At the end of the day, you put all the work in, and eventually it’ll pay off. It could be in a year, it could be in 30 years. Eventually, your hard work will pay off.

---Kevin Hart

Two days ago, I attended a book launch event. I wasn't there to buy the book or get an autograph. I was there because the author is my best friend and this is his first published novel.

We met when we were 19, exactly 40 years ago. (Jeez how did that happen?!) Even then, Jonathan was a dedicated writer. I have never known him to be without a notebook and pen.

He has brought a notebook to pubs and coffee shops and baseball games and to the Empire State Building and Niagara Falls. He views holidays not as a time to lie around on a beach, but as a time to get on and do some writing. He views mornings the same way, getting up at 5am each day so he can squeeze in some writing time before he goes to work. (He is a Deputy Head teacher in primary education).

Over the years he has had successes - plays in London, a few radio plays - but the big break never quite came along. That has not deterred him one iota. As well as continuing to write and put on theatre productions, he also leads writing groups, helping and inspiring others to hone their skills and find opportunities.

Let me just say that sometimes he has struggled and felt discouraged... he just hasn't let that be the thing that decides his next step. He just hasn't ever given up.

A few years ago, he reduced his hours at school and used the extra free time to put more time into his writing. The results were impressive - first a contract to write a Radio 4 drama series (listen here it's great!), then a commission to develop season two (and now season three!), and then a publishing deal for his first novel.

And this week, that novel was released. It's set in Thirsk Garden Centre, so the book launch was there - all of Jon's friends and family gathered to cheer him on and the lovely British actress Julie Hesmondhalgh (who read the audio book) was there to read a chapter.

The book is about 3 retired primary school teachers who meet for coffee every week in a garden centre cafe and who inadvertently stumble on a mysterious death. It's warm and funny and wise, just like Jonathon and I am bursting with pride. If you enjoy English murder mysteries (or if you love Alan Bennett or Victoria Wood) I highly recommend it. You can find it HERE.

But I'm not telling you about the book to sell it to you... I'm telling you because it illustrates something I have always believed, which is that talent plus hard work are always rewarded.

Whenever someone laments their lack of success, I think 'yes, but how hard have you worked for it and how long have you persevered and how willing have you been to learn and grow?'

Usually, the answer us "not all that hard" OR "not all that long" OR "not willing at all."

If any one of those pieces is missing, success won't come. Or if it does come, it won't stay for long.

Jonathan is the only person I know who works as hard as I do and he does it for the same reason I do - because the rewards of working at something you love are so great. It's not just the book contract or exhibition and it's not just the sales ... it's also - maybe mostly? - the joy that comes from the process. You enjoy the work. You lose yourself in it. You go to bed dreaming of it and you get excited when the work day starts. Best of all, you get better each year and that inspires you to keep going and see what else is possible.

And here's the magic of creativity - there is always something else that is possible!