Category: Inspirational - Page 2 - Mala Naidoo’s Book World

Teacher Spotlight: Creative Influence

Writers might be influenced by a family member who writes, or motivation is drawn from a much-admired writer. I come from a reading family and absorbed that passion as a child. This brought many pleasure-filled hours to an introverted child.

Why Teachers Matter

The early teenage years opened another door — the door to the other side of reading, equally exhilarating — notably writing. This influence stemmed from my brilliant, nurturing high school English teachers.

One such teacher was Ms Devi Anderson.

Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education ~ Aristotle

My fourteen or fifteen-year-old first impression of my new teacher was that she was so young, vibrant and intelligent. She was passionate about literature and brought Shakespeare to life in a South African classroom, drawing connections, making her students feel the angst and joy of the bard’s characters, and life situations.

She was selfless and spontaneous in conducting weekend literary discussions on the texts studied, and additional literature she selected to extend students’ knowledge and passion for such works — yours truly devoured it all. The discussions were just that — not teacher-talk like so many classrooms of the time. You mattered and your voice was valued. You were praised for trying. Ms Anderson was a godsend to many, more particularly to me. Her presence in my school life had a profound influence on my teaching with a passion and thirst for literature.

In a flashback moment, I recall a lesson on haiku poetry. It was my first lesson on this poetic form, Ms Anderson made it accessible and intriguing with her easy-going, warm manner. Every student received her attention, each made to feel that the work done was worthy of praise and encouragement.

I am not a teacher but an awakener ~ Robert Frost

From Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night with the love-sick Duke Orsino’s famous lines, If music be the food of love, play on… to novels and poems introduced, my love for literature grew in intensity under the nurturing tutelage of Ms Anderson. Those early days, for which I am eternally grateful, paved the road to writing novels and short stories, and occasional poems in my adult life.

As Shakespeare’s fate would have it, by accident most strange, a bountiful Fortune, (The Tempest), so together with the helping hand of a schoolmate and Facebook, I reconnected with Ms Anderson across the Indian Ocean — I wanted my inspirational teacher to know how influential she was, when two roads diverged in a yellow wood, (Robert Frost), I followed her teaching passion.

Today, years later, we have reconnected.. Many lessons along my teaching career raised the appreciation I had for my English teachers with Ms Anderson sitting at the helm of the list.

It is with gratitude that I share her influence on my teaching career and writing life and the joy in reconnecting with her.

The impact of a teacher who makes all the difference, is never forgotten.

Please share your memorable teachers and their influence on your life or choices in the comment box below.

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Poetry Educates Prose

A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
Its loveliness increases; it will never
pass into nothingness …
~John Keats

Poet or novelist, one, the other or both — one grows into the other almost instinctively to develop the ideal creative state.

Writing improves with consistency and ongoing learning of the essentials of the craft. The art of writing expands the imagination and bulks the creative muscle by triggering the desire to know more, to research, to read, to push boundaries, and feel joy — a perpetual quest of the writer.

Voracious reading of all forms and more particularly poetry, the fine art of saying much with an economy of words, is a skill worth learning to enhance prose writing skills. Poetry as a literary form is laden with layered sensory imagery, conveying pain and joy, the state of the human condition and a celebration of nature which when emulated in prose fiction, is the lyricism in narration or the cadence of poetic storytelling.

‘And above all, poetry is compacted metaphor or simile’ ~ Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing

The habit of reading poetry grows the writer’s ability to choose appropriate/effective language or specific words that says it all with brevity. We live in an era where attention span is brief, access is quick, and impatience governs desires.

Saying it all in four lines:

Hear it, See it, Feel it, Believe it…

Spring Song

Hark, I hear a robin calling!
List, the wind is from the south!
And the orchard-bloom is falling
Sweet as kisses on the mouth

~Lucy Maud Montgomery

Little bursts remain to sustain…

Invictus

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate,

I am the captain of my soul

~ William Ernest Henley

There is an intensely intimate, mindful experience apparent in poetry, a purity that makes it more personal where prose is more social, and when married with a sensitivity to both forms, the reader benefits from the writer’s authenticity.

As a teacher, evidence points to incremental learning leading to lifelong knowledge. Piecemeal understanding is committed to memory in meaningful short bursts of information whereas lengthy mindless memorisation disappears after the moment of recall.

