Over the last 25 years or so, I've written all sorts of things. It began when I went to nightschool when my children were young. I'd done a watercolour class and a stained glass class, and Creative Writing was the next one that appealed. I thought I might like it and I wouldn't need too much expensive equipment. I was right on both counts.
We started with memories and worked our way up to short stories. I enjoyed the meetings and the chat, and my tutor was very encouraging (thankyou, Annie Dalton!) She suggested that I apply for a Writer's Bursary; I did, and I got it, and things went on from there.
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| Children's Books |
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| Literary Magazines |
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| Things That Fall |
I'm a restless person, never satisfied and always looking for the next thing. When I managed to get some short stories published, I wanted to try poetry. When I had poetry published, I tried writing children's fiction. When I won local competitions, I started entering national ones. I love learning and like the challenge of something new.
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| Big Night. Painting by Jemma Rix, poem by Helen Johnson |
We
are all out today
grooming
Earth for a special occasion.
Tractors
brush up the hillsides
the
wood tries on a new hat
and
I am shaving the lawn
in
long, slow strokes.
When
evening comes she’s ready to go
dabbing
on honeysuckle and jasmine
getting
out the jewellery.
