Life lately plus the biggest competition I've ever done
So sorry for sending this twice!
It’s less than a week to go until my book Single is out and I can think of little else. It’s really starting to feel real especially as I went to Booka, a very cool local indie bookshop in Oswestry, on Wednesday and saw copies of my book on the shelve. They have chosen it as their non-fiction book of the month, which is such an honour!
I then signed a big pile of my own books. It was my first time signing copies and to be honest I was feeling a tad anxious about what to do for the signature. It doesn’t strike me as particularly safe to use my genuine signature that I use for official things but I hadn’t thought about practising a new one. In the end, I asked Ruth the bookshop owner and had a peek in some other signed copies and settled on a hybrid - it’s similar to my real signature but not too different that I forget what I’m doing. I am wondering whether I should put my full name though instead of just using the initial N for Nicola. You can see the signature I went with in the video below, let me know what you think in the comments!
** By the way, you can buy one of the signed copies of Single from the Booka website **
This week I have been working on some articles which will be coming out around the time of publication - I can’t wait to share - and I also recorded a couple of podcasts (and have another one to do on Saturday - I’m going to be a guest on Spinsterhood Reimagined again! I know some of you found me through Lucy when I was last on)
Relatedly, the second US podcast I’ve been interviewed for about the book is out now (the first was this one with Shani Silver although that was more about my decision to have a baby with a friend!) Anyway, you can listen to me talking about the book and this newsletter and the single experience on this great podcast called Choose The Bear. Listen on apple podcasts or wherever you usually listen. Hope you enjoy the chat I had with host Kat Calvin, who I am so glad to now be connected with as she is awesome. The US version of Single is out in just a few days on 11th February. Pre-order here if you’re over in the States.
Next week, I’ll be doing broadcast interviews, more podcasts, writing more articles and doing two exciting events (see below!). I’m also heading to London for my book launch party. It’s going to be a really full on week but hopefully fun too. I’m not going to lie though doing all this while also raising a baby – especially one who breastfeeds, who isn’t a great sleeper and who learned to walk at nine months and is into everything – is really full on. I ate two mars bars today in case anyone is wondering how I’m powering through! I don’t know how I would have managed without Tom, my co-parent! Yesterday he made a veg packed nourishing stew, which helped balance out the mars bars somewhat.
Of course with all the excitement, there is still a little voice inside that can’t believe I’m launching a book about being single when surely being single is not something I should be shouting so loudly about. I would never have guessed just six years ago that I would do this. As I write in my book, it feels akin tattooing the word single on my forehead.
Even when I meet new people and they find out I’ve got a book coming out (I have lots of lovely friends who like to tell everyone!), I sometimes see their eyebrows raise. Sometimes you can see they just don’t know what to say. There is still so much stigma and shame surrounding being single, especially being long-term single. I hope the book helps smash that a little more.
Anyway, thanks for reading and for all your support so far. For those who have pre-ordered Single or who are thinking of doing so, I have a really exciting competition below.
Have a good week,
Nicola
P.S Apologies this is a book-heavy newsletter if you aren’t interested in the book (but also why not? It’s the perfect companion to this newsletter!)
Pre-order competition
The UK version of the book is out in less than a week’s time. To celebrate, I have gathered some exciting prizes so one lucky winner can win the ultimate night in to read Single with their mates. I was inspired to hear that my local bookclub hosts nights where members just sit and read together so they have company for what is quite a solitary activity. It sounds so nice and I thought Single would be great to read alongside friends. This one is only for UK entrants but I’m hoping to do a US competition soon too. Watch this space!
Closing Date: Wednesday 12th February at 11:55pm – Move fast, you don’t have much time to enter!
I’m partnering with the amazing Paso-Primero for this competition. Paso-Primero is a family-owned winery creating award-winning vegan and organic wines in Somontano, northern Spain.
