The first fantasy book I can remember reading was Dragonflight by the late great Anne McCaffrey. I was enthralled by that world of dragons that spoke with humans. The bond they had, even when it sadly resulted in death, struck a chord within me.
I was hooked!
From that moment, fantasy became my ‘go-to’. I could lose myself in worlds different to my own. Where nothing could bother me, and I could play with elves, fight with mages, and fly with dragons.
Of course, I grew up and ‘real’ life sadly intervened far too frequently for my liking, and the time I had to read became less and less. And then, things changed. My life changed in a drastic way that at the time seemed horrible. Now, I’m thankful for it.
You see, we moved. Not just to another town or county. We moved from the UK across the water to Germany. There I was, in a new country unable to speak a single word of the language, apart from Bitte and Danke. The school system is very different to that in the UK, so I ended up being a stay-at-home mom to my two young girls. And no, it’s not all lunches with ladies!
We moved here so my husband could work. He had been affected (like so many) with the financial crisis. I only worked part-time so it made sense for me to give up my job, for him to accept this job, and for us as a family to grasp this opportunity and turn it into the best we could.
I can honestly say I have loved most of it. Don’t get me wrong, it can be lonely at times, and I am still struggling with the languages. The opportunities though far outweigh any discomfort. I don’t regret moving here, and doubt I ever will.
One of the most amazing things is that it’s given me the opportunity to write. From my short stories and incredibly bad poetry that I wrote as a child, I’ve been able to flesh out an idea, to build a world based on Wales (another country I adore). The World of Wraidd Elfennol is a world where people and elements are (mainly) in harmony with each other. Where children are given a Life Partner at the age of thirteen that can speak with them. No idea where I got that from 😉 With one novella and two full-length epic novels, I am currently writing the fourth and final instalment of this world.
This World is one of my own making, where things can happen that even I wasn’t expecting. Where I can still read the story and become emotionally involved with the characters. Where I have had readers congratulate me whilst at the same time threatening me (in a loving way) for allowing the characters to do something.
I love my World of Wraidd Elfennol, and I love the blessing in disguise that has allowed me the opportunity to share my stories. I still read as much as I ever did, and fantasy is still my go-to. Why stick with one world when you can have so many?
Take a chance on Fantasy, on Science Fiction, on anything out of the ‘norm’, and let your cares of this world fade away. Who knows? You may even find that book that hooks you into the genre for life 🙂
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