The Books That Shaped My Life – And My Writing

Was I a Bookworm? Absolutely.

From the moment I learned to read, I was hooked. I tore through the books at primary school and was always on the lookout for something new.

Stories became my lifeline — a way to escape, explore, and feel something beyond what was happening in the real world around me.

The Library Was My Sanctuary

My childhood was far from easy. I eventually ended up in local authority care, and life at home before that was filled with fear, instability and sadness. But long before I had the words to describe any of that, I found refuge in one quiet place: the library.

The librarians must have noticed me — this little girl who spent far more time there than most — but they never questioned it. They simply let me be. I’d check out the maximum number of books I was allowed and return week after week for more. Those books gave me space to breathe.

Reading in Secret

At home, I’d hide under the covers with a torch and read deep into the night — the only light in a world that often felt dark. If you were that kid too, you’ll know just how comforting it was to lose yourself in someone else’s story.

A Love for Storytelling Was Born

It’s impossible to choose favourites, but I adored fairy tales, Aesop’s Fables, Heidi, Famous Five, Secret Seven, and anything involving animals like Lassie or Black Beauty. Malory Towers captured my imagination completely, and I read everything Roald Dahl wrote. And Little Women? That book lived on my bedside table for years.

From Reader to Writer — And a Turn Toward the Dark

Looking back, it’s no surprise I ended up writing psychological thrillers. The darkness I experienced in childhood — and later, in a toxic adult relationship — shaped the way I saw the world.

I became fascinated by the hidden undercurrents in people and relationships: what we show, what we hide, and how pain can twist even the most ordinary situations into something sinister.

Reading Gone Girl for the first time was a lightning bolt moment. It was the first time I’d seen a story tap into the psychological depth, tension, and female rage I’d felt but never seen reflected on the page. It changed everything.

That book didn’t just reignite my love for reading — it made me want to write stories of my own. Stories that exposed what happens behind closed doors. Stories that ask: what would you do, if pushed far enough? (To try one of my stories for FREE, click here!)

Your Turn…

What books shaped you as a child — or changed the course of your life later on? I’d love to hear in the comments. And if you’re feeling brave, share an excruciating childhood photo like I have!

Thanks so much for reading!

Maria x