Win a copy of Mia's book!

The last week saw a heady mix of emotions as we launched our first self-published book: I Love You Natty: A sibling's introduction to Down's syndrome. We are giving two copies away on the blog this week (scroll down for details).

So what's been happening in the Down's Side Up household?

Nerves - how would it be received?

Excitement - seeing the finished product x1000 after 18 months of hard work.

Tiredness - Getting up at 5am to pack books to post, partly because the adrenaline was keeping me awake and partly because I didn't want to waste half term stuffing envelopes.

Pride - at such an amazing achievement for our eldest daughter, to publish a support book that would make a real difference, at ten years old.

Learning - What a steep learning curve the process has been, the many hidden steps and costs to publishing a book. Next time (if there is a next time!) it will be much easier.

Relief - the feedback has been amazing, not only from families, but from all the charities we feature in the book, and from medical professionals we've been donating it to.

Humbled - by the comments of thanks from families, for whom the simple book is making a difference, encouraging acceptance, bonding, inclusion and hope.

Overwhelmed - at seeing the book stocked in Waterstones, in pride of place in a main display none the less, and watching the girls on BBC TV as they read from and talked about their work.

Mia and Natty find their book in Waterstones

Gratitude - at all those who helped bring the dream of the book into reality. My friend Sarah who lovingly created the artwork, her friend Mark who did the technical jiggery pokery for the pdf. Friends, family and fellow bloggers who carried me through the online unpleasantness that preceeded the launch, and gave me the confidence to hit 'print' at a time when I almost gave up.

Teamwork - it's been a real family project. Mia wrote the words, I put them together and asked her questions to fill in the gaps. Bob stumped up the funds to get the project off the ground and is the admin guy. It was he who pushed me to put bring an idea to fruition. Natty of course features in the book, and has become a dab hand at putting Postman Pat stamps on the correct corner of the envelopes.

For your chance to win one of two copies of I Love You Natty, enter the Rafflecopter competition below. Two entries will be chosen at random on Friday morning.

a Rafflecopter giveaway