Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

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It’s the beginning of 2026, and I’ve published my first novel. Am I excited? Absolutely.

This has been a long-held ambition of mine, dating back to my teenage years when I devoured books and delighted in writing (I was rather good at English, if I may say so). Recently, while rummaging through some old folders, I unearthed a small collection of poems and short stories I’d written in the early 1970s, long after I had left the academic classrooms and study halls.

Were they publish-worthy? Maybe not. But then, imposter syndrome has always had a seat at my table, as it does for many artists. Still, they were a joy to read, and a gentle reminder that I’ve come a very long way since those earnest early scribblings.

One thing did make me smile: most of those short stories were set in the 1920s and 30s. Hmm. Clearly, the past has always held a certain fascination for me, which is mildly ironic given that I tend to pride myself on living very much in the present.

Books have always been central to my life, and I owe that largely to my mother, who instilled in me a deep love of reading. We were regular visitors to the library, and whenever I was unwell, Mum would arrive home with a book to cheer me up. They began with Noddy, moved on to The Secret Seven and The Famous Five, then Anne of Green Gables, and many other classics as I grew older.

That love of reading has happily been passed down to my children, all of whom read as much as, if not more than, I do. What I love most is how they share books between themselves, recommending what’s wonderful, what’s challenging, and what to brace yourself for. Occasionally, they even recommend titles to me, and they’re always spot on.

You can read more about my first novel, Legacy of the Lie, in the Books section.

Books teach us new things, take us to places we’ve never been, and set our imaginations loose, sending us hurtling through mysteries, romances, thrillers, and every other genre we care to explore.