Poetry speaks in the rhythm and profundity of its brief lines, a boon in holding the attention of the reader.

Poetry read before sitting down to write prose or read as the last activity before sleep, sharpens the ability to borrow from the poetic form and style for precise, well-formed ideas that touch with the depth and clarity that poetry engenders.

If writing in a particular genre or establishing an emotion in a prose scene, turn to poetry that’s appropriate in that instant and feel the passion and power of the words and those left unsaid, then a deepening of thought processes emerge to heighten the imagination. Reading poetry written in any period has the inspirational ability to enhance overall writing.

Crafting poems for creative leisure or publication is beneficial as self-directed editing of what works and what requires reworking. Poetry cannot hide intention and purpose, it’s stark, it’s true, a visual and emotive painting through words. This skill shapes brilliance in prose writing.

Poetry and prose are close cousins of the writing family. Read as many novels as you would poems, or more to capture that sweet spot of simple, short, stunning sentences, one after the other, until a story is born.

How many poetry books are there on your bookshelf? The internet is a valuable source, but there’s much to be said on having a book in your hand as you read, delight in, make note of, absorb and contemplate.

For aspiring writers: Write a poem today on any topic, let it tumble freely onto the page, then try your hand at prose. Watch the magic unfold. An open mind is necessary to attain this joy, and brilliance in prose writing.

Happy Reading. Happy Writing.

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Creative Mindfulness

The mind is a powerful seat of creativity — when nutritiously fed, it leads to abundance in creative output and a mood of positivity.

Creativity blends, binds and benefits humanity. The practice of conscience mindfulness is essential for inner and outer harmony. A calm state is conducive to creative thought when mind and emotions are in sync.

Dwelling on the positive elicits the creative mindset through meditation, listening to inspirational or relaxing music, motivational talks, and reading, listening to or writing poetry. This creates an enhanced feeling of joy and general wellbeing. Consciously choosing what we give our attention to is either of benefit or dismantles our equilibrium. The choice rests within. Daily Flow Practice Inspiration Meditation enhances my day, bringing inner calm to invite the muse or conscious mindfulness to create new worlds and people that have a message to share.

Consciously choosing what we give our attention to is the act of mindfulness

To foster the creative state, a mental and emotional journey has to be undertaken, nurtured internally. Pain can be turned into positive creative energy by daily writing about the pain, the angst we feel. Keep a daily journal or diary at your bedside or on your desk and write to diminish the gravitas of the struggle — this conscious decluttering allows freshness or the sunlight of positive energy to seep in.

Turn pain into positive creative energy

Climbing a mountain takes sheer physical effort and stamina to reach the summit, so too is harnessing positive energy — it needs work. Who we engage with and how we engage is as important as what we read, write and listen to. Surround yourself with the company of positive people. Choosing what we eat has an impact on physical wellbeing, and if neglected it erodes wellness, clouds judgement and infiltrates every aspect of life. Equally choose how you will interact with life by rewarding yourself with what you enjoy, taking in a movie, buying yourself flowers or picking a bunch from your garden. The simple things yield profound benefit for body, mind and soul.

Elevating the mind can also be as easy as taking a walk in a park or alongside a river. For me the ocean brings peace. Walking along a shoreline cleanses my mind and frees my soul. Reading poetry is as beneficial as taking a walk in nature when poetry speaks to the spirit. Take time out to seek the simple pleasures of life. We don’t have to climb a mountain to prove how strong we are.

I have been losing myself in the delight of reading Allowing Now – A Book of Mindfulness Poetry by Orna Ross, launched on Friday 25 October. If you’re looking to soothe your soul or settle a disquieted mind look no further for mindful inspiration.

See into the delights of nature…

Look around you and see into the delights of nature — leaves dancing in the breeze, a beam of light peeking through clouds, the silver ripple blinking on a river or the gentle unfurling swish of a wave on a shore. The musical twitter of birds at first light is a celebration of life, a new day and a clear mind.

Make positivity your journey to a creative state by writing a positive thought, your wish for your day upon rising, and a thought on what you are grateful for before turning to sleep to return refreshed for another creative day.

