Nerves. Nerves. How do you manage them?

Chatting with Mandy Nolan before kick-off

Today, I’m relaxed. My muscles aren’t tense. My mind isn’t racing. My heart isn’t hammering. 

This was not the case at 6pm last Thursday evening. I was sitting in a stool with comedian Mandy Nolan in the Byron Bay Mary Ryan’s bookshop watching the store fill with people. Of course, I was thrilled people had turned up for the launch of my book Sweet Seduction, but there were lots more people that I ever thought would come.  In the end about 100 people packed out the store.  They were standing three deep on the pavement.

Signing copies of Sweet Seduction

Mandy kicked off and within two minutes I had tears of laughter streaking down my face.  Mandy is so incredibly funny.  She’d singled out my husband and made him blush. I don’t think I’d ever seen my husband blush. Mandy had planned to chat for twenty minutes, but everyone was still laughing after three quarters of an hour.

I was then handed a glass of champagne and was installed at a table to sign books. And sign I did. Mary Ryan’s sold out of Sweet Seduction in about fifteen minutes. The whole event was a huge success. I was on such a high.

But, I hadn’t sleep for three nights beforehand as I was so nervous. I’ve done lots and lots of presentations in my life, but usually I’d been presenting about a product or a service, not about my own creative efforts.

Before I left for the launch, I meditated for fifteen minutes. I think I would have been a lot more nervous if I hadn’t. I learned to meditate when I used to work in big corporations to manage the stress. I pull this calming technique out of the bag whenever I’m heading for a stressful time (I know, I should do it everyday).

So, what tricks and tips do you have for managing nerves? I’d love to hear.

Together for the first time in one heartwarming volume.

The Convenient Bride: Sienna De Luca will do anything to save her family's hotel, and ruthless Italian businessman Antonio Moretti knows it. With problems of his own, he proposes a marriage of convenience that will secure his next business deal and save Sienna's hotel.

In keeping with her part of the bargain, Sienna travels to Venice with Antonio, who introduces her to a life of luxury and opulence. Antonio soon realizes he has vastly underestimated Sienna. Unexpectedly, she gets too close, and when she discovers his dark secret, Antonio's perfectly planned life begins to unravel . . .

Seducing the Secret Heiress: Diamond heiress, Charlotte Wentworth, is passionate about two things - cooking and her  fiancée, Paul. Until the day she finds out Paul has been unfaithful. 

Charlotte flees to Europe, determined to build her own life without her family's fortune. When she meets gorgeous TV producer, Gabe Grenville, she keeps her connections secret and soon finds herself the star of his new cooking show. But how will he react when he discovers Charlotte's true identity?

Available in print through Big W and other good book stores. Also from Amazon, iTunes and more...