Although I’m now doing what I’ve always wanted to do, writing books, I’ve found that the life of an author is a real mix of highs and lows.

On the not-so-good days, it can be a lonely business, spending so much time at home on your own, writing quietly. To get through those moments, I make sure to take regular breaks and go for a walk or sit in a café to watch the world go by, sometimes striking up a conversation with a stranger.

Writing something from scratch is always a risk. You never really know whether people are going to like the final result of something you’ve put so much time and heart into. I know I can’t expect everyone to enjoy what I create (no writer can please everyone) but still, there are moments of self-doubt. It’s a normal part of being an artist.

After a few solitary days this week working away on French Fantastique: Book 2, I realised I was starting to feel a bit isolated. So, I took a break and headed to the local library. As I chatted with the receptionist, I noticed my book on top of the pile of returns on her desk. She told me the woman who’d just left had returned it and mentioned how much she’d enjoyed it.

On my walk home through the market, I stopped to chat with an English lady I know. She asked me when Book 2 would be coming out and told me how much she loved the first one. She couldn’t wait to read more.

I’d left the house feeling a bit low, but those two unexpected conversations reminded me that, despite the ups and downs, I love being an author. I returned home uplifted and ready to write again.