Happy reading. Find your joy by choosing that which fuels your passion, creates wellness and makes your soul sing.

Please share, comment and spread the spirit of creative mindfulness.

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Proficiency and Professionalism

Author professionalism is not negotiable in a world where access to all we say, do and create is out in the world with a click.

It costs nothing to be supportive of aspiring authors and accept that there are oceans of experienced, seasoned authors out there who act as mentors and are deserving of respect and acknowledgement. Blog about the work others do put yourself out there to be blogged about and while you find your way to being noticed as a writer, notice others in a personable, professional manner.

The publishing landscape is rich and diverse with an ever-growing space for all. Collaboration is vital as learning is never exhausted. As a teacher, this lesson was all too clear with constant syllabus changes or when students challenged an idea and a new wave of thought was born. Like classrooms without borders, learning is a two-way process, and so too is the writing, and publishing world.

Pride and ego waste creative energy—aiming towards excellence is a humble, hardworking process. No one person is gifted in the craft without commitment and extensive effort in being worthy to be viewed as a mentor/master of the craft.

Being proficient is ensuring great covers clothe your labour of creative love, and that they appeal to the genre and audiences’ interest. Having your work edited is an important step in the writing process to rise to professional standards in the industry. (although creativity is not an industry for me—a labour of love for sure!) Publishing services come with a price tag if it’s quality that matters. With quality, the stamp of professionalism is assured.

Never compromise your values…

Professionalism as an author like any walk of life is also about expressing thanks and appreciation without the ‘I’m the artist’ big-headed attitude. Collectively a professional outlook makes success a possibility. Professionalism can be challenged when confronted by unethical practices in the publishing ecosystem but as always it’s best to walk away, let it be, there are plenty more avenues out there to pursue, that might well be a better fit for you. Like any job, if the fit is not good, move on to greener pastures, or create your own. As a writer, you steer the vessel on the path you choose to take.

Authors are among some of the most exploited people if unaware of the pitfalls. The way to armour yourself is to sign up for authentic associations, register for webinars and Facebook live sessions, attend conferences, network, to educate yourself in knowing that the allure of being published comes with ethical responsibility. Read, research and find your way with the confidence that you are proficient and professional.

Writing is a solitary process but being an author is a collaborative role. Aspiring writers, you are not alone. Pick who you follow, to wisely ensure you are protecting your craft and practice.

Happy Writing/Creating and Publishing.

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Fiction: Women and Culture

Every writer has a unique voice drawn from culture and values. Even when one opts to write a ‘different’ tale with ‘different’ people, the authentic self seeps into some aspects of the writing process.

Having been raised in South Africa my psyche is wired to the spirit of the people. I remember older women as the stalwarts in the home – stalwarts with hearts of sheer gold. Writing this infuses me with warmth and tenderness. This is the reason for the crafting of Mama Elsie, in Souls of Her Daughters, Mama Thembu in Vindication Across Time and Grace’s mother Varuna whom Patience lovingly refers to as ‘Mama Varuna.’ Each of these women epitomises the significance of a mother in the home which accords them profound respect for the hardships they endure in a country that negates their existence.

The character Marcia Ntuli has the strength of character that her mother, an activist for women’s rights, exudes. Yet in seeking a new life, in a new country, she is subjected to professional racism until she is forced to give up her passion with a rapidly declining sense of self-worth. It’s only when Michael Morrissey, a human rights lawyer helps her through her dark days of self-doubt is she able to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. It is not the act of racism that is showcased but rather the resilience of the women and men who help victims find their way through inhuman situations.

In offering a lesson on how to uplift the human condition, it is men like Michael, Andrei, Brad, Keefe, Petros and Andrew who cherish the broken souls of my African women characters. A multicultural cast adds colour to the worlds of these women as the way of the world – as it should be.

I learned to appreciate this after having lived in segregation under apartheid. My premise will always remain that in our angst and joy we are one under the sky of humanity. Idealistic, perhaps, but hope has to be pursued to make a difference in how people perceive and engage with each other.

In The Rain – A Collection of Short Stories Thuli in the title story is a young, strong village woman who will do anything to keep her family together.

The song she sings to her children, a lullaby, Thula Thula Baba as she waits for the storm to end, is one I remember hearing from the cradle. It moves me to this day in its sweet, yet haunting sounds and meaning.

