Author event: Friday, 26th November - Museum of Cannock

Last night, I attended the Museum of Cannock in Staffordshire to participate in an author Q&A event alongside the gorgeous Phillipa Ashley. Our interviewer for the evening was Kim Nash, publicist from Bookouture. It's the first in-person event I have attended since this dreaded lurgy entered our lives, so you can imagine my excitement; I was dressed and ready to go an hour ahead of time! Seriously, you'd think I'd never been out out before!

We were greeted by an audience of 25 avid readers, who were eager to ask us fabulous questions and entertain us authors for two hours! We talked non-stop, as authors do, about our publication journey, our writing process and our inspirations. I gave away two copies of my book 'Taking a Chance on Love' to two grateful readers.

As I drove home, delighted to have spent a Friday night outside of my house, I thought about the audiences' reaction to certain questions and whether I've explained to my blog readers the true beginnings of my journey.

One question asked last night was, "When did I start to write?" My answer was received with a gasp! I began writing in July 1994, when I moved into my first home which provided me with space to write. It was my secret hobby. I never intended for my words to be read by another, I was writing a book purely for me, to know if I could. As the years went by, I gained more confidence and slowly my aim changed. I joined writing groups, attended courses and began chasing publication. After many, many rejections, my moment came on 14th March 2017 when I was offered a three book publication contract. So after 23 years of secret writing it paid off with publication of my debut 'A Christmas Wish' on 1st August 2017!   

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