They’re the words that every writer longs to hear: ‘Thank you for submitting your story. We are delighted to inform you that it has been accepted.’ Well, last month it was finally my turn to hear those words.

Yes, it’s official – I am a published writer!

It’s not the first time that I’ve seen my words set down in cold, clear ink on the page. A few years ago now (Could it really be as many as 20 years? Surely not!), my primary school took part in a poetry competition and I was lucky enough to be featured in the resulting book. Truly my first writing accolade.

At secondary school, I wrote regular articles for my school’s page in the local newspaper. In the days before blog posts (‘click here to instantly release your thoughts out into the world’), it was thrilling. Each week I’d thumb through the pages, desperate to see my words in print, and excited to get the world’s reaction when I arrived at school the next morning – or, at least, a ‘well done’ from a couple of teachers.

Since then, it would be fair to say that I’ve played about with writing, submitting things here and there whenever the notion struck me. However, as you know, I’ve just finished my first year of an MLitt Creative Writing, and suddenly it has become much more serious. Submitting work isn’t just something to be done ‘here and there’. It’s a constant obsession, an ongoing journey to build up experience, reputation, and (most importantly) a thick skin.

Imagine my excitement, then, when I was contacted in March 2015 by Crooked Holster with those words: ‘Your story has been accepted.’ For the first time in my adult life and under my married name, I can say it. I am a published writer!

‘Crooked Holster: An Anthology of Crime Writing’ is available to buy now from Amazon. For more information on the book and the talented team behind it, click here to visit their site.