I give you Thula Thula Baba– a lullaby sung by mothers to calm their fretful babies while their husbands went into the cities to find work.

What Change May Come presents the coping strategies of sisters Grace and Patience in their struggle with irreversible change. Here the notion of perfection is challenged when one woman has motivations that clash with Patience’s perception of what it means to be human.

If stories open vistas of understanding and bring a lesson while entertaining – that is the footprint needed for a better today and even better tomorrow.

Go in peace.

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Fiction: The Art of Conversation

We enjoy a good yarn, some more than others. The reticent and the chatter-box are encountered as part of our daily social interactions. How much is enough or too much in the stories we create?

Dialogue works:

 To move the story forward
 To give information
 Contribute to characterisation
 Gives the character their ‘own’ voice, makes the character seem real or ‘alive’
 Creates a basis for understanding the thoughts and values of the character
 Shapes understanding for some of the actions a character engages in
 Aids understanding of the relationships between and among characters

Consider When Constructing Dialogue:

 How much to include: It depends on the role the character plays- is it a significant or minor role in relation to the plot
 Is the conversation a distraction or diversion for a particular reason?
 Intersperse dialogue, pace it with some narration by describing the character’s mood or emotions through their actions- clearing the throat or twirling a strand of hair, tapping on the table, humming a particular note, etc- this connects the reader to the emotional state of the character
 Consider carefully whether you should use dialect in your speech- will it confuse your reader or will it create a connection to your reader- this must be based on your familiarity with your audience.
 Avoid unnecessary or stilted dialogue, this fills white space and will bore the reader eg :

– ‘What’s the time Jill?’
-‘Ten o’ clock Jack.’
-‘What time should we leave?’
-‘I don’t know, maybe 11 or 12, what time do you think is best?’

An awkward conversation in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility. This draws us in, the voyeur craves more- tease in subtle politeness if you must, at first, then reveal all.

Then there is the embarrassing conversation moment: Eliza Doolittle’s ‘The new small talk.’

 Make it realistic- people do not socially speak to each other in one continuous block (beware the chatter-box! They do exist!) there should be some stops and starts, fillers and shifts depending on where your characters are conversing with each other- Is it in a coffee shop? On the telephone? In a doctor’s waiting room? On the bus or train? – Fillers and distractions could be drawn from what is happening in the coffee shop, on the bus or train etc. Additionally, the formal or informal tone of the conversation depends on who the character is speaking to.
 The relationship between characters in conversation is significant to guide how comfortable or strained the conversation might be.
 Do not include endless pages of dialogue – your characters must interact with the environment to avoid them becoming ‘talking heads’ or disembodied from the setting.
 Use the five senses to pace your dialogue- what does the character see, smell, taste, touch or hear.
 Example: ‘I was worried that Jill would be upset with the plans and called several times but she did not pick up.’ Her voice trailed off with the whisper of trouble in the air.
This might engage the reader to pay careful attention to this subtle warning.

 From Dead Poet’s Society: ‘But poetry, beauty, romance, love… these are what we stay alive for.’ – a favourite line!

Happy Reading! Happy Writing!

I write from real life. I am an unrepentant eavesdropper and collector of stories. I record bits of overheard dialogue. ~ Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author of ‘Americanah’

Add your thoughts in the comment box below:

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The Valentine in YOU!

The creative well is endless if you’re in it for the long haul. Writing eBooks, print books, creating audio books, working with editors, cover designers, and marketing your books – no publisher will do the marketing for you! An abundance of creative energy soon leads to mental exhaustion a type of brain drain that can potentially dry the creative well. Act on helping your creative self to sustain energy and wellness for the long haul.

Love and care for YOUR creative self keeps the muse in your orbit.

Some Tips for Love and Self-Care for YOUR Creative Self

To keep the creative juice flowing you must show the artist in you, some love.

