Wednesday 19 October 2011

Finally the UK get to read .......Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

The official UK cover!

Finally! You don't know how long I have waited for this book to come out! In January 2012, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt will hit the UK bookstores and I couldn't be more pleased if I had written it myself.

I think I was the first person in the UK to read this back in January 2010 after Beth sent me a copy. I had featured the book previously in a Friday Finds post and Beth contacted me directly to see if I would like to read it as she had never had a UK fan before. 

As soon as I read it, I fell in love with CeeCee, Aunt Tootie and Oleta. This is one of those books you just immerse yourself in and never want to leave. I was flabbergasted to find that out that there were no plans to publish it in the UK. My poor battered copy  passed through many hands as others fell in love with this gorgeous Southern cast of women.

Fast forward to January 2011. I began to exchange emails with the editorial director of Abacus and Little, Brown. Jenny Parrot and I exchanged many emails and we built up a lovely rapport and she always said to me to email her about anything book related. 

One night not long after, I had the most sleepless night ever. I couldn't get Beth's book out of mind. Every time I closed my eyes, the book would appear again. I took it as a sign that I needed to talk to Jenny about it. So the very next day with some trepidation, I sent Jenny an email asking her why this book had never been picked up in the UK. I told her how wonderful it was and how the UK audience were really missing out. The rest of the world seemed to be enjoying it, but no one in the UK could get their hands on it.

Jenny listened. 

Jenny listened to everything I had to say and went off to investigate what was happening with this book. She got a copy of it and read it and agreed with me totally. Within weeks Abacus had bought the UK rights to Saving CeeCee! 

I actually cried.

 My husband laughed at me, but I couldn't help it. I was so happy for Beth and so pleased that someone had listened.  Beth and I exchanged a few tearful emails over the next few days. Jenny had told her of  my involvement in the project. Beth couldn't believe that one original blog post had led to this. I have always believed that our paths were destined to cross. Sometimes in life, you find a kindred spirit, who might just live half way across the world. Beth, will always be one of my kindred spirits.

I am so thankful that Jenny listened. I am so thankful that I found Beth. I wish her all the success in the world and hope the rest of the UK fall in love with her book as much as I have. 

31 comments:

  1. Yes!!!! That's such good news - can't believe how long it's taken to get here though.

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  2. How wonderful that you suggested the book and that the publisher bought the rights because of you :D I have no problem understanding your reaction or your husband for that matter(pretty sure mine would have reacted the same way ;)).

    I've been hearing wonderful things about this book :) The book was just released here in Norway the 15th this month.

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  3. AliBaa - tell me about it!

    Mari - I was a a mess! Seriously. You have to read this book. It just oozes Southern charm and strong independent women.

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  4. Sounds like everything I adore about a book. Just shows the power of the people and blogging! (Right on, right? - but you know what I mean!)

    Well done Viv and Beth. This post has given me a massive smile!

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  5. Yay! I'm so excited for Beth and you, Viv! Well done. I hope you get to meet in person one day soon (book tour??).

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  6. That is just incredible - it's amazing the power we bloggers can have and the difference one person can make! and now I am just dying to read this book!

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  7. What a wonderful story! It is great to see bloggers having such an influential role in the publishing industry. I really hope the UK launch is a massive success. Congrats all round!

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  8. Wow how wonderful and what a beautiful post. I must check out this book. Way to go you and Beth. x

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  9. Your post brought tears to my eyes! I'm so glad you had the foresight to contact Jenny! What a wonderful day for readers in the UK!!

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  10. That is fantastic! Beth's book deserves to be everywhere for people to fall in live with and enjoy. I'm so glad this could come about and I agree, Beth is a wonderful person. I'm happy for you both.

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  11. Carmen - it is a wonderful thing. We are listened to occasionally.

    Mari - good. I will hold you to that.

    Mary - I am dying to meet her! One day...

    Jen - this still blows my mind.

    Petty Witter - about time.

    Farmlanebooks - I hope so too. I think the UK will love it.

    Susan -thank you. You will love it.

    Bermudaonion - I know just what you mean. As I cried when it happened.The UK are in for a fabulous book.

    Darlene - she is amazing. Everyone in the UK will love her and her book.

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  12. Oh my gosh ... what a wonderful post! You made me teary-eyed, Viv! When I look back at how this transpired, I'm still awestruck. As an author, it's astounding to me that a reader would go to the lengths you did to contact a publisher; as a friend, the thought of it is truly overwhelming.

    Your story gives testament to the respect book bloggers have achieved over the years, and it's a well-earned respect indeed. When CeeCee was first published, I never dreamed I'd get to know so many bloggers, let alone become genuine friends with them!

    Thank you, Viv, for loving CeeCee's story and becoming her UK Fairy Godmother!

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  13. Blogger Power + Kindred Spirits = a winning combination!

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  14. It's amazing that you helped make all of this happened! I really admire you for it :). Congrats both to you and to Beth!

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  15. Beth - you are making me cry again.Thank you for giving me a book to love and cherish.

    Tribute Books - I hope so. I hope the UK love it as much as I do.

    Liz - I know. It is quite mad, really.

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  16. *applauds* Well done Viv :D I have heard only good things about this one and I do want to read it

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  17. What a beautiful post Viv, you did such a wonderful thing bringing Beth's book to Jenny's attention. Book bloggers really do have amazing influence and you really are Saving CeeCee's UK Godmother :)

    I absolutey adored Saving CeeCee too!

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  18. What a lovely post, Vivienne! I am very happy that you helped to bring this book to the UK. :)

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  19. Blodeuedd - thanks hun.

    Emma - hugs back.

    Luisa - thank you.

    Teddyree - aw thank you. I might have to get a fairy Godmother outfit.

    Suko - thank you. Me too.

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  20. Glad u had a chance to read this one Viv. I like the UK cover art a lot, although the US cover was pretty darn great as well.

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  21. Oh Vivienne! What a wonderful story--something that doesn't seem real, that would happen in a book. So amazing. And it's a beautiful cover!!

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  22. *yay* Glad you finally got to read it. I have this on my wish list. I have heard nothing but great things.
    Glad you enjoyed it that much. Some things are meant to be!

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  23. Vivienne! This is such a wonderful post to read! It's actions like this which bring continued validation to a book blogger; you have represented the book blogger world well, my friend! Congrats on your perseverance, your dedication and fantastic fan-support which led to this wonderful moment! I would have cried as well :) So now, let me find this book in my packed moving boxes (just moved from Florida to Virginia) and begin reading away!

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  24. This is a fantastic post Viv, I'm so happy for you & for Beth :o) It's wonderful that you were able to be so instrumental in bringing Ceecee to the UK!

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  25. What an absolutely gorgeous cover and such a wonderful story! Well done to you both :)

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