Darryl’s answer to “How did you know when you’d found the story you were truly meant to write?” > Likes and Comments

I think I had a similar experience. I wrote another series first, mostly to see if I could actually finish a book. It taught me a lot, but it never felt like my story.
When I finally went back to the Viking saga I’d wanted to write for years, something clicked. It felt like coming home to the voice and world I was meant to build

Yes I can relate to that. My first book was a half-hearted attempt to see if I could actually write a book. No planning, no synopsis, just one line after another. I surprised myself by actually finishing it!

It was the same for me, to be honest. My first novel felt rushed and messy — I was just trying to see if I could actually finish a book. But working on Oath and Ash, everything finally clicked. It’s the story I always wanted to tell, and it felt like all the pieces fell into place.

I do worry sometimes that my early work might put people off, but I’m hoping readers can see the growth and the direction I’m heading in now.

You just need to hang in there and, above all, believe in yourself.