Ever since I signed my publishing contract a few weeks ago I’ve been completely overwhelmed by support and encouragement from friends and strangers alike. I keep having to pinch myself to see if it’s all actually real! I feel like I’m floating on air, and every time I receive a new note of congratulations it just makes me fly higher into the sky. So, thank you, fellow readers, for being so incredibly amazing.

I’ve received some really beautiful gifts over the last couple of weeks (most of which have been food-related and absolutely delicious!). I’ve been uploading photos to my Facebook page and Twitter account, but I also wanted to share some of the pics here, since they’re a part of my ‘writing journey’.

First up is the death-by-chocolate yumminess that my amazing publishers, Pantera Press, sent me. Words absolutely cannot express how delicious the variety of chocolates were in this package! And, as lame as this sounds, it was so cool to receive a package in the post! I had to sign for it and everything! Add to that the fact that it contained chocolate and, well.. enough said!

I also received some absolutely gorgeous flowers from my beautiful friend, Reesha (and, seriously, how cool is her name?)…

And on my first day back at work after signing my contract I was inundated by congratulations and the most deliciously decadent, multi-layered cake. Chocolate and vanilla sponge with berries-and-cream filling (soooo much cream!). It had a candle and everything!

As you can probably figure out from these images (and the copious amounts of other congratulatory meals that I’ve recently been given), I’ve pretty much just been eating for the last two weeks straight! (Why is it that food and celebrating so often go hand-in-hand? *shrugs*).

I’ve also received some truly lovely emails from people I don’t even know – fellow bloggers, writers, and dreamers. I want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to you all, because your words, questions, and congratulations have been beautiful. And my book isn’t even published yet!

Now for a quick progress report: I’m currently editing the second book in the series so that I can send it off for approval (scary!). It’s weird being so deep in the first world I ‘created’ again. I haven’t ventured there for ages because, before this publishing deal came about, I’d been focusing on another YA manuscript I finished writing at the end of last year. So it’s amazing that I get to rediscover my characters and stories all over again through this editing process. It’s also really cool to be looking at it all with fresh eyes and more writing experience. I’m loving every moment of it!

Okay, that’s enough from me for now. Like I mentioned earlier, I frequently update my Facebook ‘Author’ page with photos and comments, so I’d love it if you wanted to join my inner circle by following me at: https://www.facebook.com/lynette.noni

I’m also still trying to learn my way around Twitter, so if that’s more your thing, you can follow me here: https://twitter.com/lynettenoni

Until next time!