Let’s start with the big one: every book since The New Prophecy Book Three: Dawn. Yes, really! The history of early Warriors is almost lost in the mists of time, but some of you might know that it started out as one book, quickly changed to a series of six, and then, round about Book Four, my publisher asked if I could do a trilogy after Book Six. Yikes, I thought. Three MORE stories about cats?! Nine books in all, phew! That’s almost a whole bookshelf.

An idea occurred to me pretty quickly for this final, conclusive, no-more-cat-stories-ever trio of books. We’d jump to the next generation (virtually until publication, Series Two was known as Warriors TNG, showing my Star Trek passions there), the Clans would receive a clear sign that they needed to find a new home (thank you, Watership Down), and we’d follow them on their exciting journey before seeing them settled happily ever after. A book in which they leave, a book of the journey, and a book to settle them down again. Perfect.

I can’t remember exactly when it was, probably before I even started Book Two, but sales of the first series started to explode. And it was therefore highly logical for HarperCollins to decide that they should commission another six-book series, not just a trilogy. I can remember my feeling of utter horror and dismay when I got the news. BUT MY TRILOGY IS SO PUURRRRR-FECT! I wanted to shriek. Of course I didn’t say anything, because who is ever going to turn down another monster commission like this?!

But oh my goodness, the second half of The New Prophecy was HARD. The titles make no sense to me, even now. I just groped for lyrical descriptions of different times of day. I had to draw a map! Obviously this map was then translated by a real illustrator into the beautiful endpapers; I remember he had some particularly cruel comments to make about my attempts to draw horses. I had no idea what to do with the cats because their stories seemed to finish so neatly at the end of Dawn. Were there any adventures possibly left to be had..?

If we rewind to Book Six: The Darkest Hour, we come to what could be seen as the first Unexpected Storyline. It was always my intention that the series would end with a dramatic, one-on-one battle between Firestar and Tigerstar, with Firestar emerging triumphant over his lifelong nemesis, hurrah! When it became clear that there was going to be a big showdown between LionClan and TigerClan (spoilers, soz), I started making plans for Firestar to step up, gladiator-style, to take on the Big Bad Leader of his enemies. At the time, I was brainstorming storylines with a colleague named Matt. He was a bit of maverick, and he came up with the idea that Tigerstar should be killed by a different cat, and that we should feel dismayed and saddened by his death rather than triumphant. Don’t be ridiculous, I said. These are my cats, I know best, blah blah.

Jumping ahead to Power of Three, I always intended to have a trio of kits with mysterious, supernatural powers (controversial I know – and just between you and me, I’m not 100% sure I’d do the same again…). As I got to know Jayfeather and Lionblaze through the early storylining, their gifts were obvious. Jay, conventionally blind and treated like an invalid and with pity by his Clanmates, could see into others’ minds and was far more aware than any cat could comprehend. This evolved into his uncanny connection with the ancient history of the Clans, and of course the immortal storyline of Jay X Stick, forever in our hearts. Lionblaze would be invincible, an undefeatable warrior who could emerge from the bloodiest of skirmishes without a scratch. I have always been intrigued by the concept of courage, and how far it is interwoven with feeling fear. Would Lionblaze truly be brave if there was nothing to be scared of?

But the more the stories progressed, the more baffled I became by Hollyleaf. I couldn’t think of ANYTHING for her special power. Political super-sensitivity? Given that I could never work out how that might manifest itself in a Clan cat, that was quickly a non-starter. Flight? Invisibility? Walking on water? Don’t be ridiculous, Vicky. I remember feeling quite panicked that I was suffering such a monumental creative block. The whole series depended on me finding a superpower for Hollyleaf. It was literally called THE POWER OF THREE.

And then something extraordinary happened, literally as I was writing Briarlight’s early story. My lovely cousin Dan broke his neck in three places while doing charity work in Colombia. For weeks, his life hung in the balance. He was completely paralysed, unable to breathe for himself, riddled with infection. He was flown back to the UK after two months and we braced ourselves for the worst. Meanwhile, I couldn’t help thinking that I had somehow written him into the story, that by crushing Briarlight’s spine, I had created a reality for my beloved cousin.

So Briarlight had to live.

I spent days with Dan, watching the magnificent team of surgeons and physiotherapists work on his poor broken body. The techniques they used to restore strength in his chest, I gave to Jayfeather, so that he made Briarlight cough and massaged her muscles. Against all expectations, Dan started to breathe on his own. Briarlight got stronger. Dan left hospital for a residential unit for long term rehabilitation. Briarlight moved out of the medicine cat’s den. Dan carried the Olympic Torch through his hometown in recognition of his extraordinary courage. Briarlight…well, not quite. Dan didn’t make a miraculous recovery, and nor did Briarlight. But they both showed so much spiritual strength, so much good humour, so much patience, so much breathtaking bravery in adjusting to their very different circumstances. Though paralysed, Dan lived in every sense of the word, and continues to have an amazing life, having set up his own charity in Colombia that helps hundreds of disadvantaged young people every year. Briarlight became as valued a member of her Clan as any warrior, kind and respected and equally worthy of emotional development. And for as long as she was my responsibility, she stayed fit and healthy. (I know she is in StarClan now, but I’m pleased to report that Dan is still alive and well!)