Aimie Louise Daley | The Girl Who Wasn't Heard

We are honoured to work with as many authors as we do at Pegasus Publishers – each with their own stories to tell. Their worlds are singular, their characters are relatable and their creativity truly knows no bounds.

This is Author Life, a feature on the Pegasus Blog, that opens the door to each of our author’s creative process and previous literary experience, offering you – the reader – an opportunity to learn a little about the mind behind the novel.

Meet Aimie Louise Daley, author of the children’s book The Girl Who Wasn't Heard.

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Could you tell us three interesting facts about yourself?

I have three children conceived via AI (artificial insemination) with my partner Victoria, who I met in high school. We both carried at the same time with our first two, so they are 5 months apart in age and from the same donor.

I was in the air cadets as a teenager and flew a plane.

I starred as Roly Poly in the 101 Dalmatians at the Theatre Royal Nottingham, alongside Toyah Willcox.

In your own life, what influences and inspires you to write?

My childhood was quite troubled and as I result, I suffered greatly with my mental health for a long time. I write a lot about my experiences as a child and teenager in the form of poems and short stories. They aren't usually speaking about me directly but looking back I can see how heavily my life influenced my subject matter. Now I'm older and happier, my writing is more light-hearted and about overcoming the dark days.

My children inspire me every day, my book was written shortly after the birth of my eldest daughter. I envisioned her when I wrote it, and she inspired the illustrations for my main character Melody.

Which book or author has had the biggest impact on you, and why?

Darren Shan.

My nan took me to town and told me to pick something to read for our bus journey to the seaside. I had no idea who he was, but I saw the title and the cover picture of a spider and grabbed it off the shelf. I spent the entire bus journey falling in love with the book and honestly couldn't put it down. I then went on to buy the rest of the saga and remember spending every second with my head buried in the pages. I was hooked.

This started my passion for reading and especially horror. I went on to the likes of Stephen King and Anne Rice. All things supernatural. I still read Darren Shan to this day and will never forget the way his writing made me feel.

Can you tell me about the book?

A young boy called Darren Shan who has a love for spiders and his best friend Steve Leonard, buy tickets to a travelling freak show. Darren steals a spider from a vampire called Larten Crepsley after seeing their act in the show.

This starts a chain of events which leads to Darren becoming a vampire and eventually causes a massive war between the vampires and another race of vampires called the vampaneze. We find out that the vampaneze are led by Darren's childhood best friend, Steve Leonard.

It is revealed that Steve wanted to be a vampire and had asked Mr Crepsley to change him that night but Mr Crepsley refused. Steve was furious when he realised that Darren had been changed. He sought out the vampaneze, a clan who consume more blood than the vampires do, and asked one of them to change him.

Once changed, over time he became the vampaneze lord and vowed to kill all the vampires and Darren. Lots of twists and turns and such a wonderful ending. You never know where it will end up and it still manages to amaze me to this day! Great saga.

What were your first experiences with writing?

When I was little, I would write songs and perform them to my brother - much to his annoyance.

My passion for storytelling and writing truly started around the age of 11 when I began writing short stories and poems on the family computer. I never knew what I'd write until my hands started moving and the words just seemed to pour onto the page. I always felt at peace when I was writing and still do. A beautiful escape, especially as a young child.

In your opinion, what are the key ingredients for a good story or novel?

An interesting protagonist that has you gripped with every word. Mystery, wit and humour. Even in the midst of chaos or sadness, I think humour can be applied in any situation if done correctly. Many of the books I enjoy have the ability to take you on an emotional rollercoaster and have you laughing one moment and crying the next. I love a good twist too.

How long should an author spend on their craft each day?

I think it's different for every writer really. Whatever feels right for the individual. Personally, I can only write when I feel the urge to and then I tend to hyper focus on it for a few days. Or when inspiration strikes, and I need to express myself through my words.

I know others dedicate a set amount of time to their craft every day. Different strokes for different folks.

What was the most challenging part of writing this book, and what did you learn from writing it?

I wrote it for myself and never intended for anyone to see it. So, the writing part wasn't a challenge for me. Once it became more than just another page in my notebook, I struggled with the concept of showing it to anyone outside of my very small circle. Once I took that leap, I realised I had something quite special and that it could possibly help young people to overcome their challenges and heal like I had.

What common pitfalls should aspiring writers avoid?

Not believing in themselves or their work. I often told myself I could never have any work published because I had no formal education in writing and that there was always someone better than me out there.

Just do it. Don't be the person to get in your own way! Anything is possible and if you love to write, it's always worth going for.

What writing advice would you offer to your younger self?

Finish what you start! Have confidence in your abilities and stop hiding your work. Get feedback and master your craft. Stop wasting time and believe in yourself!

The Girl Who Wasn’t Heard by Aimie Louise Daley is available now in paperback.