W P Ferguson

Hi my name’s Pete, I’m 64 years old, and I’m dyslexic.

Until the age of 62 I’d only ever read 1 book, this was James Herbert-Magic Cottage, and it took me almost two years to read (skipping quite a lot of words in the process).

So how did I come to write a book you ask?

Well, at the beginning of the first lock-down I had this idea that I needed to keep fit, due to being furloughed and not being very active – so I decided to start riding my bike again – great idea I thought ... until I had a really bad accident!

I suffered a broken nose, broken ribs, knee damage, broken cheek, lots of skin damage – but the worst thing that happened was my brain damage. I suffered a fractured skull which caused me to have a spinal leak - I was due to have an operation, but anyone who knows me is aware of my great fear of hospitals – so that was never going to happen. The doctors gave me a week to see if it would heal itself, then they gave me another week, and then they told me it wouldn’t heal without interaction via surgery.

I had other ideas – I sat up continually in bed (even when sleeping), and as I needed something to occupy myself I started jotting down random notes.

Three weeks later my spinal leak stopped, but I was enjoying myself so much, I continued jotting down notes – then came the day my wife nosied at the notes, and asked me how on earth I’d written this.

I wasn’t sure what she meant until she told me I’d literally written a childrens story, it just needed some more work, and then some assistance from her to edit and send to a publisher.

Now we had Little Daisy – but it doesn’t end there – the amazing part is that I’ve since written a few more proper young adults novels, of which some are with the publishers as we speak.

As I write, the ideas keep coming, and the words keep flowing, my wife is still astounded how I’m doing this, and she keeps saying it must be due to the accident, as I couldn’t have done it before.

You know what? - she’s right! I could never have written before my accident – so out of something bad, came something good. The only way to explain it is this .. as I’m writing I can just see continual words appearing in my head, don’t ask me how I’m doing this as I don’t even know myself – but I do know this .. it feels great.

Keep reading (hopefully some of my books) and don’t forget to leave a review.