Three years on

I count my life as an author in years from January 5th 2008. That's when we went to have lunch with our friends Anna and Philip and Anna suggested that I sign up for the course in writing for children at City University that she'd just taken. The course started nine days later, it still had places. I signed up.
One year later, I'd written a book, I had an agent. January 5th was the day -  the mind-boggling, incredible day -  that the editorial director of Frances Lincoln Children's Books wrote to my agent to express 'serious interest' in When I Was Joe. Serious interest took just over a month to turn into a deal.
When I Was Joe was published -  not on January 5th 2010, somewhat to my disappointment, as I'd decided it was a magical day - but on the 2nd. I think the 5th might have been the first day I saw it for sale in an actual bookshop.
So, what's tomorrow going to bring? I'm going to see the bound proofs of Lia's Guide to Winning the Lottery for the first time! I might write the first bit of the first chapter of my fourth book (fourth? How did that happen?) And -  most amazingly of all -  I'm going to be packing up to fly to San Diego the following day to attend the American Librarians' Association mid-winter conference. My family have already banned me from even mentioning San Diego, because they're so fed up with my burbling excitement.
All in all, I'm delighted I took Anna's advice. She and I would never have believed it, if we'd been able to see three years into the future.
And I wonder what future Janaury 5ths will  bring.