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.