How do we do this?
Replenish the source of your well by carving space in YOUR day:

• Meditate in your day preferably in the morning before you begin writing for perhaps half an hour, or in shorter bursts throughout the day

• Listen to soothing calming, theta sounds when you take a break between planning or writing scenes

• Take a walk outdoors – if you can take a walk on the beach, or in a park, this will be great to listen to the sounds of nature with the double benefit of rest and awakening the senses

• Sing no matter how out of you might be or strum a guitar if you have one around – the therapeutic value is giving yourself some love

You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching… ~ William W Purkey

• Read something inspirational before you sleep – a poem or a prayer

• Write when your energy is at an optimum level, if it’s the morning for you, then market your brand/books in the afternoon

• Talk to an optimistic person, perhaps one who loves your work, then reach out – positive energy ignites creativity

These are but a few ways to keep that well pumping out the creative energy that brings your fabulous work of art into the world. Begin with one thing at a time to ease exhaustion – creativity is fresh, passionate, and lively, so be sure to get in enough zzz’s. The number of hours will depend on your personal make-up, work-day etc. Anything less than 6 hours is risking exhaustion during your creative hours.

Beautiful sounds feed LOVE FOR THE CREATIVE YOU:

Theta Sounds

I hope you have an amazing Valentine’s Day!

Happy Writing, Happy Creative Love!

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Voices From Trinidad To Australia

As the New Year settles in, I’m following through on my creative intentions for 2019, to reach out, to connect in a global publishing landscape to learn and share ideas.

Through this shared landscape, I met and was inspired by prolific, Trinidadian author, Brenda Mohammed. She is the author of twenty-one publications, including the non-fiction book, How to Write For Success, a valuable advice book on achieving your personal best as a writer.

Brenda is also an award-winning author of Zeeka Chronicles, a Young Adult Thriller, and I am Cancer Free , a memoir, in the category Health and Fitness.
As a cancer survivor, banker, and writer, Brenda heads the rapidly growing How to Write for Success Group on Facebook for new and aspiring writers.

Getting To Know Brenda Mohammed

Biography:

Trinidadian Brenda Mohammed is a renowned, multi-genre, award-winning author and poet who has written twenty-one books to date.
She is a former Bank Manager of a leading International Bank in Trinidad and Tobago, and holds a Diploma in Banking from the Institute of Bankers in London.
When she branched off into Insurance she obtained a Diploma in Life Underwriting from the American College, USA.

Achievements

In November 2018 she received two book awards from Readers Favourite International, at an Awards Ceremony at the Regency Hotel in Miami. The awards were for I am Cancer Free in the category Health and Fitness, and Zeeka Chronicles, in the category Young Adult Thriller.

Brenda is the Founder of the group How to Write for Success.

From the Author

Becoming an author was not on my agenda.

My plans changed drastically when in 2005 I was faced with a life-changing situation. Diagnosed with cancer and living to tell my story inspired me to help others afflicted with the disease to cope. I documented my heart-wrenching experience of being diagnosed with ovarian cancer and my long and painful journey to overcoming the death sentence. In time, the essays transitioned into a book, I am Cancer Free: A Memoir, that tells my true story as a cancer survivor.

The book was published on June 3rd, 2013, and was available on digital stores worldwide. It had been read by so many people that it won the McGrath House Indie Book Awards 2016 in the non-fiction category. It also earned a five-star review and five-star seal in February 2017 from Readers’ Favorite and won an award in the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards 2018 in the Health and Fitness category.

Encouraged by the rave reviews, I went on to write six fascinating memoirs, a five-book science fiction series, two children’s books, four books of short stories, one self-help book, How to Write for Success, two crime fiction books, and one book of poetry.

The science-fiction futuristic thriller series Zeeka Chronicles: Revenge of Zeeka also won an award for Best Science Fiction in September 2017 from Metamorph Publishing Summer Indie Book Awards, a five-star rating and five-star seal from Readers’ Favourite, the gold award in the category of science fiction in Emagazine Readers’ Choice Awards 2018 and placed in the top ten in the Author Academy Awards. It also won the Young Adult Thriller category in the Readers’ Favourite International Book Awards 2018.

Of my other books, My Life as a Banker was awarded for Best Bio/Memoir in Metamorph Publishing Summer Indie Awards 2016 and Your Time is Now, which contains a section of inspirational poems, received the IHIBRP 5 Star Recommended Read Award Badge.