Founded by Shrewsbury natives Tom and Emma Holt, they chased their winemaking dreams from their hometown to the foothills of the Pyrenees. Their journey took them through New Zealand and Canada before settling in Spain. Their wines are known for being fruit-forward, approachable, and perfect for any occasion. You can explore their offerings and even build your own case on their website www.paso-primero.com. On a personal note, I went to Sixth Form college with Tom (pictured above) and we worked together at WHSmiths as teenagers! I also love their wine so can vouch that it tastes great!
If you win you’ll be gifted:
A mixed case of Paso-Primero house favourites and some exclusive, limited editions, worth over £100. It's the perfect case to see what Paso-Primero is all about and try award-winning wines, made with passion, provenance, and purpose.
Three signed copies of Single to gift to your friends.
A hamper of luxury snacks from Wellbox to share with your pals as you enjoy your delicious wine and your new books. The hamper includes olive oil crisps, roasted red pepper meze dip, clotted cream fudge and more.
A 90 day subscription to The Single Supplement (or an 90 days added if you’re already a paying subscriber).
What do you have to do?
Send proof that you have pre-ordered Single to nicola@nicolaslawson.co.uk
Please note entrants must be over 18 and based in the UK. (I hope to do further competitions for those outside the UK.) Winners will be picked at random using a digital random name picker, which I’ll film so you know it’s genuine. I’ll also announce the winner in the newsletter that comes out after the book’s launch. *
*Please use the same email address to sign up as you use to forward the proof of purchase so me so we can easily cross reference.
More terms and conditions here.
Closing Date: Wednesday 12th February at 11:55pm – Move fast, you don’t have much time to enter!
Join me to celebrate the release of Single!
I’m really excited to be doing some exciting events around the book’s publication, both in person and online and would love for as many readers of this newsletter to join me! If you do come, please come and say hello.
I’ll be doing more in the coming months and throughout the year so hopefully will be coming somewhere near you in the future if you can’t make any of these. Watch this space for a really exciting event that will be taking place in Shropshire later in the Spring – and also do let me know if you have a really great local indie bookshop you think I should do an event with!
Tuesday 11th February - Online
INTERVIEW with the London Writer’s Salon: Living & Writing on Your Terms: In Conversation with Nicola Slawson at 7pm GMT.
This interview will be focused much more on how I wrote the book, how I grew this newsletter and my writing career in general rather than the single experience but I will also be talking about the realities of having a creative career when single. Tickets are free with proof of purchase or use the code LWSFRIEND15 to get 15% off.
Sunday 16th February - in person
Galentine’s Afternoon Tea at the Leydi Restaurant, Hyde Hotel at 3pm.
During this special event both Lizzie Frainier, author of Main Character and I will be doing readings from our book and answering questions while we all enjoy an amazing afternoon tea in this Turkish restaurant. Come and treat yourself to celebrate Galentine’s Day! Email hello@leydilondon.com to book your place.
Sunday 23rd February – in person AND online
As part of the historic Conway Hall’s Sexpectations series, I will be doing a special talk exploring being un-partnered in a world designed for couples and how to find joy in the life you’re already living. Whether you’re newly single, long-term solo, reluctantly so, or just wondering what to say to your aunt when she asks if you’ll ever get married, this talk is a great starting point for celebrating the opportunities of being single. Tickets are available for in person or to live stream with a recording available for two weeks after for those in different time zones (or who are busy at the time!)
More details in this reel:
About Nicola
Nicola Slawson is passionate about telling human stories – either other people's or her own – and is a freelance journalist, writer and public speaker based in Shropshire in the UK. The Single Supplement is an award-winning newsletter on Substack, especially for single people. Her debut book Single is out next week and available to pre-order now. Follow Nicola on Instagram.
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LOOK AT THIS LEGEND GO!!!
Nicola how you have done all this with a baby, wow, jus wow! You are a god damn Goddess!! Very proud of you ! I'll.be ordering your book to add to our Library collection, alongside other London Writers Salon books Bravo.