Garden of Reflections

While I was fixing my website, the TV kept updating me on what was happening in the FIFA World Cup. I glanced every now and then.

I have officially been a soccer mum for more than a decade now, and one thing that always strikes me about this game is the resilience it teaches.

A player can tumble many times. They get bumped, challenged, stepped on, and sometimes hear words meant to distract or discourage them. Yet they are expected to stand up, stay focused, control their emotions, and keep playing.

Sometimes, reacting hurts the players more than the original challenge. A moment of frustration can change the whole game.

And somehow, after all the bruises, disappointment, missed calls, and tough moments… players still walk back onto the field.

And we still love the game because when they score a goal, the players' and spectators' reactions are electrifying.

Isn’t that crazy?

Some stories are written straight away. Others wait quietly until the right time.

The Goalie Nobody Expected began after an unforgettable soccer season — a Grand Champion win, a team journey full of ups and downs, and even a street sign called “Rangers Way” that felt like the perfect symbol for the story.

After the game, I told my son that I wanted to write a book about the journey. Since he was the inspiration behind the main character, I asked him first. His answer was no — and I respected that.

But the story stayed in my heart.

I actually started writing it two years ago, but left it unfinished. Then, early this year, I asked again. This time, he said yes.

The words finally came together.

When the book was finished, my husband became one of its biggest supporters. After he read and helped edit the story, he encouraged me to share it. I also showed the draft to our soccer club president and his wife, and their support helped give me the confidence to bring the book to life.

More than a soccer story, The Goalie Nobody Expected became a story about teamwork, perseverance, encouragement, and the unexpected moments that shape us.

Every book has a beginning, and Strawberry Coins began in a very ordinary place — our backyard.

During lockdown, we moved from eating on the veranda to spending more time in the back garden. As we sat there day after day, my eyes kept noticing our overgrown strawberry plants.

What started as caring for the garden became something unexpected. We began growing extra strawberry plants, and I was surprised when people wanted to buy them.

Around that time, I came across Rob Parnell’s free training on creating ebooks. When I needed an idea for a story, I looked at what was already happening around me — our garden, my children, and the many photos I had collected through the years.

Slowly, Strawberry Coins began to grow into a good family I treasure a lot.

The book became more than a gardening guide. It became a story about family moments, learning together, and discovering that sometimes the smallest seeds can grow into something unexpected.