Hi Leon, thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell me about your book, Felicity Fire: And The Forever Key and what inspired it? 

Growing up I enjoyed getting lost in classic fiction like “The Never Ending Story” and “The Chronicles of Narnia” I was able to lose myself, use my imagination without boundaries and be inspired creativity. As an author, I wanted to create a new modern novel with current and relevant characters, but infused with a sense of nostalgia and magic from my childhood. I wanted to share that sense of wonder with a new audience where they feel like they are the main character in the book.

What are the challenges when writing a book in this genre and for a younger audience? What are the most important aspects to consider?

For me, I write with no fear and I generally don’t follow any kind of industry blueprint. I often tap into childhood memories and try to put myself back in that frame of mind and look at the world from that viewpoint. Children have the wonderful ability to be innocent in the world, and stories don’t have to make perfect sense. When i’m in that space I can normally create new ideas and let them flow. I think not trying to be perfect is important and it’s ok to be brave in your writing. Professionally the most important factors for me are to just keep going, keep writing, even if it’s a little bit each day.

What’s your typical writing day like? Do you have any rituals like needing coffee? Silence? What do you do to stay motivated?

I am very disciplined with my creativity. I believe a lot of this comes from my time serving in the British Army, where my grit and determination was pushed out of my comfort zone. Many of the qualities I developed in that chapter of my life still stay with me today. So I have the ability to simply just keep going and keep writing.

I do like writing in creative spaces, with a good coffee too!

What’s your route to publication and what advice do you have for someone considering a similar path?