So, Headline got back with a pre-emptive offer and, after a week of to-ing and fro-ing and stuff about world rights or UK rights, which I have to do a lot of googling to get my head around, I put all my faith in Simon’s extensive knowledge of publishing (compared to my utter newbie status) and say that whatever he thinks is best I will go with. I would pay Headline to publish my book, so the fact that they are offering money at all is enough for me. I’ll say yes to anything. Which is one of the many reasons that I need an agent.

In the end, the deal is struck and I have a handsome advance for UK and British Commonwealth, including Canadian, rights for a three book deal that will allow me to stop doing everything else and concentrate on writing full time. It is, in the immortal words of Steven Gerrard, ‘a dream come true’.

A life-changing day, indeed. Everything has gone a bit surreal, and I start making plans to gently pass my existing website and graphic design clients onto other, better, less fickle people.