'Reading, more than anything, has shaped who I am'

Sangu Mandanna began writing stories at the age of four

An author who published eight novels before her writing career took off said it was partly down to the "enormous community" of book lovers on social media.

Sangu Mandanna's ninth book, set in her home county of Norfolk, and its successor, both gained a huge following on Instagram and the bookworms' corner of TikTok, known as BookTok.

She said making reading and writing accessible to everyone was "absolutely vital" - as the Norwich-based National Centre for Writing set out its mission to improve literacy in children and adults.

"I think if hadn't been for reading, and the escapism and joy that it brought me as a child and as an adult, I don't know where I would be," she said.

"It's the thing that, more than anything, has shaped me as a person.

"Books are just this phenomenal way of opening other worlds to us, giving us the opportunity to empathise with all kinds of people, it's so important that children and adults read, and enjoy reading."

Sangu Mandanna said making reading and writing accessible to everyone was "absolutely vital"

As a child she wrote what she now considered "awful" stories - but the outlet of writing was a big part of her life.

"It was the thing I love doing, it was creating stories and reading stories, it was fun," added Mandanna, who lives in Norwich.

"That's what I want more than anything - for people to enjoy both the act of creating, and enjoying reading books.

"It's very easy to lose that sense of wonder and imagination.

"I think we often, as adults, make the mistake of telling children certain books are the 'right' kinds of book to read, and some books aren't 'proper' books.

"Any reading is good reading, any book you enjoy is the most important part."

Mandanna said The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches in 2022 and The Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping, released in July, were "by far and away" her most popular books, having seen her first published 13 years ago.

"It's astonishing," she added.

"A large part of that is Instagram and BookTok and people discovering books in different ways.

"You can't really plan what's going to be popular, it's organic."

The National Centre for Writing's five-year plan, launched on Thursday, aims to make Norwich a city where reading, writing and their lifelong benefits are championed and accessible to all.

It will look at how the Unesco City of Literature can become a place where stories are celebrated.