I hate gloominess, especially my own, so am trying to bring good cheer today. I want to celebrate my book and thank all of you who are looking forward to reading it. So here is the blurb on the back cover, which I am hoping you will soon be able to have in your hands.
It’s 1984 and university student Helen Fleet is spending her 21st birthday in bed, feeling like ‘a clown, a grotesque invalid wearing bright red lipstick and titanium earrings’.
Diagnosed with ME, an illness she has never heard of, Helen’s studies have been dramatically cut short as she struggles against the crushing symptoms of a condition many doctors don’t believe in and none can explain or cure.
Almost overnight her world is narrowed to her bedroom, where she creates a wild and compelling internal landscape, distracting herself with the absurdities and humour hidden in the rawness of her suffering. Stuck in her hellish limbo of non-living, she watches those around her getting on with their seemingly exotic lives, and rails against her enforced exile.
Slowly, slowly, over the years, she finds a new way of being, and is enthralled by the many challenges of returning to the outside world. The State of Me explores the chaos and loneliness of one of the most misunderstood illnesses of our time, but also celebrates the importance of family, friendships, and sexual love.
A stunning, eloquent and linguistically perfect debut novel.
***
It’s 1984 and university student Helen Fleet is spending her 21st birthday in bed, feeling like ‘a clown, a grotesque invalid wearing bright red lipstick and titanium earrings’.
Diagnosed with ME, an illness she has never heard of, Helen’s studies have been dramatically cut short as she struggles against the crushing symptoms of a condition many doctors don’t believe in and none can explain or cure.
Almost overnight her world is narrowed to her bedroom, where she creates a wild and compelling internal landscape, distracting herself with the absurdities and humour hidden in the rawness of her suffering. Stuck in her hellish limbo of non-living, she watches those around her getting on with their seemingly exotic lives, and rails against her enforced exile.
Slowly, slowly, over the years, she finds a new way of being, and is enthralled by the many challenges of returning to the outside world. The State of Me explores the chaos and loneliness of one of the most misunderstood illnesses of our time, but also celebrates the importance of family, friendships, and sexual love.
A stunning, eloquent and linguistically perfect debut novel.
11 comments:
I'd buy your book based on that blurb!
I too had titanium earrings in the 1980s. In fact, I have them still.
thanks, helen.
you still have your titanium earrings - i am impressed!
I cannot imagine nicer words than "A stunning, eloquent and linguistically perfect debut novel." From what I have read, they have it spot on.
I cannot wait to read your novel.
Ah, brilliant, NMJ, I like the blurb. Now, when did you say I can read it? Hmmmmmmm?
You are such a tease, lady.
x
thanks, david, you have always been so supportive and appreciative.
hey lovely mell, *sigh*, i wish i were just teasing - i will post the date as soon as i have one. i just want to keep momentum going for now, hence the blurb x
I felt a shiver.
A perfect blurb.
x
Hiya NMJ, how very very very very annoying for you: to be right there at the tip of something vast for you, and yet not there ... and having to remain tittering on the edge.
Though I guess strangely there might be some parallel process going on with having ME. Nearly a successful publish author, but not quite yet. How very "okuwaahs", as your verification put it.
Perhaps you ought to have a campaign like Free the Birmingham 6: Publish the State of Me now!
(In the meantime, I'll wait patiently to get my copy)
thanks, caroline x
hey bobo, it's not an exaggeration to say this book is the most important thing in my life right now, tomorrow would have been huge for me, but i hope hope hope to have a new date soon x
somebody's getting it for me for my b'day soon.
and I'll be lending it to people...hope you don't mind. :-)
hey m, this sounds great, getting TSOM for your bday. a bit surreal, but great.
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