BarryHutchison

24 years, that’s how long it took. 24 years (give or take a few months) from the moment I realised I wanted to be a writer to the moment this arrived…

When I returned home today after visiting the brilliant Holm Primary in Inverness, I found that waiting for me. A small bundle of them, actually. My author copies of Invisible Fiends: Mr Mumbles are now safely in my possession, 3 years after I came up with the idea for the series.

To say I’ve fantasized about this moment would be an understatement. I was eight years old when I decided I wanted to be a writer. No, that’s not true. I didn’t decide. “Decide” implies there was some kind of choice involved, but I’ve long since come to realise that there is no other job I am suited to. I’ve been largely terrible at pretty much everything else I’ve tried, and the only thing I have ever been good at is writing stories.

So now, having a copy of my first proper book in my hands, is quite an incredible experience.  It’s hard to find the words to describe just how it feels, even though finding words is supposed to be my job. Just looking at that cover and flicking through those pages makes all the years of self-doubt and living on the breadline worthwhile.

I’m naturally a very lazy person, and tend to avoid putting any effort into anything if at all possible, but I put effort into this. I put 24 years worth of effort into this. And now, with Mr Mumbles glaring out at me, I know all that work paid off.

I don’t know what the future holds for the series, or how well it will sell, but right now – right at this moment – I couldn’t care less. All I know is that I have a smile on my face that won’t go away, and that I keep sneaking back into this room to take another peek at the books, just to make sure they’re still there.

It’s an old cliché, but what the hell, I’m going to say it anyway. With the arrival of this book, my childhood dream has come true. I am officially an author.

I hope my eight-year-old self would be proud.