Chapter 1: The Awakening of a Dream

It was during my teenage years, around the age of thirteen or fourteen, that I first encountered the works of Edgar Allan Poe through my GCSE English teacher. The memories of that classroom are vivid: sunlight streaming through the Victorian windows, the scent of aged wood, and the mesmerizing impact of Poe's words. I had never read anything quite like it, and it captivated my imagination.

A couple of my classmates, whom I considered the 'intelligent ones,' also expressed their fascination with the story. We eagerly discussed it, reciting our favorite lines with theatrical flair and sharing hearty laughs. It was then that I declared, with the unwavering enthusiasm of a youthful dreamer, "I aspire to be a writer." This moment marked the inception of a dream that would linger throughout my life.

Perhaps my eagerness drove me to excel, or maybe I had a natural talent. Regardless, I shone in English. I would often submit my work ahead of schedule, allowing me time to refine and enhance it before the deadline to achieve the highest grades possible. The teacher who introduced me to Poe encouraged me always to keep writing, no matter the path I chose.

In the years that followed, I immersed myself in Poe's literature. The thrill of seeing 'The Simpsons' reference his poem "The Raven" felt like witnessing my favorite team triumph in a championship. I had memorized that poem and would recite it alongside the characters. A new friend, who introduced me to the show, was impressed, and we quickly became inseparable, navigating our teenage years and beyond together.

At university, I pursued studies in Art, Psychology, and English literature. Initially, I was disheartened when my first essay in English received a C, accompanied by the remark, "this is not a creative writing class." Nevertheless, I persevered, and my grades gradually improved. I fell in love and began dating, eventually moving on to university to study Psychology. My leisure time revolved around playing guitar, socializing, working out, and indulging in various escapades, although I occasionally penned poetry.

After completing university, I was uncertain about my career path and allowed the opinions of others to steer my decisions, applying for corporate jobs and graduate programs. When I faced rejection, I pivoted and trained to teach English as a foreign language, landing a job in Poland. Shortly after arriving, I called the office to request an iron. They directed me to a colleague named Will. At his apartment, I ironed shirts, one after another, to avoid creasing them for my return home. Will would later become my closest friend in Poland, and we frequently explored bookstores together. Interestingly, we had attended the same university but had never crossed paths.

Returning to the UK at 22, I remained uncertain about my future. The aspirations I had voiced after reading "The Tell-Tale Heart" seemed distant. While my peers were advancing in their careers and my girlfriend pursued law, I found myself unemployed, sleeping on my parents' couch. I started a business providing services in NHS doctors' surgeries. Despite some initial success, I sank into a state of depression. At that time, my friend, who had introduced me to 'The Simpsons,' remarked that he wished he could be more like me. I was taken aback.

"Why would you want to be like me?" I queried.

"You've achieved everything you've set out to do," he replied, listing my accomplishments. His words struck a chord, and I began to realize the weight of my own potential. The fog of depression lifted, and I rekindled my desire to write.

This aspiration had never truly vanished. I enrolled in a creative writing course, one of many promising to help aspiring authors succeed, and began my journey. Within a year, I completed my first novel, "Six Days in August." It was gritty and intense, and I believed it was fantastic. However, when I shared it with a few trusted friends, their lukewarm reactions stung. After multiple revisions and retyping, I ultimately shelved the manuscript. Whenever it was brought up, it was often met with mockery, leaving me disheartened. I chose never to revisit it or submit it to any publishers.

As my initial excitement waned, I found solace in my business, which was thriving. The feelings of worthlessness that had plagued me upon returning from Poland dissipated. I enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle, traveling frequently. However, despite my success, I pushed aside the notion of becoming a writer, though I remained a prolific note-taker and journal keeper, jotting down business ideas and lengthy letters to friends. Will still remembers the extensive letter I sent him—he never managed to read it all.

In 2007, I attempted to write another book, but it too fizzled out. I experienced two failures in my quest to be a writer and put the idea aside, continuing with life as it was—perhaps not the life I desired, but the one I knew.

Seven years later, after a prolonged struggle, I secured my first job that offered a salary exceeding what I had earned from my businesses. I had married and welcomed my first child. My wife faced a serious illness during her second pregnancy, and I poured my energy into work, knowing the financial support was crucial. As stability returned, I found myself writing again—primarily poetry shared with my best friend, the one whose encouragement had lifted me from despair. He would often read my poems aloud during outings, garnering admiration that left me feeling both proud and bashful. He urged me to take my writing seriously once more, but I lacked the confidence to act on it.

