What it feels like to see your debut novel for sale

Yesterday was a very special day.

I saw my debut novel, ‘The Circus Train’, available for pre-order for the first time at a bookstore I used to go to as a kid.

Even though I knew this would happen at some point, nothing could have prepared me for the overwhelming feelings and emotions I experienced.

My Mum was the one who told me. She’d stumbled across my name listed as one of the authors on the HarperCollins Canada website. There was no cover image, no bio, and no book summary. There were links through to Indigo, which is the largest bookstore chain in Canada, and to Amazon and then to a bunch of independent retailers.

With trembling fingers, not even believing the links would actually work, I clicked through and bam, there it was! I got all giddy and excited and then was almost reduced to tears.

‘The Circus Train’ is just a novel to most people. But to me, it represents so much more. It’s the sum of over a decade of insanely hard work, education, and sacrifice. It’s a testament to what one can achieve when they put blinders on and refuse to take ‘no’ for an answer.

It was also a reminder of just how fortunate I am. As the world crumbled around me and COVID-19 claimed the lives of so many people, I somehow managed to win the proverbial lottery. It is one thing to know that your family are safe and healthy. But to receive multiple book deals at the height of a global pandemic? Sometimes, I don’t understand how life works.

I am so incredibly grateful to my agent, editors, family and friends. There will be more to come on this story (this is just the beginning) but for now, I am overjoyed to say that ‘The Circus Train’ is officially taking passengers.

More places to pre-order from are coming soon! Check The Circus Train page on my site for the most current updates on this!