This newsletter is in two halves. The second half happened on 1st May and you may have already read my blog via Twitter/X or Facebook. If not, the link will be at the end for you to access or you can scroll on the main listing to the blog entitled: Once in a Lifetime.
Firstly, I am now registered with the National Federation of Women’s Institutes to do talks to local groups about my writing journey.
Secondly, Oscar
book 2 is in its infant stage of preparation. I met with Rosa Brown, digital
artist https://www.flontiere.com and received the first picture which is beautiful.
Here I am reading aloud at an open mic event 11.4.24 at the Helping Hands CafĂ©, Tamworth. I rarely write poetry but many years ago I attended Keele University for a course which included writing in nature and a walk through the nearby woods inspired me to write ‘The Tree’ as it was near Easter and it majors on the wood that formed the cross that Jesus died on. It is a long poem and it had been stuck in a drawer for many years. I was nervous to share it but it was well received, thankfully. Reading ones work out aloud is a real confidence booster.
At a Society of Women Writers & Journalists council meeting I was invited to do zoom workshops – Writing for Children. If you know anyone who may be interested, do let me know. Writers do not need to be members of SWWJ and male writers are welcome too.
The week ending April and beginning May was mind-blowingly thrilling for me. On Monday I went to Millfield Primary School in nearby Fazeley town, having been invited to read Oscar the Owl to four classes of children. They were so well behaved and the teachers so pleasantly in charge of the quite full classes.
The boys and girls listened attentively and put their hands up to ask questions afterwards:
“How long did it take you to make the book?”
“Which was my favourite page?”
“How old were you when you first wrote stories?”
“Did you do much editing” (One class were very interested in the best way to edit their work)
“Will you write another book?”
“Do you read every day?” (I told them I read romantic novels) the same boy asked which authors I liked and I replied ‘Sue Moorcroft and Hazel Prior’; he said his Nan had those in her caravan with lots of books.
One boy asked, “How old are you?”
Thankfully the teacher rescued me from that one! “We don’t ask ladies their
age.”
I have since
received handwritten sentences that the children did after my visit and I have
to say I was very impressed with the neatness, spelling, sentence structure and
punctuation.
Tuesday 30th April my husband and I travelled to London.
Wednesday 1st May we dined at the House of Lords. (see separate blog)
Thursday 2nd May we travelled back to the Midlands.
Friday 3rd May, though very tired from all the exciting
things that had been this week so far, I met with Rosa Brown and she gave me
gifts. I was so very touched that I couldn’t control my emotions. Aren’t they
just gorgeous?
Here’s the link re the House of Lords blog: Sue
Flint's Musings: Once in a Lifetime (sueflintsfs.blogspot.com)
