It’s after midnight, I’m sitting at my desk in my pajamas staring out the window at the dark as the rain is falling. It’s not a storm, rather just enough to lull you to sleep listening to the pitter-patter as it meets the tin roof. I find these moments to be the perfect setting for me to put pen to paper especially when the rest of the house is sleeping soundly.
Today is a special day for a couple of reasons; the first being it is one of my granddaughters birthdays, her 4th. Her name is Aurora and she sleeps in the stars with her big sister Rudy who would have been 5 on the 6th January this year.
The other reason is that today is the day my first published book will be released. It’s a children’s picture book in honour and remembrance of both Rudy and Aurora and all the other children sleeping alongside them. I’ll delve deeper into the details of this book later in this post.
For my first blog, I thought I would give some insight into my journey to becoming a self-published author. So, grab your favourite drink and or snack and indulge me while I trip down memory lane.
From a young age, I discovered the magick of storytelling. I would spend hours lost in the pages of novels, enthralled by the characters and worlds that sprang to life through words. Inspired by my favorite authors, I began weaving my own tales, crafting poems, and imagining worlds where my characters came to life. Writing has always been my sanctuary; a place where I could escape reality and explore the depths of my imagination.
My mum had a wonderful collection of books, most of which I read. I remember my own collection of Enid Blyton and Walt Disney Little Golden Books.
As time went by, and I became more immersed in my fictional worlds, I began sketching out maps of how I pictured these places in my head. The obvious next step (at least in my head), was heraldry and I would spend hours and hours creating flags, coat of arms, banners as well as custom accessories for each house as I built their ancestral lineage.
I love to draw and paint and I’ve spent a decent amount of time over the years doing my own family research, piecing together timelines and family trees so it was natural for me to bring my skills into my fictional worlds.
I’ve written novels, novellas, short stories, poems and ballads; the list goes on and on and for the most part a lot of it has just sat in my notebooks or on my laptop. I always had the intention to publish one day but that day never came. Life gets in the way, I had a successful career in the veterinary industry as well as the usual family, friend and social commitments. I will also admit that there was always a bit of fear in the back of my mind that my work wouldn’t be good enough but I faced that fear, afterall in my heart the only thing I really wanted was to write even if no one ever laid eyes on my work. My dream was always to have just one copy of my book or books sitting on my bookshelf in my home.
Deciding to publish independently was both a thrilling and daunting choice. I wanted complete creative control over my work—every word, every design choice, and every marketing strategy. It meant learning the ins and outs of self-publishing, from formatting my manuscript to creating eye-catching cover art and illustrations. There were moments of confusion, frustration, and self-doubt, but with each hurdle, I grew more determined.
The indie author community is such a wonderful support system. I’ve connected with fellow writers who share their experiences, offer advice, and celebrate each other’s successes. It’s been heartening to know that I’m not alone in this journey. I owe a huge thank you to everyone who has inspired me and to those who have cheered me on from the sidelines.
So, what finally got me to take the leap and publish?
My step daughter, Nicola and her husband Paul, experienced the devastating loss of 2 baby girls, two years in a row. In the days, months, years following, they met a lot of parents who experienced the same grief and heartbreak. It’s incredibly hard to watch those you love go through so much pain but it’s also incredibly inspiring to watch them turn it into comforting and helping others. They along with others, give back to the child loss community in the most loving and generous ways. Nicola, has also begun her journey to become a midwife in the hope that she can one day work in the bereavement suite that took such loving care of her and her babies.
Several months ago, I had a thought to write a children’s book that hopefully would help those families that suffer the loss of a child. I spoke to Nicola about it and she encouraged me to do it; so I did! It’s called “Siblings in the Stars”. This story is a piece of my heart and I am really proud of what I produced. The idea was that I would also give back by donating money from the proceeds of the book. I can’t believe that by the time I finish writing this post, my book will be available to the world and looking over at my bookshelf, my very own copy is sitting there like I always dreamed.
It motivates me to dig out and dust off all the notes and partial manuscripts I have written over the years. I have been writing and designing cover art every day for months now and I’m loving it.
I’m officially a full-time writer, and I’m thrilled to have you join me on this new journey.
My goal is to create narratives that resonate with readers and transport them to different worlds—just as my favorite authors did for me.
I would love your support in spreading the word about my book, and please feel free to share your thoughts and feedback.
Thank you for visiting my site. I hope you find something here that inspires you, whether it’s a new story, a thought, or just the reminder that following your dreams is worth the risk.
