There's a first time for everything...including publishing books..

And whilst we’re on the subject of my book, which we weren’t but we are now. It’s been a while since I sat down and wrote a post that didn’t have a story in it but which simply discussed what might be going on in my head. So I thought I’d take this opportunity to tell you how life is now that I have finished writing my book and more critically, found a publisher to publish it.

Lets go back for a moment. I began this project on a whim. I was looking for something to do with my life and when I had the idea, I felt right inside of me that I had found a concept with resonance. Quite apart from anything else, I figured that I would never be short of material because pretty much every human being has got something to say about virginity loss. Starting this blog only opened the field wider and connected me to a whole bunch of people whom I might not have encountered in everyday life. To this day I love gathering and hearing these stories.

It might sound strange to say it but for me, this project was never about virginity loss per se. It was more that I wanted to get people to tell stories about their lives, to talk about what’s under the surface, to talk about the things that we don’t talk about. I wanted to know what people really thought about the intimate experiences in their lives, and not what they thought they should think. Asking people to talk about such a singular moment turned out to be the key to the door.

Along the way, my own life has changed. All those mornings spent reading for research - history books, medical books and sociology books on the London Underground have filled in some serious gaps in my education. I also found a tenacity that I didn’t know I had. Five years is a long time to hold on for a publishing deal…

In preparation for the release of my ‘first born’, I now lead a bizarre double life. Working as a freelance PA, my days are spent organizing other people’s diaries whilst attempting to wrestle control over my own. I did a radio interview from a cupboard in the office yesterday – for real. I organize my bosses travel arrangements whilst booking my own photo sessions and prepping for interviews with journalists. The assistant needs an assistant….needless to say, I am loving every minute of this mayhem as I prepare to release my little protege into the world.

Where am I going with this? I don’t know really, except to say that it is a lovely feeling to see the hours spent interviewing, transcribing, editing and writing turn into something quite tangible and real. I held a copy in my own hands when it came back fresh from the printers last week and I felt as proud as any new mother. I imagine most first time authors would describe it thus. But of course it wouldn’t be possible to experience such a feeling unless so many of you had taken the time, the effort and the leap of faith that it requires to recount such an intimate tale to another human being. So please take this as a thank you, all you wonderful, helpful, maverick people who have been prepared to take a chance and trust me with your first time stories. Quite apart from anything else, you helped turn my little dream into a big reality and for that I am eternally grateful! But along the way, I hope that your stories will have an effect on other people’s lives too because no matter what we become, this experience remains shrouded in secrecy. People will always wonder if what they had was normal, right, wrong, the best, the worst - however you want to think about it - these questions will always get asked and now perhaps, we have provided some answers together.

Comments

[Joanna]

Hello Kate, I have received my copy from Amazon already and looking forward to reading it and getting it signed by you!

Congratulations again, that is great achievement. Will you write more books? ;)

PS: If you need any more photography let me know, I would love to help.

Joanna

[The Virginity Project]

Lovely to hear you Joanna - we must meet and yes, will def let you know about photos! xx

[Ellis]

Congratulations on the book - I can't wait to get my copy and begin reading after all these exams!
Ellis x

[The Virginity Project]

Hey Ellis, thanks for good wishes. Best of luck with your exams and let me know what you think of the book!