This was the most common reaction I received back in 2008 when I told people I had written a book. It would have been easy to agree and not to risk the knock-backs but I decided this was my chance to practice what I preached. 

 

It all started with the credit crunch when all my client work from summer to Christmas was cancelled. One morning I awoke to find my dog nudging me to take him for a walk. The first thought I had was, ‘I can just let him out in the garden,’ the second was, ‘Ah oh!’

 

I could feel the helplessness creeping in and professionally I knew it’s buddy depression wouldn’t be far behind. I had to do something productive to stave off the darkness. I needed a purpose.

 

My solution was to write a story for my two younger sisters as a Christmas present. They had requested handbags and perfume, so it is safe to say they were a touch underwhelmed with my efforts, but I had fallen in love. I knew I had to do this for the rest of my life, and I knew that meant I needed a publishing deal to justify all the hours it would take.

 

But most writers never get published (or so people said…)

 

The next decade was a grind. I wrote story after story, faced years of rejection and decided to give up numerous times.

 

And then I would remember: the brain is a muscle – ten thousand hours of practice are needed to make you a master, and  success requires GRIT – a growth mindset, resilience, and a truck load of tenacity.

 

It became my own personal experiment into whether the right mindset can enable you to achieve your dreams.

 

I now have six books published with Penguin Random House and have sold into 14 countries. It’s not been easy and it’s not been quick…but it has proved the point.