When I got that phone call to say 'We're going to offer you a book deal', I think I was screaming around the kitchen for like an hour or so. That was where everything definitely fell into place. I started writing from a really young age – it was always something I just loved doing and I was actually encouraged to write throughout primary school. By the time I was 11, I'd written a story and my teacher gave me feedback that this was written like a real author and that sort of planted that seed, that maybe I could be an author.
The librarians across Scotland are really enthusiastic. They're always grateful for me to come into libraries to talk about my writing and to hopefully inspire other young people. Scotland is one of the best places to be a writer right now – especially in Edinburgh. There's a vibrant publishing industry and we have the Scottish Book Trust, which are always getting behind Scottish authors and supporting them.
I think there is a huge culture for supporting young people! I've had the opportunity to go back to my former high school and talk to classes about my writing journey and answer their questions. It's always really exciting to say to them that I was once in their shoes and then, you know, a couple of years later, I ended up getting my dream job.
2018 is the Year of Young People in Scotland. Young people definitely deserve to be encouraged and supported and showcased – no one ever told me it was too big of a dream to have.