One of the more amusing discoveries of first-time self-publishing is that finishing the book is not, in fact, the moment when everything calms down and sensible congratulations begin.

One of the more entertaining surprises of preparing to publish a first book is discovering that “building a mailing list” is spoken about in the same hushed, reverent tones once reserved for hidden treasure or lost civilisations.

Last June, after starting chemotherapy, I found myself with an unusual amount of time to think. Not always cheerfully, I’ll admit, and not always in places I’d have chosen for creative reflection. But when your calendar suddenly fills up with treatment sessions, hospital appointments, and long hours of waiting, you do start to take stock.

There are many romantic ideas about how books come into being.

One of the more comical aspects of this whole writing journey is that the story I’m finishing now was originally meant for younger members of my family.

I would like to speak honestly about one of the least glamorous parts of writing fantasy: naming things.

Writer’s block is one of those phrases that sounds rather grand, as if a mighty creative dam has been erected across the river of inspiration. In my experience, it is usually much less dramatic and much more irritating.

There’s something special about writing fantasy for middle-grade readers.