I wrote a book with someone I’ve never met

[Speakinginsign]

and today we meet for the first time.
Incredibly nervous!

I saw him in a film. He is in the US. Over lockdown, I joined Instagram and found him. Told him I teach from his film. He kindly offered my students an online Q&A session. He asked for a 1:1 meeting. He said he was impressed by my questions & that I was the person he had been waiting for over 30 years to write his story.

Wrote book in 1 year using Instagram video calls. I submitted it to a publisher after 6 months & they offered a contract.

That was just over a year ago. I left my relationship, set up my study, and traversed time zones most nights. Now we have a book out on Amazon, more work on the way, a launch party this week, and have still never met!

He arrives this morning wife just wife. Just an hour or so later we are being interviewed on local radio.

EEEEEKKKKKK!!!!

One minute I was watching his film, and the next…

This is the making of a film in itself! And very exciting.
Obviously I'm here for the updates. Hope it goes well for you.

Thank you so much! That’s what we have said. There’s a story within a story!

I feel so overwhelmed! I have ASD so while the video thing was fabulous, meeting in person is a huge deal. He & wife are staying with me. I hope they like me 😳😁

Is the book traditionally published? Did you not get an agent?

That's a really interesting way of working! Did you both work on the book? Who is the contract with, you or him or both? How did you get a contract with the publisher?

It is published by an academic publisher although the story itself is accessible to non-academics. It was the subject of his film.

The contract is with us both and we are 50:50 partners. It has been an incredible bond.

I just wrote to the publisher and asked them!

This is amazing and obviously we will want to know which book it is on Amazon!

😁 I will leave everyone to research that part!

I have butterflies on my butterflies…

Update: he is even lovelier in real life!
I am surprised by how relaxed it all is. We’ve spent a long time in each other’s online space. He felt like he already knew my house!

We had a radio interview yesterday where the focus was on our writing this book without having met… but hopefully we got the message of the book across, too.

I’m putting on a launch party later & we will have some exciting news.

I can’t believe this is happening!

Well, tell us cinema fans what it is so we can buy it!

OK! Here goes. The film is called Project Nim & is on Amazon Prime. It was made in 2011 and I contacted my now co-author through this. He features in it, towards the end. Our book is about those topics. 😊

Thank you for indulging me! It has been a surreal few days!

So he’s not a member of the family who raised the chimp?

Is there anything romantic on your side, OP? Just some of your phrasing suggests an infatuation

Project Nim was a fascinating film. What an interesting story.

This is like 'The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo' playing out in real life!

Oh, I can't wait to hear how it went!

No, he is one of the carers and best friends of Nim.

Nope. I have great admiration and respect for him & his continued work, though, and have developed a solid friendship with both him and his wife.

It has been such a fascinating turn of events! I can barely believe it. There were many other chimpanzees, each with a story and profile. I’ve really got to know them over this year.

I have to look this up! 😁

It has been such a fabulous few days. Just going to bed after our party & we have been smiling from ear to ear. His wife and he are magnificent.

I can disclose now that we have been awarded a second book contract 😁 That means two book contracts in six months. I can’t believe this is happening to me/us!

I’m going to have to get my head back down for Book 2 🤣 Will apply myself more after their trip. Thank you for indulging me!

I love this whole post so much! I've never read anything so positive on mumsnet 😅

This is brilliant! Double congratulations and thanks for sharing 😍

Thank you so much, @WOPTF and @spinachmonster More radio interviews on the way. We are so excited to get our messages out there & to continue with our mission towards primate sanctuary & social justice.

A few days to wind down, otherwise I think I would self combust. 🔥☄️😲

It sounds like you deserve your success. Well done, make the most of it.

@Speakinginsign Congratulations, what an amazing story! You seem to have forgotten to give us the title of the book, though - I think you have a few interested would-be readers!