A fantastic publication quest

‘I was delighted four years ago to be shortlisted for a writing competition that was advertised in Writing Magazine by KickBack Media,’ writes subscriber Dawn Treacher.

‘They were looking for a writer for a fantasy adventure book and when I applied I had no idea where it was going to lead. After being called to an interview in London, I was selected to be the writer of what was to become the Kringleset Chronicles – not one book, but a whole series of books.

‘I had been writing fantasy adventure middle grade books for a while and this opportunity really kickstarted my determination to do something with my writing. Despite the lockdown of 2020, book one was finished and the team published The Kringleset Chronicles, Rise, up, rise up, shortly after I’d self-published my first novel, The Curse of the Goldicoot. My writing room, Geraldine, a caravan in the garden, had really come into her own and throughout the first lockdown it was a great place to settle down and write.

‘Book 2, The Kringleset Chronicles, Return of the queen, was published the following year in 2021 and I have just started writing book 3. Not only had the writing opportunity really helped me take my writing seriously, it made me an award-winning writer too, when both book 1 and 2 were awarded finalist’s medals in the Wishing Shelf Independent Book awards for children’s books aimed at 8-12 year olds.

Now I haven’t looked back and my next book, Pandemonium of Parrots, a steampunk middle grade adventure is due to be published by Stairwell Books this September.

‘My advice to fellow subscribers is to keep following your dream and entering competitions may well open new opportunities.’