Photo - from the "War Horse" production of the book by the same name by the brilliant Michael Morpurgo. A book I have been unable to bring myself to read as I have a horse & one of my biggest fears for her, has been that she would be requisitioned for war service. Yes I know it's totally irrational but that doesn't make it any the less real - perhaps it happened to me in an "earlier life".
"Living in Devon, listening to Mozart, and working with children have provided most of the stimulae Michael needs to discover and write his stories. He spends about half his life mucking out sheds with the children, feeding sheep or milking cows; the other half he spends dreaming up and writing stories. "For me, the greater part of writing is daydreaming, dreaming the dream of my story until it hatches out - the writing down of it I always find hard. But I love finishing it, then holding the book in my hand and sharing my dream with my readers."http://www.michaelmorpurgo.org/
"Living in Devon, listening to Mozart, and working with children have provided most of the stimulae Michael needs to discover and write his stories. He spends about half his life mucking out sheds with the children, feeding sheep or milking cows; the other half he spends dreaming up and writing stories. "For me, the greater part of writing is daydreaming, dreaming the dream of my story until it hatches out - the writing down of it I always find hard. But I love finishing it, then holding the book in my hand and sharing my dream with my readers."http://www.michaelmorpurgo.org/
Still on the theme of the bravery of people & animals in war, I have now read all but the latest Maise Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear. Lessons at school put me off history so regrettably I have great gaps in my knowledge - gaps I have discovered that I can fill through reading a certain type of fiction! This series of books has opened my eyes to some of the realities of the 1st world war whilst seemly engaging my brain in some complex investigative plots. Perhaps because of these books, I watched the Remembrance Day service with even greater sadness than usual. At the service was a 112 year old veteran who had fought in both wars - the angels must have been with him as I wonder what the odds were for his survival.
"As I grew up my curiosity about the "war to end all wars" deepened, so that I always seemed to be reading something about the war. However, my interest was not in the politics of the time so much as rooted in the experiences of ordinary men and women, boys and girls, not only on the battlefield, but on the home front. And though I never set out to write a "war" novel, it came as no surprise that this part of history formed the backdrop of Maisie Dobbs and other books in the series". http://www.jacquelinewinspear.com/
Now onto the jolly fun stuff!
"My work is the result of a need to follow my creative spirit, to develop it and use it, fearlessly at times, to bring a sense of energy, depth and joy to my life and to those around me. In doing so I am constantly finding the same need in others. That is why I do what I do, and love what I do. I invite you to join me in this great adventure called life...squeeze the juice out of it!" http://www.violettesfolkart.com/aboutme.html
http://www.sarkjournal.com/2008/09/index.html
I've included the above two sites to celebrate being asked by a small local magazine for a poem to include in their January edition. I had one published there last year - it's brilliant to be asked for another. OK it's not a Faber & Faber publication - but people I don't know are going to read my poems - it's back to that need to be heard!
