Celebrating World Book Day: A Journey Through Reading and Writing

Happy World Book Day! As an author, I often reflect on the pivotal role books and reading have played in shaping my career. The writing life might seem romantic, but trust me, the reality is full of late nights spent typing away (in my pyjamas, of course) and many cups of cold coffee consumed in the quiet hours before dawn. Sometimes, I stay in those pyjamas until lunchtime—because when the writing muse calls, who has time to change?

But beneath all the quirky moments of authorship, there’s one constant that remains essential to everything I do: reading. It’s the foundation of any writer’s journey. For me, the love of books started as a child, and it was reading that opened the doors to all the stories I now get to share with the world.

I can still remember the books that first captured my imagination. I spent hours lost in the pages of The Children of Green Knowe, a book that transported me into a magical world of adventure and wonder. And The Famous Five by Enid Blyton? Well, I was absolutely hooked. I couldn’t stop reading, and my dad read them to me so many times that he eventually lost his voice (sorry, Dad!).

But the books that truly spoke to my heart were those about ponies—anything to do with horses. I was completely captivated by the Jinny books, and I like to think that my love for those tales is part of the reason I now have my very own chestnut Arabian horse. There’s something about the bond between a person and a horse that’s so deeply woven into my own stories today.

Looking back, I realise how much gratitude I feel toward the teachers who taught me to read and instilled in me a lifelong love for books. My parents, too, deserve a huge thank you for reading to me and creating a space where stories flourished. They gave me the gift of words, and it’s one I’ll always treasure.

So, on this World Book Day, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for all the readers, teachers, parents, and fellow authors who have contributed to this journey. Without reading, there would be no writing. If you’ve ever found yourself lost in a story or had a book you couldn’t put down, then you understand the magic that comes with the written word.

Thank you for being part of this incredible world of books. Keep reading, keep dreaming, and if you're a writer like me, keep writing those stories that need to be told. Here's to the power of books, today and every day.