For anyone who follows me on Twitter, or is a friend on Facebook, the following statement probably comes as no surprise…

I HAVE A BOOK OUT AND IT’S ON SHELVES IN SHOPS AND I DIDN’T EVEN SNEAK IN AND PUT IT THERE LIKE MY SEVEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER SUGGESTED I DO!!!!!

Yep. Dead Gone was released a few days ago (I’m woefully late at blogging about this!), with copies currently available almost everywhere they sell books. On release day, Thursday 16th January, my wife Emma and I travelled down to London for the launch party at Belgravia Books. Not before checking the WH Smith in Liverpool Lime Street Station, walking past the paperback chart and missing the book entirely. We looked around for a good five minutes before realising we’d already walked past it! Emma took the first picture of the day…

Which of course made the two hour journey down to London pass a little quicker. My book was in a shop. Ridiculous. Arriving at London Euston, we of course checked the WH Smith there…

Again, ridiculous…

We tubed it over to our hotel in Kensington, checked in, quick change and over to Harrods to meet my editor Sammia for afternoon tea (this was more for them two than me…the mere thought of drinking tea turns my stomach). A couple of hours trying to find the right place in there (well…it felt that long – the place is massive) and we were leaving, making it over to Victoria on time, despite rush hour (honestly, I don’t understand how each tube train is packed – they come every two minutes!).

Belgravia Books is a great bookshop just around the corner from London Victoria, stocking some amazing kids, history, as well as general fiction books. This sight greeted us on arrival…

I went straight for what was opposite this table…beer.

A great evening was had, with awesome people. My editor gave a lovely speech which turned me red on several occasions. I then got up to speak, completely unprepared as usual, but seemed to do okay. Jake Kerridge probably summed that part up best by saying “Great speech…perfect length”. The staff at the shop were brilliant, and I can’t thank them enough for what they did. There are signed copies in there now for sale. I’d suggest going for a browse anyway!

Emma and I spent the next day sampling the cultural elements of London’s museums – having booked the last train home as it was the cheapest! – before travelling home, arriving back after midnight, tired and emotional.

We took my two daughters out on Saturday, showing them this sight…

of Dead Gone at Number 2 in Asda! Feet were firmly planted on the ground, helped by the nonplussed expressions on both of their faces.

Also spotted by some other lovely people (I’ve loved getting these pictures!) in Morrisons, Waterstones and other WH Smith stores…

The whole thing is just so bizarre. I cannot comprehend it at all still now, so probably best I don’t try. All I know is that I’m extremely lucky to have the support of Avon/HarperCollins with this book and that they’ve done a fantastic job in getting it out there. Now, we just hope enough people pick it up and enjoy it!

I can’t begin to put into words how thankful I am to so many people. The support of those on Facebook/Twitter has been overwhelming. This really is a community full of great people, who are just genuine and honest. I don’t think I would have got anywhere near this position without those who have been so incredibly supportive throughout this journey. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

As all this was going on, Dead Gone was creeping up the rankings on Kindle, topping out at #175 on Saturday morning. Slipped back now, but it’s still only 99p - http://www.amazon.co.uk/DEAD-GONE-Luca-Veste-ebook/dp/B00E31D9J6/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1390141273&sr=8-1

The book is also available in some of my favourite independent bookshops in Merseyside, with Pritchard’s Bookshop in Crosby sending over this picture of the display inside…

Also available in Formby Books, Linghams in Heswall, Wirral, Literally Books in New Brighton, and The Olde Bookshop in Formby. I’ll be doing signings at each shop over the coming weeks (details of which can be found on the events tab above).

For now, it’s the countdown to the Liverpool launch in Waterstones Liverpool One. There are still a few tickets left, which are available in shop or through the events page here - https://www.facebook.com/events/390336021100702/?ref_dashboard_filter=calendar

And the window of the shop I’ve been visiting for a number of years now, buying books and dreaming of one day sitting on the shelves there, now looks like this…

Mind officially blown.