June 2025 – The Colour of Flying went from 5 friendly readers and an editor to a designer and printer and the beautiful cover was printed
July – 2025 – The marketing and launch planning got under way
Mid - July – I finally held my new book in my hands and we had a lucky draw for a free copy. Weekly visits to the courier followed with early orders and free copies for interviewers.
August 2025 – Spring arrived and we had 6 launches in the Overberg and in and around Cape Town at Botrivier, Kleinmond, Hermanus, Tokai and Pinelands, in libraries and church halls and cafés. Sometimes it poured but people came. Sometimes we catered and it was a feast. I loved the launches.
September - A very special holiday with my family in the UK
October – 6 more launches a little further afield at Napier, Swellendam, Greyton, Knysna and George in a country guesthouse, a church hall, bookshops and a revamped museum. I loved staying over with friends and in guesthouses, seeing new places, catching up with old friends.
November - The evening launch at The Quarter in Montagu was the perfect way to round off my book ‘smous’ journey for 2025: Anne Reed of Montagu Books and Leanne her publicist advertised the event superbly and Felicity, my very dear friend and interviewer, who has been to 6 launches, asked me just the right questions to engage the audience who gathered at the lovely stoep venue to listen, ask questions and chat afterwards over wine and snacks.
Apart from one or two disappointing attendances, it’s been a heartwarming and inspiring journey.
What’s next?
A reprint, hopefully by December, of my novels which sold out at the launches (watch this space)
An informal launch evening with old friends on 17th December at Infanta
A discussion group in George about The Colour of Flying. Contact Estelle van Rooyen on 0834641396
Some new writing at a retreat in March 2026
A new round of launches further afield
Talks about memoir writing and independent publishing to be announced