Motivation

Words from my brother David V. Khan before he died:

‘Your book makes very pleasant reading, and your literary expression is superb and easy to follow. You have excellent talent, and you should follow up on a leisurely basis with perhaps publishing a book of short stories. With fiction, you will have a greater opportunity to use your imagination and your undoubted descriptive ability.
You used the word “fantasize” to create a situation. This is an outstanding quality, which you should continue to use because it is imagination, which disposes of everything, coming from within you. It creates beauty, justice, and happiness, which are everything in this world.’

It creates beauty, justice, and happiness, which are everything in this world.

Influencers

My Father, Dr Andrew M. Khan [ Deceased] – A great Educator in Trinidad and Tobago.
My Brother, Justice Addison M. Khan [Deceased] – Former President of the Industrial Court in Trinidad and Tobago. He wrote several law books which are being used in schools and Universities. He won a National Award from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for meritorious service.
My Brother, David V. Khan [ Deceased]– Acting Comptroller of Customs and Excise in Trinidad and Tobago. He loved Literature and encouraged me to write.
My Husband Rashiff Mohammed, a former Bank Manager and Executive in a car firm – Although he has only read one book I wrote on my father’s memoirs, he has been very supportive of all my careers – Banking, Insurance, and Writing. He was my rock when Cancer struck.

Favourite books

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale
Unlimited Power by Anthony Robbins

Where to Next?

Wherever my writing takes me.

How to Write for Success has valuable nuggets of truth for new and aspiring authors.

Follow Brenda on her Amazon Universal Link and check out all 21 of her books.

Brenda is selfless in inspiring, aspiring, and new authors in that anything is possible with commitment and humility in accepting that as writers, we too, are a work in progress.

I offer my gratitude to Brenda Mohammed for sharing her amazing journey as a prolific multi-genre, multi-award-winning author.

Please start the conversation today by adding your thoughts in the comment box below on sharing, supporting and learning from a global community of writers.

Happy Reading! Happy Writing!

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Writing Life: Looking Back

Time and technology have propelled us through 2018 at the speed of light. While the end is nigh, it’s nostalgic as memorable, or a year quickly fading and forgotten.

A nostalgic or forgotten year? What’s your choice?

It has been an incredible year on the writing and publishing front with changes appearing at every corner. While embracing change is the way forward, it has been challenging keeping pace with the rapidity of change in the publishing landscape.
Keeping informed and grounded is paramount to keep creative energy buoyant and abundant. Associations with professional writing bodies, tuning in to the wise and wonderful is essential.

After three publications this year:

•Souls of Her Daughters – March 2018
•The Rain – A Collection of Short Stories – July 2018
•Chosen Lives – October 2018

the year certainly sped by in a haze of complete joy and heady energy.

The Rain, A Collection of Short Stories, an unplanned visitation that appeared between resting a novel draft before editing, took hold with an unstoppable fire, in the middle of the Australian winter, warming my heart and heating my hands, for a July 2018 publication.

The joy of writing is soulful, delightful and inspiring and brings to mind the memory of the amazing Aretha Franklin’s timeless, universal words breaking the wall to being voiceless, to find the necessary space through writing/music/painting that is unshackled by difference when it ignites, consumes, connects, offers hope, and entertains – surely that is the meaning of life!

It has been a year of connecting with writers near and far, the lovely Queensland author, Rhonda Forrest in the post, Australian Voices, and reading her novel, The Shack By the Bay, that invites the reader into the stunning North Queensland setting. Meeting online, award-winning, inspirational, Trinidadian author, Brenda Mohammed, author of How To Write For Success, a non-fiction book, and the famed fictional Zeeka Chronicles, and many more.

Valuable inspiration is drawn from ALLi’s Director and Founder, Orna Ross, poet and author, on the creative process and the creative business mindset, essential for authors/artists. Joanna Penn’s The Creative Penn podcast provides up to date inspiration and information on publishing trends, and Mark Dawson’s SPF podcasts and courses are valuable resources for all writers. Online inspiration is abundantly available from well-informed, forerunners who selflessly share their experience in supporting aspiring and new authors.

Receiving readers’ comments on what they enjoyed or how they connected to your books is the sheer joy of knowing it has moved someone. It’s the validation needed to go on. Equally, it’s accepting that one learns something new every day, to improve, to become the best at what we do.

