Chapter One

So, this is it; I'm about to be a published author! A dream come true? Most certainly. Exciting? Absolutely. Unbelievable? You bet!  

There are literally thousands of people who dream of writing a book and having the thrill of seeing it in print. However, I seem to recall someone telling me that less than 1% of people who want to write a book, actually do so. It would seem therefore that I am in the minority.  

I have been asked what inspired me to write. As a child, I was an avid reader, spending all my weekly pocket money on paperback books. Like many of my pre Harry Potter generation, I grew up on Enid Blyton’s Secret 7, rather fancying myself to be the tom boyish George, whose real name of course was Georgina. I delighted in the antics of Darren and her boarding school chums at Mallory Towers and lost myself in The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Hobbit. At grammar school, I developed a love of poetry, and more serious books such as Lord of the Flies. I recall my first “grown up” book was a Wilbur Smith novel, which I read in its entirety in a horsebox on the way to Perth Races in the days when I worked as a groom! I enjoy Phillipa Gregory, George RR Martin, Arundhati Roy, Dan Brown, Khaled Hosseini and James Morgan Ayres to name but a few, though I am equally at home with the classics of Bronte Austen and Dickens.

The idea to write a book of my own began after a particularly challenging day at work. I came home tired and exasperated and uttered the phrase that so many of you will relate to, and may even have said yourselves,.........  "I could write a book you know".  

However, whilst the idea of writing a book was appealing, finding the time to undertake such a task was quite a different matter.  When I actually sat down and stared at that laptop screen, I suddenly found I had so many other demands on my time; so many things, which required my attention, and which distracted me from the actual task of writing. There was all that dust forming on top of the coffee table for a start, not to mention the fluffy bits on the rugs, which needed hoovering. You understand what I mean right? I think it’s known as a dissociative task, or in plain English, an excuse.

After putting it off for too long, I finally made the decision to take a year off work to write. I am fortunate in that I live on the lovely and peaceful island of Gozo, where life moves at a slower pace. I am equally fortunate in having a husband who is 100% supportive and encouraging.

And so it began; the long endless nights, where caffeine became my new best friend, and I became somewhat of a social outcast, as I had to make my apologies to friends, “I’m so sorry, I can’t come for lunch, dinner, a drink, as I have to write”. However, their support and understanding was amazing, as is their continued encouragement to write.

After endless drafts and rewrites, the book was ready, and with a huge amount of trepidation, I began sending it for consideration to publishers and agents. I felt an unexpected sense of possessiveness as I sent off my precious manuscript. After all, it had been my whole world for the past year and I was understandably protective of it. Finally, I got the e-mail, which all authors long for, the fantastic news telling me that my book was to be published. I was quite literally speechless with delight.

I am indebted to Faraxa Publishers in Malta for affording me the opportunity to realise my dream and see my work in print. For a full list of their available work and other related information, please visit www.faraxabooks.com

Known to Social Services will be available in early 2015.