The BirthRight Trilogy came to shape out of a personal frustration at the lack of Epic Fantasies where the women led, and the men were the ‘love interests’.
I wanted to read a story I felt I could relate to. With characters discovering a magnificent, terrifying, awe-inspiring new world. I wanted a love story that didn’t feel grating and DIDN’T include a love triangle.
I wanted men who appreciated women who could stand up for themselves, physically, verbally, mentally. I wanted fantastical creatures that made me yearn for a glimpse of them in real life, and most of all, I wanted a rip roaring adventure that I could get lost in while not wishing the women would stop playing the ‘damsel in distress’ roles.
It began with a sentence. A thunderstorm roiling overhead. Then the four leads revealed themselves.
Catherine, Kassandra, Sian, and Laura.
Over a matter of almost two years I worked at this idea. It developed into a tale that seemed to have a life of its own. I found myself dreaming of it, boring everyone around me about it, and writing every spare moment I could.
From a person who found it daunting to fill a piece of A4 paper with words, I discovered at my first word count I already had enough words to fill a novel. Which made me realise I had two more to write to complete the story (sob).
Now writing, learning about writing, reading, plotting and creating fills my spare moments. I still work a 9-5 job (I make a very hangry starving artist.. not a great mix) while tackling this fairly recent passion. A passion I’d never have believed possible seven years ago! A passion that frustrates, grates, inspires, inflames and quite frankly, drives me bonkers half the time.
But finally, for the first time in my life I know what I want to be when I grow up.