Up until the age of 16 I enjoyed reading crime novels, like Agatha Christie and P.D. James, amongst other crime authors, but, if I'm being honest, I was a telly addict. I would normally spend long hours glued to the TV. While slumped in front of the box one bright spring day in holiday time, my mother came into the room and said the penetrating words, "Do you not think you should educate yourself by reading a little, rather than always watching the television mindlessly". These words were like a bolt from the blue, and a wake-up call. It completely changed my path from that moment on. 
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From that age, I immersed myself in current affairs, and the Arts and Culture section of the weekend papers. This then progressed to reading fiction and non-fiction books. Then at university and up to the present day, I have been an avid reader of commentaries on Buddhism, and mindfulness/meditation books, while still engaging in the Arts, Culture and human interest stories from the weekend papers. Fictional books, biographies and memoirs have also not left my purview. 
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​I enjoyed writing dissertations and reports when studying architecture, but I particularly got into writing at the University of Warwick, where I worked for 5 years as their in-house architect. Many long emails and reports were crafted in that environment. I also brought to completion an Estates Strategy booklet, which I all thoroughly enjoyed. This gave me a taster for the writing to come.

My first book emerged initially from the praise of two senior order members at the Birmingham Buddhist Centre, who commented on a eulogy I had given, in 2014, about a good friend who was departing for an ordination retreat in Spain. They asked if I wrote in my spare time, and have I ever considered writing a book. What they did was sow the seeds of belief that I could embark on the enormous challenge of completing my own book.
 
In the latter part of 2014, the thought came to me that what had happened to me in that year, and which still continued to occur into 2015 were momentous and unusual events. I felt it could lead to a fascinating and illuminating read for anyone interested in knowing more about the relationship between my paranoia and to a lesser extent my mania, the world of my architectural work, and my parallel and long-established spiritual/Buddhist path.
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Before properly commencing on my first book, I enrolled on the Writers Bureau course. I did one assignment, and read a little of the literature they sent me, but I was also keen to get started on the first draft; so withdrew myself from their tuition and homework. I then proceeded to dive into the creation of, what felt like to me, a riveting narrative. 

After a span of 18 months, starting from the beginning of December 2014, where I wrote my first draft; went through fourteen edits; and employed a book publishing company; it was self-published in May 2016. It was written as an autobiographical fiction (autofiction), as I had added a few things which were definitely untrue, while the rest of my story actually happened at least from my subjective viewpoint. 

​I received some very complimentary feedback from certain readers, with one of the commonest being that it was an insightful and compelling story. I took to heart one woman's comment who said it would have been better as a memoir, as it would then be a more impactful, raw and honest account. She thought it was an incredible and eye-opening narrative, and she would have liked to know what was the truth of my story. By penning a memoir, it would not be blurring the lines between fiction and fact, which autofiction is more prone to do.
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​After self-publishing that first book and with a little gap of time; I started on my journey as a painter artist, and later helping out in a few roles and responsibilities at an Art Gallery in Leamington Spa.

For almost two and a half years starting from when the first lockdown occurred in March 2020, I engaged in lively discussions with a professional writer in long phone calls every other week about life primarily, but also her imparting writing tips and techniques, and what to expect from the publishing world. At times this became a good support for consolidating my knowledge of that industry.
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​In August 2021, I decided I would revisit my autofiction manuscript. Adapting it into a memoir, it is now entitled, 'Looking Out for Me: A Spiritual Journey from Paranoia to Acceptance'. 

I spent 5 months further editing the manuscript, deleting specific chapters that added very little, and refining certain sentences to make the writing punchier. I also added appropriate chapter headings to hook the reader in. This was all due to the knowledge I had gained from my professional writer friend. Once this was complete, I applied to traditional publishing houses.
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​After receiving a couple of rejections and many no replies from agents and publishers, I read an article about a mental health and wellbeing publisher, called Trigger publishers. I chose to submit my manuscript to them. They couldn't offer me the possibility to publish with them, as they rarely published memoirs, but they suggested I should try their bespoke self-publishing division called Cherish Editions. It had taken over 10 months from when I had completed my manuscript and was starting to seek a publisher to when I eventually secured a contract with Cherish Editions.
 
They are a hybrid publishing solution, but not a vanity press. This means that I have the freedom and flexibility of self-publishing with the guidance and experience of a reputable publishing house. The best of both worlds in my opinion!