The moment had finally arrived.

When asked by Gemma Casey at the launch about how I was feeling about launching my memoir, Life A Story Of Believing, all I could say was nervited.

The day was finally here and not without some last-minute ‘spanners in the works’.

Being a Sunday, the day began as usual with choir practice and Mass. As I sat in the vicarage (or as Fr. Irving said last night - home) it wasn't lost on me that this was where my story began; with Grandma Dorothy and the call and grace of the mother church.

While I worked on Spanner #1 (obtaining a last-minute PA system for the launch as our original one didn’t work), my editor/secondary ghostwriter Patric was working on Spanner #2, trying to make sure the book was live on Amazon on Fraser’s birthday. Even though we’d submitted it way in advance, there was an unusually long review period at Amazon’s end – much to our frustration.

So for me, I took a quick trip to Currys, who kindly offered a shop floor speaker before leaving with my friend Ade to make a microphone for the said speaker. In the meantime, Patric was getting nowhere with Amazon.

No book – no launch!

Onward, I went to see a disheartened Zach who has been back in hospital since last week. Then it was a rush back home to welcome my special VIP guests – Zoe, Craig, and Pixie.

My prayers are finally answered as the paperback version finally hits Amazon! The book launch is back on!

Fast forward then to 5.30pm and my nervitedness hits 1 million per cent. After all the running around, it suddenly hits me - Life A Story of Believing is actually out there!

We officially launched it officially at 7pm with Elizabeth reading so eloquently Seven; a poem that I wrote on the 7th anniversary. We even managed to reduce the price of the paperback to £8.38 – Fraser’s birth weight.

Zach even managed to do a fly-by to wish me luck before Alan, Gemma, Fr. Irving and I talked about belief, self-belief, hope, memories, support, and love. 

As Fr. Irving said, we are not an island; all our stories do overlap. Therefore be kind, support each other, and know that you are never alone.

The good news is that the book is out there; you can order your paper copy here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Story-Believing-Anna-Louise-Bates/dp/B0DFCVSH9T

The hardback and ebook versions will be available soon. I’ll let you know about those.

Overnight, the paperback hit #2 in one of the Amazon categories, and hit #13 in the Women’s Biographies category - sandwiched between Miriam Margolyes and Liz Truss!

As I do like to document occasions to afford me the luxury of knowing that those memories are locked in, I commissioned Business News Wales to produce our film of the event.

I’ll keep you updated about that too!

Thank you for your continued support.

Anna-Louise x