Anyone who writes loves the process. Characters and ideas fill your head and try as you might, you can't ignore them. Sometimes you just need to write them down. 

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Boats to me are the unknown. I have been on ferries and one fishing boat but really that's it.  I am surrounded by the sea and I live near the harbour and yet I know barely anything about the ships I see every day. ​​​

 

That single thought started my writing journey.  It has not been plain sailing!

I sent off loads of cover letters and applications to book publishers and literary agents for children's books.   The rejection was hard and the silence deafening. One person replied with some feedback and her answer stuck in my head. 

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"I like your children's story, but it's difficult to merchandise and 

could you write three or more books on the same theme?

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At that time I couldn't and it frustrated me, but other stories wouldn't stop.  I decided to get serious about writing, commit to a daily 10 minutes and aim to write six children's books based around the sea. 

 

Through time, daydreaming, thinking, wondering, the stories slowly materialised until now I have six stories, four of which are complete. The other two are trailing behind the website, the YouTube banner, the proof copies, planning a social media campaign, the endless list of tasks.

 

It's been great fun. I have loved the process and yes it keeps me awake at night, yes it drives my family nuts when I ask them for a rhyming word with octopus but it's great fun.

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Finding an Illustrator?

 I cannot draw and used Canva to help  bridge the gap from the ideas I had in my head regarding  the stories.  I tried many platforms but needed to stick to a budget. I found some illustrators very expensive and some too cheap. I wanted to avoid A.I and I needed to have guarantees the designer was able to illustrate without using A.I. I liked Upwork as it gives security to both illustrator and the client as that is where I finally found my illustrator. 

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Q & A.​

Who is your favourite character in your books?

I think it is Harbourmaster Pat as she knows her stuff, she likes to follow the rules and you don't mess with her. 

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Do you believe that bananas bring bad luck on boats?

I hope not as my children love them but I am not a sailor.  The gas released by the bananas, Ethylene, was thought to spoil the other cargo and potentially interfere with the boats equipment.  Banana skins are also slippery and could cause accidents on the deck. Much of the fear is associated with old superstitions. 

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What is your favourite boat in the stories?

I love Tugboat Tony because he is stubborn but has a strong sense of duty and wants to help his friends, but I do like Elanora. She is funny and snooty and has a high opinion of herself. 

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Do you know anyone who works on boats?

My grandfather was a ship's engineer. 

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What is the next story about?

The next story is about a mysterious object under the sea that is stopping the ferry from leaving. A new character is introduced who will come to the rescue.

 

Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

My own curiosity, real life, nature, family and children.  I hope my books give teachers a platform to discuss other topics such as celestial navigation, the effects of the tides, the importance of shipping and types of boats.

We are after all an island with over 120 commercial Ports in the UK. 

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Do all authors want to be famous and rich?

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Not everyone is seeking fame and fortune, some people write to tell their story to grandchildren, some want to write a novel and others have a research book in mind. I think that a lot of writers simply love writing, but let's be real. 

 

If you want to be a self published author there is an illustrator to pay, possibly a proof reader and formatter, web domain, the list goes on. Don't let that put you off, follow to learn all about it.

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Better still, buy the books! 

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