One Year On: Looking Back on My First Year as an Author.

A year ago today, I submitted my book, pressed publish, and, honestly, I haven't looked back.

It's really weird because the year has passed so quickly. When I pressed that publish button, it felt huge, scary and daunting. I was excited, yes, but if I'm honest, I was very nervous too, and there was definitely a bit of panic. I genuinely didn't think anyone beyond my family and friends would read Between the Towans. It felt like this personal story that I simply had to get down onto paper.

I never imagined people would connect with the characters and the Cornish setting as much as they have. It's so lovely reading your messages and hearing how many of you have connected with Rafi, Iris, Ralph and the wonderful Towans community.

Looking back now, I realise just how much has changed over the last twelve months.

I've now got four books out in the world and another two in development. Well... probably two and a half because I've already got scribbled ideas filling another notebook for the next adult fiction series, which is also set in our beautiful Cornwall. That's exciting in itself because, a year ago, I was simply hoping one book might find a few readers. I just wanted to put it out there and see what happened.

Over the past year, hundreds of books have found their way to readers through Amazon, independent bookshops, libraries, my own website and online retailers like Waterstones and Foyles. That still feels unbelievable to say. Then there are the Amazon statistics. Every time I look and see that thousands of Kindle pages have been read, it honestly blows my mind. Those aren't just numbers. They're real people choosing to spend their evenings, weekends and holidays with my stories. Stories that all started as scribbled notes in a notebook. It's amazing to think there's a whole reading community out there who have connected with something that began as an idea in my head.

The books have taken me to wonderful book fairs, signings and local events, and they've introduced me to some wonderful people.

One of the highlights of the last twelve months was the Looe Festival of Words. Not only was it a lovely event, it really was fantastic, but it was also where I met some incredibly talented authors who have since become friends. Writing can sometimes feel like a very solitary occupation and quite a lonely thing to do, so finding such a supportive writing community has been one of the real unexpected gifts of becoming an author. I've really enjoyed getting to know so many wonderful people. We read each other's books, share feedback, write reviews, support one another along the journey and celebrate each other's successes. That sense of community has been huge, and it's something I never expected when I first started writing.

I also have to acknowledge the wonderful Beachside Holiday Park and Tom's Holidays, right in the heart of the Towans themselves. Both businesses sit alongside the beautiful landscape that inspired the series, so it felt incredibly special to be invited to hold a book signing at Beachside. Meeting all the lovely holidaymakers and locals who came along to support the event is something I'll never forget. I hope there will be many more opportunities to return with future books and celebrate that beautiful coastline, which has become like a second home to me.

Looking back, I realise that one of the biggest surprises hasn't just been the books themselves. It's been the kindness of people.

A huge thank you has to go to the gorgeous Lyn at Hayle Bookshop, which has recently relocated to a beautiful new shop that I can't wait to visit. From the very beginning, she's championed me, local authors and stories set in her beloved Hayle. She's become a real friend and has such an incredible knowledge of books, stories and what matters to the local community.

As the Towans series is rooted in Hayle, her support has meant so much to me. She welcomed the books with such enthusiasm that it genuinely feels as though they've found a home there, and so have I. The warmth and kindness of the whole Hayle community has been something really special to experience.

The readers who've taken the time to send messages, the reviews that have left me smiling from ear to ear, the conversations at book fairs with readers and authors alike, the independent bookshops willing to take a chance on a local author, and the fellow writers who've shared advice, encouragement and friendship... none of that was something I expected when I started this journey.

Of course, none of it has been straightforward. There have been late nights, countless editing sessions, rewrites, far too many notebooks full of scribbled ideas, moments where I've really doubted myself and, more than a little, imposter syndrome. I suspect every author knows that feeling of wondering whether the next book will ever be good enough.

If you'd told me a year ago that I'd be sitting here writing this blog for my website, I'd honestly have struggled to believe you. Even the blogs themselves have gained traction, which has been wonderful to see. Every time someone clicks a link, reads a post or leaves a comment, it still surprises me that people are interested in what I have to say beyond the stories themselves.

Somewhere along the way, something shifted. I no longer feel like someone who writes books. I actually, genuinely feel like an author, and that's quite a lovely thing to be able to say. I'll always be a teacher, tutor and educator too. Helping children discover confidence in learning has been my career for nearly three decades, and it will always be a huge part of who I am. Running Evening Owls Tuition here in Callington is another part of my identity that I'm incredibly proud of, but writing has become part of who I am too, and I really cherish that. Finding a balance between those two worlds has been something quite special.

I'd like to thank every single person who has bought a book, borrowed one from a library, visited my website, browsed bookshop websites, read one of my blogs, joined my Reader List, recommended one of my books to a friend, left a review or shared one of my posts. Every single one of those acts of support, no matter how small you might think it is, has helped me believe in this dream.

It's also been an exciting year behind the scenes. Opportunities I never imagined have begun to appear, including conversations with traditional publishers about my books and some exciting developments that I'm not quite ready to share just yet. It's still very much a case of watching this space, but it has certainly made this journey even more exciting.

As I'm writing this, I'm busy editing Beyond the Towans' Tide and trying to wrap up the final chapters. Although I've always described it as the final book in the Towans Series trilogy, I have to admit that my notebook is already filling up with ideas for possible spin-offs and future stories because these characters never quite feel finished.

So many of you have asked what happens to some of the other characters in the story, and hearing that has been one of the greatest compliments I could receive. I don't know exactly where the Towans will take me next, but I have a feeling this community isn't quite ready to say goodbye. Maybe we'll go beyond the trilogy, maybe we won't. We'll just have to wait and see.

When I started this journey, I hoped people might enjoy my stories. What I never expected was the kindness, encouragement, friendships, and opportunities that would come along the way.

So thank you for helping me celebrate this first year. Thank you for believing in my books and for encouraging me to keep writing. Most of all, thank you for helping make a lifelong dream become a reality.

Here's to the next chapter. It's going to be an exciting one!

If you've read one of my books this year, whether you bought it, borrowed it from a library or discovered it in a bookshop, I'd genuinely love to know which one you enjoyed most. Please do leave me a comment below because reading your messages is still one of the very best parts of this whole journey.

Thank you for reading.

Bren xox