A FEW weeks back I was attending a book fair as an independent self-published author.

Attending the show were all the giants of UK publishing with their big fancy stands. It’s an appointment-only business and it’s a huge exchange and mart of contracts and deals.

As a rogue, maverick writer not sanctioned to publish by the ‘great gods’ of traditional publishing, I didn’t even venture to the reception desks of the stands of the towering colossuses of publishing might.

The reception desks were guarded by cerberuses straight from hell - gaggles of pretty young blonde graduates with haughty attitudes.

They were the venomous gatekeepers to the bourgeois brains of those who hold the key to a writer’s dreams.

I heard tales of writers humiliated for having the audacity to even consider themselves worthy of approaching the desk. I knew my place.

But there was more at the book fair than the just the giants, and it was here that I began to formulate my plans.

I had a conversation, with a chap called Dustin from Digital Leaf, which makes fabulous book apps for children. Go to their website and check them out – digitalleaf. co.uk.

I was discussing my future aspirations with Dustin, and he said to me “you are not a writer you are an entrepreneur”. Am I?

Well, according to Karren Brady, who was speaking at Salisbury Big Business last month, one is not allowed to call oneself an entrepreneur.

No – it is a title bestowed upon us by someone else. I am not sure if Dustin from Digital Leaf counts as my someone else, but he said it first, not me.

It did get me thinking maybe I am an entrepreneur and maybe I should stop limiting my dreams.

And that is when the seed of the next stage was planted.

It was at Salisbury Big Business that I realised that this was truly possible.

I was so impressed by this fabulous event. Everyone was warm, welcoming and engaging – it was a great introduction to the Salisbury community.

It was here that I heard about The Enterprise Network (enterprisenetwork.

co.uk) seeking to address the challenges faced by women in a rural business with particular emphasis on supporting the business aspirations of military dependents.

I was very excited as I thought “that’s me that is!”

So watch this space.

  • Writer and journalist Clare Macnaughton’s latest book is available on Amazon worldwide.

A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline is an honest account of being married to an RAF officer serving in the British military.

Follow Clare on twitter: @amodmilitarymum, or on her blog: amodernmilitarymother.com.