THERE was no hesitation in Wanda Wiltshire's mind about what she would write in her first novel.
The Engadine woman had been through a rough patch and was wondering where she would go.
"It's been an unusual journey and it was literally an answer to prayer, it was an epiphany, I know it's extremely far-fetched but it's true," she said.
"I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life but one morning I woke up and knew I wanted to write a book and I knew exactly what I was going to write."
She has now written three fantasy novels for young adults.
Previously she had dabbled with teaching, creative writing, being an accounts clerk and working in childcare.
"I went to my writers' group and told them something amazing was going to happen and the next day by chance I was in contact with an author who introduced me to a publisher as his good friend."
The introduction led to the publication of her first book Betrothed in 2013. Her second book Allegiance was published last year and Confused is due to be published soon.
Wiltshire will join the panel Myths and Fairytales at the Sydney Writers' Festival tomorrow, and she will be at the Sydney Supanova pop culture expo between June 19-21 at Sydney Olympic Park.