Over a chat and a glass of wine, one of my friends came out with a statement, or even a question.
'Wouldn't it be good if Brandy & Brinkley could go back in time to meet King Charles, who the breed was named after...?'
And thus, an idea was born.
Friends had said I should write a book about my time in Spain, but there are lots of book about people living overseas, settling in to new and strange places. I didn't feel I had anything new to add.
But my friend's comment sat in my brain and grew. It started to take on a life of its own. Could I really write a book? I have worked in an accounting environment all my life and have always classed myself as not being and ideas person. Could I really achieve a long held ambition and write a novel.
Only one thing to do... try it and see.
My first task was research. Having thought of possible story lines based during the English Civil War of 1642-1651, I was a little taken aback to find that, whilst Kind Charles I had spaniels, they were named after King Charles II - and he was King during the Great Plague and the Fire of London. Ah, where was the story for 2 time-travelling dogs in that?
Well, 3 months of research and a lot of long nights tapping away at the keyboard and I had 54,500 words when I finally typed the last sentence in my first full-length novel. After months of editing, checking and learning how to publish it I was finally ready.
Book cover complete I uploaded it to Amazon, had a print run of paperbacks delivered and my long-term ambition was complete - I had in my hand my first novel.
Now the hard work begins - I need to get it noticed!
Life is not easy as a new author, but neither is it boring.
And while I'm waiting for the orders to flood in from the various adverts and promotional events I have planned in the run-up to Christmas, after all it's a perfect Christmas present, I'm on with book 2.
So, anyone wanting a copy - it's available here: http://bit.ly/throughtimetolondon
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