Wendy Hobbs is a property lawyer, author and a board supporter for Dreams and Wishes, a wonderful non-profit charity set up by Mr Tony Curtis MBE that supports seriously ill children and their families. Wendy was invited by the charity to write a book to inspire the children. She wrote ‘Claudia’s Special Wish’ a beautifully illustrated magical adventure. Wendy is donating all of the proceeds of sale to the charity to help grant more wishes to the sick children, and so far, the book has raised over £7,000.
As Wendy was shortlisted for our Not For Profit & Social Enterprise of the Year Award (North West, Wales, Ireland & the Isle of Man) we caught up with her and asked about her experiences so far.
Q: How did you decide to pursue the career that you are working in today?
A: My journey began when I took a short break from my legal career to study for a drama degree, as I had always embraced the artistic side of my personality, and enjoyed acting, dancing and creating contemporary theatre. My debut novel, ‘Claudia Quash: The Spell of Pencliff’ is a magical adventure inspired by my daughter, also called Claudia. My aim was to write a story that not only captivated the reader’s imagination, but created a unique character that encouraged children to pursue their dreams and never to give up. The book has received some amazing reviews on Amazon and it has won a book award. It is suitable for children aged 8 upwards and adults that enjoy an original fantasy.
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: I am most proud of being invited by Mr Tony Curtis MBE, Dreams and Wishes, to write a book for the charity. I wrote ‘Claudia’s Special Wish’ a magical story that inspires children and their families and gives them hope. I donated all of the profits to the charity in order to help grant more special wishes to seriously ill children and their families. The book was launched by the Secretary of State for Wales, and the Welsh Guards on the 26th November 2016. On the 14th December 2016, I had the honour of reading the book on behalf of the charity in the House of Commons in the presence of the Speaker of the House of Commons.
Q: What are the best and worst parts of your job?
A: The best part of working with Dreams and Wishes, is donating all of the profits from the ‘Claudia Quash Series’ and helping to create life-long happy memories for very sick children. I love visiting the hospital, giving books and reading to the children to help pass the time. Also, I enjoy connecting with people and businesses across the UK that have ordered books for gifts, clients, customers, family and friends, or donated them at my suggestion to schools in order to support the community. The hardest part of my work is to maintain a good balance between writing more books, dealing with the marketing, and thinking of new ways to drive sales.
Q: How do you maintain your and your team’s daily motivation and inspiration despite obstacles, pushbacks or setbacks?
A: The way that I motivate myself is to remain focussed on the end goal, which is to sell as many books as possible. I am thrilled that my books have raised thousands of pounds for the charity and I always make the most of every opportunity I am presented with to sell more. I use my skills to connect with as many people and businesses as possible and I always post thank you messages on social media. If I have a setback, I try new things, improve my website, offer freebies, carry out research for inspiration, and see what competitors are doing to drive sales. I am currently working on two more books that I hope will be ready in time for the Christmas market.
Q: If you were to introduce me to one person, who would it be…?
A: Mr Tony Curtis MBE, an amazing person, who has inspired me to use the ‘Claudia Quash Series’ to help create the dreams and wishes of seriously ill children and their families. I thoroughly enjoy working for a charity where every penny raised goes to children who often endure painful treatments and can spend long periods of time in hospital. Working with Tony has enriched my life in so many ways, it has enabled me to connect with all kinds of businesses, make new friends and meet so many brave and inspirational children.
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