It's the perfect week

So this week It's Got to Be Perfect hits the shelves in paperback. It's a lovely book - honest. Funny, a bit risque in places, ultimately about friendship and the goals we set ourselves in life. It has a fabulous pair of pink bridal shoes and a gorgeous bridesmaid dress. And a VERY hairy man.

It also deals with step parents, and wannabe parents and scared they are never gonna be parents...

It's the most traditional "chick lit" book if I've written (if we are to put labels on things) and it was a book I absolutely loved writing. Perhaps that doesn't sell it to you... my own review of my own book. It's a bit like asking a mother to critically assess her own child.

Woman's Way did say it "really is like a hug in a book" - so that's something...

But here it is... with a gorgeous blue, summery cover and I hope you like it. And share that you like it with your friends. And if you don't like it - just keep it to yourselves, or maybe even tell a wee white lie that you did. G'wan. Just for me.

Anyway - it's released from its current resting place in a Baldoyle industrial estate on Thursday and over the next week or two will be distributed to Eason, Tesco, Hughes & Hughes, Amazon and all wonderful independent book shops everywhere.

I thank you.

It's nice to think of summer

Especially when the heavens are opening as they today. Seriously... if I weren't so well mannered I would say it is pishing it down. (Pish is an underrated, if slightly offensive word. But sometimes no other word will do).
Poolbeg have sent me the cover for the summer mass market release of It's Got to Be Perfect - and it's a deliciously frothy wee cover which made me smile.
Hopefully it will make you smile too!

And another from the book launch...

Along with the news the book has entered the Irish charts at number 18 here is a picture of me and my two at the launch..

And the reviews are starting!

BookShelf bloggers have said: "The books is absolutely a laugh out loud story of disaster after disaster...I cant wait to get hold of another of Claire Allan's books and will be certainly watching for more titles "

So we had a launch...

And loads of people came.
And I read and it was very lovely indeed.

The first pic is of me reading from the book and the second is of my family at the launch, from sitting are mum and me, standing are my brother Peter, my dad, my sister Emma and my sister Lisa to whom the book is dedicated.

The edits are just about done...

I'm about to sign off on the edits for It's Got to Be Perfect - hard to believe it will be in the shops in just over a month.
I had so much fun writing the book - and even reading it back made me laugh out loud - so hopefully that will translate to the reader as well.
I'm so excited, I could do a wee girly squeal!

To launch or not to launch?

I've never had a book launch - ever.  I'm told they don't really impact on sales so I have never felt the need to have one.
But I have wanted to celebrate bringing a new book into the world and this time, on book 4, I'm contemplating it.
But it does seem very self serving. Really it's inviting a lot of people to come along, say nice things and buy my book. Can I really justify it? (Book launches don't come in cheap, for the record, and I've checked).
Derry - the City of Culture 2013 - has a lack of independent book shops and supportive and all as Eason are (and they are FAB!) they can't accommodate a few glasses of wine and a signing out of hours in a big old shopping centre which could hardly stay open just for little old me.
And yet, don't I deserve it? A little something? A little "yay you did it. You wrote a book with a new born and here it is and sure isn't it lovely?"

I veer between saying "feck it, let's have a party" to saying "don't be so stupid" and I just can't make up my mind either way.

Do you want to make up my mind for me?

It's Got to be Perfect - the Blurb

All Annie Delaney really wants is her happy ever after. A big dress. A big day. A big commitment. She even has a scrap book filled to bursting with ideas for her dream day, her dream home and – of course – her dream man.


Only problem is, the current man on her arm isn’t so much of a dream as a nightmare and as for the man currently in her bed… that’s a whole other disaster in the making.

With her relationship, and her life, heading into a tailspin Annie realises she has to re-examine just what can make her happy, while trying (and failing) not to make things worse.

But it’s never going to be easy – especially when she sees her friend Fionn heading straight towards her own big day with her Mr Right. But then Annie misjudges the difficulties Fionn faces with Mr Right’s very own Little Miss, not to mention the ex waiting in the wings.

Turning to her sister, Darcy, for support Annie has her eyes opened to just what can make you happy – or indeed make you sad. And she ponders that age old question – is there ever such a thing as the perfect relationship?

ooooh, and the verdict is in

She (being the lovely publisher lady at Poolbeg) likes it!
So yay, she says yes and 'It's Got to be Perfect' will officially be my fourth novel, due for publication at an as unyet decided date in 2010.

Phew!