‘I WROTE A BOOK’

NICOLA ROWLEY, 42, APPEARED IN W&H IN 2015 TALKING ABOUT HAVING A FIRST BABY, JAMES, AT 40, AFTER YEARS OF BEING UNABLE TO CONCEIVE. SHE IS MARRIED TO MATT, RUNS HER OWN PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS, AND LIVES IN WALTON-ON-THAMES, SURREY.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT… Doing the photo shoot for w&h soon after giving birth gave me such a confidence boost I was inspired to think again about an old ambition to be a writer.

I’ve loved creative writing for as long as I can remember. But after university, I went into journalism and later, communications, so it fell off my radar.

However, on maternity leave I had an idea for a children’s book that really excited me. Once I got going, I couldn’t stop. But after writing the book, I left it, sat on my computer, for months. IT WAS W&H THAT MADE ME PICK IT UP AGAIN. Seeing interviews with writers, such as Cecilia Ahern, who has achieved so much, made me realise I’d got to bite the bullet and get this thing published.

I’d been dreaming about doing it for so long, I needed to stop wasting time.

I considered getting an agent and going to traditional publishing houses, but I wanted to get the book out in time for Christmas. So, I decided to self-publish, which is a route other successful authors have taken initially, and it meant that my book would be out there much quicker. I got in touch with self-publishing service Matador, and found an illustrator based in America. From there, everything began to fall into place.

The book is out this month and I hope it’s the start of something big. I’d love to be a children’s author full-time. It’s so easy to make excuses, but I’m so glad I’ve finally fulfilled my lifelong dream.

James and the Amazing Gift,