Welcome to my four part blog series about the things that have inspired The Luke Bright Series. The third blog is about the situations that have helped me on my journey to become a writer and have directly impacted my own writing. Find the first inspiration blog about the other books that inspired me here and the second on TV and films that inspired me here.

The main kick that made me decide to self-publish in 2018 was Brexit and the election of Donald Trump as president. Both of these events have led to so many divisions in the UK and the USA bringing back prejudice and inequality that I still can’t comprehend is happening in this modern day world. It was then I realised that young people needed a book series like mine to highlight the ways the world is going backwards. With things not seemingly getting any better on both sides, The Luke Bright Series still sadly remains relevant and current.  The previous week with Trump’s visit to the UK and all the protests gave me a glimpse as to what it could have been like if the Atlantic Split was real – and it seemed just as horrifying as I had anticipated it would be.

Another aspect of my books focussed on standing up to bullies in power. The #metoo campaign involved women and men around the world sharing their experiences of sexual abuse and harassment and outed the bullies who did it to them. It was such a brave movement, and whilst I’d already written particular scenes in the books that related to the campaign, again, I realised that this book series needed to be out as soon as possible to raise awareness and get young people talking about the issues that matter.

However, the real reason that drove me to persist with this series was my dismay at inequality and prejudice, especially in the modern day. I could see the world needed more people tackling the hard issues. I wanted to make a difference. I knew I had to make a difference if I was going to be a writer and I really hope that I can succeed at doing so.

Finally, I can reflect on my own life situations (which I will discuss more next week) for inspiration. I can draw parallels from what happens to Luke Bright and other characters over the course of the book series to my own experiences and it has only strengthened the book being able to use these. However, these situations came after the first drafts had been written – the loss of my father, dealing with grief, nearly losing my second home at University and the relationships I have with those around me – and it was my books that helped me through all of these, not the other way round. I’ve always lived my life in parallel to my books it seems, and sometimes I wonder whether it is me just trying to find similarities or whether it is genuinely just what life has in store for me.

Thanks for reading and next week, I’ll be discussing in the final part four which people have inspired me when writing The Luke Bright Series. See you back here then!

Atlantic Split is the first book in The Luke Bright Series and is available to purchase NOW! Please follow me on my blog and my social media links below and use the links on my website to purchase a copy if you have not done so. Don’t forget to leave a review! The second book, At Liberty To Live will be released in AUTUMN 2018. Thank you once again for taking the time to read this blog post.

N.A.K