Second place feels like a win!

Self-Published head judge, Llewella Gideon, Helen Lederer, CWIP founder and me.

Oh what a night, to quote Frankie Valli! I was lucky enough to come Runner-Up in the Self-Published category of the Comedy Women in Print Awards at the Groucho Club this week.

I have never been anywhere where there were so many famous faces. At one point in the evening I looked across the room and thought Oh that looks like Alison Steadman and then lo and behold it was Alison Steadman, who was given an award. And so it continued … very interesting all round.

As well as VIPs I also got to meet some amazing funny women writers from all over the country and one, Julia Miller, had travelled from Australia and was great company.

There were no plus ones for the event as there were so many judges and guests who had helped with the awards, so my husband was in a pub nearby watching the event on Instagram live with an eye on Sunderland’s match - talk about conflicting priorities. They didn’t lose so all was well.

The CWIP awards for witty women writers are a brilliant way to showcase female talent all round and I’m not trying to big myself up but I would never have been given any PR for my book without them. I’m very grateful and also very ready for a lie down. It’s been quite a week…