Buy the book

I went to my writing teacher's book launch last night. Sophie King was celebrating the launch of her latest novel: Second Time Lucky at Waterstones in Berkhamsted. http://www.amazon.co.uk/s?ie=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books-uk&field-author=Sophie%20King&page=1

It was a glorious balmy evening and as I flip-flopped towards the bookshop, sunburnt boyfriend in tow, I couldn't help wondering what the event might have in store.

I haven't hobnobbed with publishing types since leaving my editorial job in fiction three years ago, but I knew some old faces would be there and was hoping they'd remember me.

The lady of the moment was surrounded by friends, family and fans but she made me feel welcome straight away.

'Here, let me introduce me to my agent,' she smiled, tugging me towards a friendly looking man in the travel writing section.

I trotted after her, swapping my flute of Perrier for Pinot Grigio on the way and took a deep breath. Wow. A real live literary agent. Shaking my hand. As a budding author, what was I supposed to do in this sort situation? Is there a rulebook of dos and don'ts? It was hardly the place to wave my manuscript under his nose...

After a shaky start, involving a mad rambling moment when I lost all track of the rather uninteresting point I was trying to make, the conversation started to flow. At the mention of my chick-lit novel, another guest asked 'but isn't chick-lit dead?'

'I don't think so, 'I replied, stomach on spin cycle. Didn't she know I was trying to impress him? 'I think its ok as long as you've got a new angle or a hook to draw the reader in.'

Stealing a glance at THE AGENT over my canapé, I was relieved to note he was nodding along with me. Thank god!

'Yes, as long as it has new take on things, a catchy title and a nice hook, chick-lit still works,' he commented.

So that was that. Chick-lit lives on! I scuttled home for a celebratory Tio Pepe and a long night of working on my hook.