So, I decided to write a book.

Back in January 2022, not all that long ago, I woke up one morning and decided I wanted to try to write a book. Over the years I have sat down to attempt such a task to no avail. But this time I felt differently about it, it was more important I complete my challenge.

That month I joined the writer's group for my favourite author, TL Swan. If you haven't read her work and you like steamy stories about alpha males and witty women, then head over to amazon and get started. You won't be disappointed. I came across the group on the Swan Squad fan page and decided to take a look at the 'how to' videos. Her words were inspirational and I found myself dying to get words on the page.

One of the key pieces of advice that resonated with me was to write a story I wanted to read. So I did. And six weeks later I had an 81,000-word manuscript completed and filled with all the steamy, angsty, romance I love to read about. Not sure what to do next I asked two close friends to read it and be 100% honest with me. They were, and their positivity is what made me move forward with my writing.

After some research, I came across a fantastic American lady who offers a service to read and critic work. It was nerve-wracking sending my manuscript away to someone I didn't know but her feedback gave me so much confidence. That I decided to seek out a traditional publishing contract, now I will be honest I didn't realise how difficult it is to become a published author. I have been completely winging this whole process.

I knew my knowledge of how to create a book was limited to what I read and the little advice I had picked up via social media. So, I decided to send my manuscript to a few editors to have sample edits done of chapter one. When they came back they were all so different, but it was eye-opening for me to see how my story resonated with different people. After choosing the one I preferred, it went through a copy edit. Which is a spelling, grammar and general flow check of the story.

By the end of March 2022, I was sitting with an edited, bound manuscript on my bedside table, wondering what the hell to do next.....