My inspiration for the story came after I did some research on commercial space travel. I started questioning what would happen if it wasn’t the wealthy billionaires who survived a potential Armageddon, but people from ordinary walks of life instead. Then the main character appeared in my head one day, and I knew that the story would lend itself perfectly to a MG book.

I celebrated by adding to my already quite extensive TBR pile

Since winning the competition I had a Zoom call with Lydia Silver from Darley Anderson, and honestly, she was so helpful, that I now know exactly where I’m going with the story. Lydia has asked to read the full manuscript when the book is finished, which is very exciting! Now I need to make the time to get it written. 

My biggest tip would be: do it! Believe in yourself. Don’t, whatever you do, talk yourself out of it because you don’t think that your work is good enough. I have a motto pinned to the wall above my desk that says: There are people less talented than you, doing the things you want to do, simply because they believe in themselves. And it is true! Someone has to win, so why not you? 

Next for me… Fingers crossed, my third YA murder mystery will be published next year, closely followed by The Travelling Funfair at the End of the World.