I often think of stories as a gift to the world; at least that’s how they feel to me when I’m reading. Whether it’s reading to relax or be entertained, wanting to learn something new or have your imagination stimulated, or wanting to travel and explore from the comfort of your sofa. And when a book becomes worn after several rereads, there comes the feeling of companionship found while curled up with favourite characters.
I hope everyone is keeping safe and well in these uncertain times. In the UK, lockdown is apparently easing, but I’ll be staying put for a while. Being a writer, there is always work to do, so much so, I can’t seem to get to that next painting I’ve been mulling over for a while now.
It is Pride month 2020, and with the UK under social distancing measures, our annual parades are cancelled. I’m missing the throng on the streets, and social media filled with rainbow flags.
Several years ago, someone asked whether I would do a painting with Pride in mind. It’s not really how I paint, creativity on demand, but that conversation did later spark a painting entitled, ‘Longing’.
It is a permanent fixture of my bedroom wall, this picture representation of a woman’s love for another woman.
It’s Return of the Mantra’s two-year anniversary. Here’s a snippet of where it all began:
Chapter One
I’ve been busy with edits for The Warder, honing in on the detail, polishing, steadily working towards publication. There’s a theme running throughout this novel: Transformation.
Prior to publication of Return of the Mantra, brainstorming book cover ideas with the publishers, I came across Adinkra symbols from West Africa. It’s not an idea we went with, but I surprised myself, managing to reduce a story to one word. I have three stories so far in the series, Blood Gift Chronicles:
It’s been an interesting and entertaining journey so far on children’s hour. I had hoped that by giving children a platform during these times of a global pandemic, it might help them to connect with each other and the people in their lives. As far as what was sent in, I had no idea what to expect. I am delighted to see wildlife feature, among other things.
As a fiction writer, I spend much of my time thinking about different perspectives. In building characters, worlds, and cultures, viewpoint and empathy are everything.
