There have been various things going on – a redesign of my site, due to go live in the next few weeks; actual paid work – but the most exciting of those is definitely the impending launch of my first book, 5 Ways to Carry a Goat.

It’s a travel memoir, for those of you new to the game, in which I travel around the world relying purely on the kindness of the readers of my SMH blog, The Backpacker. As you’d expect, things got a little strange.

To mark the release of the book I’ll be having a launch party in Sydney, and the good news is, everyone’s invited. It’ll be a “backpacker” themed night, which means plenty of VB and goon to go around.

Now, in the style of high school party invites, here are the details:

What: Launch of 5 Ways to Carry a Goat
Where: Kinokuniya Bookstore, Galleries Victoria, 500 George Street, Sydney
When: Thursday May 6th, 6pm.
Bring: Nothing. Drinks are on the house.

Should be a great night – hope to see you all there.

Anyway, I wasn’t going to Rhodes to relax – I was going to experience the very grown-up nightmare that is the Ikea super/mega/gigantor store.

As someone who travels a lot, I’ve always tried to avoid accumulating too much “stuff”. Like George Clooney’s character says in Up In The Air, the more stuff you own, the more chance there is that that stuff will weigh you down in one spot. You’re much more likely to head off overseas for a year if you don’t have to worry about putting a house-load of crap in storage, or trying to sell it.

So I’ve quite happily been living in a furnished flat for the last 18 months, content in the knowledge that if I wanted to move out, all I’d have to do is clean up a little, pack my clothes into my backpack and go.

But now, things have changed. My girlfriend and I decided it was time to upgrade our living quarters, and, given the dearth of decent furnished apartments in our price range, we decided to take the plunge and go unfurnished.

It all seemed like a great idea at the time – sweet new apartment, furniture we wouldn’t have to worry about ruining and not getting our bond back, getting exactly what we want… That was, until I found out how freaking expensive everything is.

Furniture is crazy expensive. You all know this, because you probably have furniture of your own. I do not. Which was why I was stunned to find that couches run into the thousands of dollars – beds, too. Then you throw in the bookcases and a TV and a TV stand and coffee table and bedside table … and you can see why I ended up going through the abject hell that is Ikea on a Saturday.

And of course, now that that’s over, the real hell begins: I have to try to put all this shit together. Wish me luck.

Really, I’ve just been taking a bit of a break from writing. Because finally, after a couple of edits and a fair bit of toing and froing, I’ve finished my first book, Five Ways to Carry a Goat.

The text is set, the cover’s been finalised, the back-page blurb has been written, and it’s all off to the printers, ready to hit the shelves of all good bookstores on May 3rd.

Am I excited? Kinda. Nervous? Yes. Scared? Absolutely. Let’s just hope the critics (and the people I’m writing about) are kind.

Stay tuned for details of the launch, too – rest assured, you’re all invited. If you can get drunker than me, you’ll win a prize (not a free book of course – man’s gotta make a living).

Before then, though, I’ve got a trip to Japan planned. Anyone been to Osaka?

I’m in Laos at the moment, have been for the last few weeks, hanging out with my girlfriend and a couple of other friends, but in between all the Beerlao drinking and temple-going (not it that order), I’ve also had a little project hanging over my head.

My editor sent back her version of Five Ways To Carry A Goat just before I left, so I’ve been going through that whenever I’ve had time and/or electricity.

It hasn’t actually been that bad – a bit daunting when you first open it up expecting to see a whole lot of slashing and burning of your beautiful work, but then you get into it and realise it’s actually done a lot of good.

And no major rewrites!

All of which has meant that I’ve made a few changes, read through the whole thing for about the fifth time (really getting sick of it now), and today I sent it back for final editing.

So now, finally, I can get back to the business of being on holiday in Laos.

Pity I’m flying home tomorrow.

You would think.

I’ve been finishing off my first manuscript, a three-month process during which I’ve had to write about 12,000 words a week just to hit my deadline. And all that while still trying to pretend I care about the various casual jobs I’ve had to work to pay the rent.

But now it’s all over. Yesterday, I hit send on a momentous email, submitting the manuscript for Five Ways To Carry A Goat to the lovely people at UQP.

It’s a relief, but I’ve got a feeling it also marks the beginning of the real hard work. Now I get assigned an editor, who’s most likely to get his or her mitts on my first-time writer’s work and give it the massacre it deserves.

“You know chapter seven? I think you need to rewrite it.” That kind of thing.

It is, frankly, terrifying. I’ll keep you posted.

I’m not 100 per cent there yet, but I think “Five Ways To Carry A Goat” is leading the way at the moment.

There have been a few late entries though, making a dash from the back of the pack. I like “Sofa So Good”, which was suggested by a few people, including one of the stars of the book, and I also don’t mind “A Complete Dosser”. I’m even tossing up “Sleeping With The Enemy”.

All up though, it’s been nothing if not a learning experience. Once again, thanks for all your help.

Stay tuned over the next few weeks – with any luck, I might actually get my shit together and make a decision.

Maybe.

For those who haven’t been following, here’s the basic premise of the book. In January of this year, I put out a call on my blog, asking for any expats or overseas readers to get in touch with me if they were prepared to let me crash on their couch for a night or two.

I got about 400 replies, and spend almost four months travelling around the world, just staying with the people who’d been kind enough to offer me a couch. The book will be the story of those adventures.

Since I relied on other people for the book’s material, I thought it only fair that I now rely on other people for the title as well. I’ve got five to choose from:

A) “The Backpacker: A Blogger’s Tour of the World”

B) “‘You Look Much Bigger On The Internet’: A Blogger’s Tour of the World”

C) “The Internet Explorer: A Blogger’s Tour of the World”

D) “The Worldwide Bed: A Blogger’s Tour of the World”

E) “Five Ways To Carry A Goat: A Blogger’s Tour of the World”

So there you go. All feedback very much appreciated! Even if you hate them all, let me know…