The story of Mug the Wumph the Dancing Wizard began 37 years ago, in the very bedroom where Minty Taylor first experiences the magic of the Bonheur. My dad was an epic bedtime storyteller and he created the character of Mug the Wumph for me, when I was just nine.

I begged him to write the book. He said I first had to draw the magical wizard who lived in the woods with his faithful cat as a companion.

My artistic skills at the time left a lot to be desired - but the image I did conjure up, stayed pinned to the wall of our garage for several years. Sadly, what with one thing and another, the book remained unwritten. Until now that is.

When my dad passed away in 2016, I decided that writing this story was a good way for me to honour his memory. It was an opportunity to finally bring the character of Mug the Wumph to life.

Not surprisingly, lots more characters have been dreamt up as part of this process, but the tall willowy wizard and his faithful blue Burmese cat remain at the heart of the story. Minty Taylor, as she is now known, is based on 12-year-old me.

I have loved writing and telling stories for as long as I can remember and so it is no surprise that this story, which is my first middle grade chapter book, has become a real labour of love.

Previously, I’ve written two picture books - James and the Amazing Gift and James and the Birthday Balloon, which went on to win the Red Ribbon Prize in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards and was named Children’s Book of the Year for the Online Book Club in 2017.

I’m a firm believer that if you want to make any kind of magic happen in your life, you have to be brave enough to go looking for it. It’s also important to stay open to any opportunities that come your way. But most of all, taking that initial leap of faith and first few steps will begin an adventure. And who knows where it will take you? If you can dream it, you can achieve it. Here’s to you believing in yourself so you can make your dreams happen too…

Nicola x