In 2019 I suffered burnout at work. I was depleted and empty. My GP suggested I take three months off work, but that wasn’t really feasible in my line of work.

So, instead, I put pen to paper and started writing. Like the old adage says, ‘write what you know,’ and that’s exactly what I did. Suddenly I had a world of characters that felt real and I had a clear idea of what themes I wanted to explore, and what the overarching story arcs could be for a series.

Four fortune cookies gave me the courage to try. I’ve attached a picture of them. And the writing made me feel inspired again. Slowly my cup refilled and over time the burnout resolved.