"Why Do You Write?"

When I was asked to answer the question "why do you write?" I didn't know it would come at a time when giving an answer would be so poignant.

For as long as I can remember I've had a stalwart audience of two.  Long before thoughts of Day's Dying Glory even came into existence I had days of sitting alongside two of my sisters, all of us writing, and in the evening we would take it in turns to read out each other's work.  These were (rather unimaginatively!) entitled "Story Days".  And these two were my audience.  We were like an exclusive book club.

A Story Day cocktail with a questionable name

It was not first my idea to publish my writing; nor second.  And that's why I'm doing it.  For the first time, I've had other people encouraging me to offer my literature to a wider audience.  And, from my own point of view, nothing means more.

This is all rather upbeat, so why did I say this question had come at a poignant time?  Because I'm questioning why I'm bothering, and I haven't had cause to question it since I began the journey into Historical Fiction writing.  Sure, I had my fair share of rejection letters - although only one that was verging on rude in its dismissal - but you read almost any published author's memoirs and they had to deal with the same thing.  I've even had criticism from a reader that the book stretches the bounds of believability.  But that's fine - the reader still loved the book and is looking forward to attending its launch.  But to raise money for the book launch I started a Crowdfunder campaign.  I theorised that, should each of my friends, and a handful of interested parties, throw a fiver into the pot, I'd easily make the target.  They didn't.

The complicated maze of sibling legs

So, failure on the horizon?

Well, no actually.  I didn't start this journey with the hope of becoming a bestselling author.  I didn't even want to make money on it.  I have a fantastic story to tell.  A story which encompasses all aspects of humanity.  All I've wanted to do, from the word go, is share that story.

So this one's for you, Readers - you really are the ones that matter the most.  Thanks - I hope you like it.
[Actually, it's technically for my Dad.  It's the only piece of my writing he's ever read, and I think he enjoyed it!]

Me with Judith and Clemency at the Flows Lookout

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