Fortunately, my wife recovered, and our second child was born, leading to a brighter outlook. The thought of writing began to resurface. Then tragedy struck; I lost my best friend to suicide. Everything ground to a halt. The grief was overwhelming, and I questioned whether I could have prevented it. I was lost. A year later, I lost my job, started another business that failed, and faced mounting debt. The death of my father compounded my feelings of inadequacy, leaving me desperate to make him proud.

At my lowest, I picked up my pen and began writing again, primarily poetry. My first article on Medium addressed the loss of my friend; writing became my lifeline. I found my rhythm once more. My wife, who was teaching at a primary school, encouraged me to create stories that complemented her students' lessons in English and creative writing. The impact of my stories was profound, igniting a passion for writing among students who typically disengaged from learning. Some stories even moved children and teachers to tears, and I was elated.

I continued writing on Medium and began crafting a new novel. I devoured books and articles about writing, with "On Writing" by Stephen King and "The Art of Storytelling" by Will Storr standing out as particularly insightful. Ideas for characters and plots often struck me during drives, workouts, or walks. Sometimes I'd wake up with a brilliant concept, grabbing my phone to jot it down. Inspiration flowed steadily. Ted, Will's brother, had also penned a novel that I thoroughly enjoyed, fueling my belief that if he could succeed, so could I.

I started mapping out a life plan: launch another business, write books, and use any extra income to trade in the markets, a venture I had previously navigated successfully. My goal was to write forty books before I passed away, ensuring my daughters would receive annual royalty checks. My teenage dream of becoming a writer was reigniting, and I felt confident about the future!

However, the novel I was working on at that time remained unfinished. A new chapter was about to unfold.

Chapter 2: The Birth of a Story

Just before the world was engulfed by the Covid-19 pandemic, I found myself in my daughters’ room, preparing to read them a bedtime story. They insisted on this nightly ritual, and I cherished it. After finishing the first book, they clamored for another, but we had exhausted our collection. Rather than venture downstairs for more books, I improvised and began crafting a tale on the spot about a little girl who had never slept.

To my delight, my daughters were captivated. The following day, they begged for more, and it became clear that they were hooked on this new narrative. I started documenting the story, with Ted and other close friends providing valuable feedback. A little over a year later, I completed the manuscript. As Christmas approached, I could see the finish line. One Sunday morning, I visited a West London café and wrote for seven hours straight. Just before the New Year, I penned the final line. The exhilaration was beyond words; I knew this book would be published.

However, writing a book is vastly different from getting it published. Drawing from my past experiences, I devised a plan: I would submit my manuscript to one publisher each day. I aimed to reach fifty submissions, a realistic target given that even the best authors face rejection.

Surprisingly, I didn’t need fifty days. After twelve submissions, I received seven responses, with only one being a rejection. I was astonished. I credited my success to my presence on Medium, which likely helped me gain visibility as a writer. My wife attributed the positive feedback to the uniqueness of the book. "There's nothing comparable for children out there," she remarked. I meticulously researched each publisher and compared contracts before signing.

In July of this year, thirty-two years after declaring my desire to be a writer after reading "The Tell-Tale Heart," my dream materialized. Last weekend, I received a package from the publisher containing twenty-five pre-release copies of my book, scheduled for release on July 25, 2024. It felt surreal as I opened the box with my wife and daughters, finally holding the book in my hands. My daughters were ecstatic, but no one matched my joy. I wished my best friend and my father could have been there to witness it.

The book is titled Myshi Moo and the Frightening Face.

Here’s a brief synopsis:

Myshi Moo is a little girl who has never slept and never had a dream. One night, she steps into the darkness and encounters the very creatures that haunt other children's nightmares. Her journey delves into themes of curiosity, fear, social exclusion, and the consequences of bullying.

“Beyond the trumpet trees, the greedy grass, and busy bees, lies a place down a giant hole, where no one dares to go. Some say it’s a house, some say it’s a cave, but none have been brave enough to discover the truth behind the frightening face.”

My dream has finally come true.

Myshi Moo and the Frightening Face is now available at Foyles, Waterstones, WHSmith, and Amazon.

Listen to Glenn Travis's inspiring song "My Dream Came True" reflecting the journey of pursuing dreams.

Watch "A Prophetic Dream" that explores the idea of dreams becoming reality.