As a writer of fiction, I have sometimes received comments from people about the validity of what I do. There are many out there who view fiction as nothing more than light entertainment. In many cases, I probably agree with them; often fiction is just light entertainment, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I don’t think the people who’ve spoken to me think it’s necessarily wrong either, just that a novel is perhaps not as important as great works of history or biographies on important world figures.

When I wrote the Verindon trilogy I only wrote them for fun, although messages did creep in there. My next book, Once Confronted, was written with more of a message in mind, although it’s a message to myself in a lot of ways; a reminder of both the importance of forgiveness and the fact that you can get through hard times in your life and find hope again. When it’s released, I hope that will be the message people take away from it.

The novel I’m working on at the moment is back to the ‘fun’ thing, although again, there’s a message creeping through. I’m not going to tell you what it is, though!

Fiction may not be as important as books that relay history or talk about inspirational world leaders, but it can still be important and can change lives. I remember when I first read Jane Eyre how it hit me that I could be so moved by such a work. The same thing hit me when I read Wuthering Heights, although my response then was in the opposite direction – I didn’t know I could feel such hatred towards a character as I felt for Heathcliff. However, the feelings both of these books produced where more in tune with inspiring me in my own literary ambitions, rather than to live a better life, although I know fiction can certainly do that.

I’d like to ask you, as a reader, if there has been a work of fiction that has particularly inspired you, especially if it inspired you to be a better person. It has to be entirely fictitious, not faction or based on a true story. Was there one that was a major game-changer in your life? Let me know in the comments.