I wish my library was in Narnia

Writing a book is much like reading one, I’ve always maintained. I’ve come at a book from both sides of the page, so to speak! When writing, I become intimately involved with the characters, follow their every move, am never quite sure how they’ll react and am often in suspense. It’s hopefully the same when I’m reading a book. Similarly, we don’t always get time to sit down with a book, whether to read it or write it.
As much as I enjoy my job as a journalist, I do often wish I could retire and simply concentrate on the novel-in-progress instead! But I have been rewarded for my diligence (or lack of diligence, re the novel?) by a 12th successive nomination for the prestigious annual Derby Awards, so suddenly the interruption to my next book is worthwhile!
This year, my cover features have seen me through to Horserace Writer of the Year, a prize I’ve been runner-up for three times in the past. I have also gone forward for the new award of Specialist Writer of the Year, so if I’m lucky in that it will not only be my own first, but a notable first!
In a year that saw my novel Chantilly Dawns go to No.1 in the bestsellers list, I’m like any avid reader who would rather stay at home with a book. The problem is, I want the time to write one AND read one! Wouldn’t it be marvellous if libraries were like Narnia? We could lose ourselves in our books for as long as we wish, then step back out without a minute lost!