It’s Thursday, and for the first time I through I might do a Throwback Thursday post, hoping it might become a regular thing, where I post something from my writing past – books, publications, photos, old blog posts, whatever takes my fancy.

So, it seems the best place to start might be where it all began: my first published book. And not just my first book, but my first copy of my first book, looking a little worse for wear after 19 years of being carted round and shown off.

When I was offered a contract for Speak Out, I had only written an outline and two sample pages. Oh, and I was 7 months pregnant with my fourth child (I didn’t tell the publisher that bit). Instead, I calmly said ‘yes please’ when I was asked to do it, and wrote the book before Murphlet 4 was born.

When my first copy arrived I took it everywhere with me – and still take it along to author talks to show off, though, as you can see, that copy is now in danger of falling apart. 19 years down the track, the book is still in print, outlasting many of my subsequent books.

40 books later, I’m still proud of book number one.

Have a great Thursday. See you next week.