It’s been just under three weeks since the paperback release of Dead Gone…which I had to check, because I was sure it only happened yesterday. Everything has been a bit of a blur since then. I’ve signed in four local independent bookshops (which have all been really cool places to visit), had two launch events – one in that London, one in Liverpool – and been on local radio a few times, and also making the Liverpool Echo for the first time…well, without the word “allegedly” appearing in the copy, anyway (jokes).

The response so far has been amazing. Lots of great messages from people who have enjoyed it. No one really told me how good it was to hear from someone at the other end of the country who just had to tell me how much she loved the book. Very, very cool moments.

Everything was calming down, seemingly, until last Saturday when this appeared…

A review in the Times! And a lovely quote at the end, which calls it a “darkly impressive first novel”. I found out about it halfway through a book signing last Saturday, and had trouble concentrating much after that. Emma and Daniel (wife and brother) rushed out to find a copy, tracking down a newsagent and then scouring the pages for it. So cool to share that moment with them. Showed my daughters and discovered they’re already bored with “daddy’s book thing”. I think they’ll only be impressed now if I meet Julia Donaldson – a highly unlikely event – and invite her around for tea (or dinner as everyone outside the north seems to call it). Although my oldest, Abby, is doing her best to sell the book to her fellow seven year olds in school…something I can imagine being brought up at the next parent’s evening.

At the start of Saturday, the ebook of Dead Gone was still in the same place it had been for a week – just outside the top 100. The review obviously worked its magic, and later that night, it cracked the top chart, eventually reaching the top 50 at one point. Cue Luca and Emma dancing in the living room, making sure not to wake the kids up! On a personal note, I can’t believe I have someone in my life as awesome as my wife.  The endless support and grounding she has shown over the past few weeks have been incredible. Ti amo bella.

It’s still there as well. Top 60, last time I checked, but holding on strong. Paperback sales have also been really good, with the top 20 just being missed in the last couple of weeks. Big promotion in Tesco from this Thursday though, so they’re hopeful it’ll be cracked. I’m not allowed to comment on sales anymore, as I said I’d be happy with 5 sales. I was quickly shut down by my editor on that one. The thought of thousands of people with a copy of my book is just far too bizarre to even consider, so I won’t. Let’s just say I’m still bouncing off the walls, nineteen days after release, with no end in sight.

I’m now working on edits for book two – Murphy and Rossi’s next adventure – which came in last week. Bit of work to do there, but all good. Provisional title is THE DYING PLACE, but that could change. Suggested by the Avon team, as all my title ideas were awful!

Dead Gone is still available in shops, number 20 in the Asda charts and only £2.50 still. Tesco will have a money off thing later this week. Morrisons have a special introductory price going as well. WH Smith have it for half listed price in most stores. And Waterstones in Liverpool One have a bunch of signed copies available, as well as Pritchards in Crosby, Linghams in Heswall, and The Olde Bookshop in Formby (all in Merseyside).

The ebook is still just 99p and available here - http://www.amazon.co.uk/DEAD-GONE-Luca-Veste-ebook/dp/B00E31D9J6/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1391537068&sr=1-1

Finally, I’d like to say thank you to everyone who has tweeted or facebooked about the book. Can’t even begin to express my appreciation for all those who have supported it so much. Also, to all the people who have attended the signings so far, overwhelmed by the turnouts for those. And to Pete Sortwell, Eva Dolan, Mel Sherratt, and Nick Quantrill, who have been a constant presence alongside me throughout the last few weeks – virtually, as they all live miles away from me. All writers, so you should be reading them!

I keep being asked how it feels to have a book out there. I keep expecting to wake up and for it all to have been a dream. Nothing about this journey feels real. I just know I wouldn’t have got here without so many people, so I’m eternally grateful to them all. But, yeah…very surreal, very bizarre.

And it hasn’t even really begun  yet…