be made freely available across the Internet (and this is where you could help).

Will you HELP me give away one of the endings?

I’m looking for KIND and DELICIOUS bloggers who will be happy to give away an ending to ’99 Reasons Why’ on their blog. So…

• You’ll be hosting the ending that isn’t in the Kindle/iPad/iPod editions and will ONLY be available online.
• You’ll be helping me give away the ending, before the book has been read.
• You’ll be hosting an ending that has some STRONG language included within it (I understand that this may possibly be a ‘reason why’ some cannot get involved).
• You’ll be loved, by me, FOREVER ( again, I understand that this may possibly be a ‘reason why’ some cannot get involved).

The publication of ’99 Reasons Why’ is going to lead to some people shouting out and having opinions (I’ve seen some already), so I’d genuinely love and appreciate any support you can give me. The writing of the novel was such fun, I’d quite like the launch to be too.

If this is of interest to you, then PLEASE contact the fabulous Sophie at LightBrigade PR: sophiegoodfellow@LightBrigade.co.uk and she’ll provide everything you need for the blog post.

More on the auction, soon.

Yesterday I travelled down to HarperCollins, to be filmed and interviewed by Reuters. The fact that I was filmed and interviewed by Reuters is slightly mind-blowing and comes one week before the publication of ’99 Reasons Why’ (pre-publication nerves are growing!). Those who know me will have guessed how terrified I was travelling down, but the filming was fun, relaxed and with lots of laughter. If there was ever to be an outtakes version, I think you’d very much enjoy it. I mean, how hard can it be to walk in a straight line? And looking casual walking through revolving doors, I mean, how hard can that be?

But, aside from all of that, can you begin to imagine how I felt walking into HarperCollins and seeing this display of my books? I’m thinking that it’s the author-equivalent of a red carpet (and here are a few other photos from the day – my publisher loving me, filming, inside HarperCollins and cake):

There is NO feeling like holding something you’ve created for the first time. I LOVE that ‘Freaks!’ is so utterly wonky.

And this means that those who pre-ordered will be holding ‘Freaks!’ shortly too. That’s both terrifying and exciting. The short stories are all about not quite belonging, the illustrations offer a visual interpretation of the words. So many spend their lives desperately trying to fit in, but ‘Freaks!’ is all about understanding what makes us different. It’s a celebration, it’s an embrace, it’s an acknowledgement of what it is to be on the outside. I hope, I truly hope, that you like our collection. I am so very proud of it.

So, the super talented Andrew Kaufman (his very perfect ‘The Tiny Wife’ was in my top 3 books of last year) read ‘Freaks!’ and said this:

‘Read it and be amazed! Before you finish you’ll already be thinking of who to buy if for. It’s a circus sideshow made of words: dare to enter and become astonished to discover yourself on stage, in the staring role. I guarantee that by the time you finish reading this book you’ll not only recognize your inner freak, but you’ll have learned to love it.’

And, yesterday, there was a sneaky little preview of  Darren Craske’s ace illustrations over on this website.

And,  in a matter of days, I’ll get to hold a copy of ‘Freaks!’. It’s been such a journey. And in many ways holding ‘Freaks!’ marks the end of that journey. The book stops being ours, we go our separate ways. We move onto something new. It’s all very exciting.

I feel I should say goodbye to the little book, wish it well, tell it to stay safe.  But I don’t think anyone else would understand and, possibly, I’d sound a bit odd.

In the last 4 days my blog hits and visits have soared. People have visited from all over the world. And in those 4 days this media coverage has occurred:

Print article in The Independent, which starts with “A new digital novel will overturn centuries of literary tradition by allowing readers to choose how they would like a story to end…”

Article in The Telegraph, that starts with, “In a radical departure from literary tradition, author Caroline Smailes’s latest work 99 Reasons Why has a choice of 11 possible endings.”

Article in The Mail Online, that starts “A new digital novel will change its ending based on the the reader’s tastes and mood.”

BBC Radio 4′s ‘Today’ talks about the novel.

A negative ‘report’ in The Telegraph (no interview or approach made by the person who wrote the article), claiming that authors should have a sense of an ending: ‘If you provide your readers with a choice of endings, or curtain lines, you are not taking your work seriously – and don’t deserve to be taken seriously yourself.’ Ouch!

My appearance on BBC Breakfast – (including part 2 of the clip from the TV broadcast): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17072179

99 Reasons Why: In Ukraine

99 Reasons Why: In Germany
99 Reasons Why: In Brazil

99 Reasons Why: Dutch?

99 Reasons Why: In Portugueses

99 Reasons Why: In Hungary

99 Reasons Why: In the USA
99 Reasons Why: In Italian

99 Reasons Why: On MSNBC

99 Reasons Why: In the Daily Times in Pakistan

99 Reasons Why: In the Huffington Post

99 Reasons Why: In Russian

99 Reasosn Why: In Lithuanian

99 Reasons Why: In China

In India, ‘Smailes came up with the idea – reminiscent of the multiple endings in the 1992 comedy Wayne’s World…’

99 Reasons Why: In Latvian?

99 Reasons Why: In Gizbot

Radio interview: BBC Radio Scotland.

Radio interview: BBC Radio Hereford.

Radio interview: BBC Radio 5Live.

So tomorrow, it’s back to my quiet office, to editing, to my roller-skates, with a pot of tea and a packet of Jammie Dodgers.

That was a rather exciting 4 days.

(For those who are interested, the photos are from BBC Breakfast: the sign on my dressing room, in makeup, my dressing room and on set)