Looking back is undoubtedly encouraging the way forward to 2019, to reach out, share, connect and create.

Moving ahead, onwards and upwards is what matters the most, by networking in a shared global, writing community.

May the new year usher in abundant creative energy and books galore!

Happy NEW YEAR!

Happy writing, Happy reading.

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Australian Voices

So many voices, so many stories in a country as diverse as Australia, each sharing a connection to people and place.

Today on the blog we have Rhonda Forrest, a high school teacher, from beautiful, sunny Queensland. Rhonda began writing under the pen name ‘Lea Davey’. Her first two novels, Silkworm Secrets and The Shack by the Bay were published under the pen name, Lea Davey, however her latest novel, Two Heartbeats, published October 2018 has been published under her real name, Rhonda Forrest. Having always lived in Queensland, the vast Australian Outback and the pristine Whitsundays feature strongly in her stories. Rhonda Forrest shares her story and tells us more about her writing journey.

Meet the Author

Biography – I was born in Brisbane and grew up in Rochedale, which at the time was a rural farming area. It was a fabulous place to grow up and as kids, we spent our time playing in the bush, riding horses and living in a community where everyone knew each other. I married at the age of 21 and my husband and I moved to acreage at Bannockburn where we lived for thirty years. Along with a menagerie of animals it was here that we brought up our three daughters and made life-long friends with many of our neighbours. At the age of 40, after a multitude of different jobs and running my own business, I decided to study. After 4 years of full-time study, I graduated as a high school teacher of History and English. Recently we have moved to Tamborine Mountain and live between the mountain and a 100-year-old cottage with a rambling garden up in the Whitsundays. Both places are quiet and idyllic places to live and write.

Writing Journey – As a child, I loved reading and was surrounded by books. My mother who is 90, still to this day reads every day and as a teenager, she always handed me her books after she had finished them. Nothing was off-limits and I vividly remember being enthralled by books written by Harold Robbins, James Michener, Wilbur Smith and Jackie Collins. I used to always think that one day I would write a book, however, it wasn’t until about five years ago that I had time to seriously think about pursuing my writing. Long hours spent out on a tinnie in the middle of the ocean fishing, allowed plenty of time for daydreaming and the story of, The Shack by the Bay began rolling around in my head. Once I started writing the words flowed easily and I knew that I had found a new passion in my life – writing!

Genre – All of my books are different. The Shack by the Bay is contemporary historical fiction, Silkworm Secrets is contemporary fiction and Two Heartbeats is Romance. My favourite genre is historical fiction although I also love to read true-life stories.

Motivation – If you want to do something you should just have a go at it. I don’t think I ever considered failing, actually I don’t think about the end result that much, I just go for it. Really you have nothing to lose and once I start writing it’s hard to stop until the story is finished. The editing and parts that come after the actual writing for me are the hardest parts and I would love just to be able to write and to have someone else do the rest for me. But when this is not possible I stay motivated, buoyed along by the lovely reviews and comments I get from readers. With writing, it is not about the money that you make (because that is limited) but rather the motivation that comes from readers who love your books. One of the most exciting things is to look on the Brisbane library website and see that all 5 copies of your book are being borrowed!

Influencers – Probably the biggest influence for me in relation to my writing was the Australian author Coleen McCulloch. It was after I read her book, The Thorn Birds, in 1977, that I decided I would write a book. It took 40 years to have time to do that, but eventually, it happened.

Favourite Books – Just recently I read Boy Swallows Universe which is set in Brisbane so lots of familiar places and just a fabulous entertaining read. My Instagram page has a countdown of my top 50 books and these range from Mao’s Last Dancer to All the Light We Cannot See as well as, The Old Man and the Sea and Australian classics, The Cattle King and My Place. I have so many favourite books, but I do love historical fiction. The Garden of Evening Mists, A Good Muslim Boy and The Space Between Us are also some of my favourites.

If you want to do something you should just have a go at it

Favourite part of the Australian Landscape
That’s a difficult question as there are so many parts I love. I have travelled throughout Australia and it is often the coastlines that take my breath away. Crashing waves on rugged cliffs in South Australia, white sandy beaches with turquoise waters in Western Australia, red boulders with soaring waves in Tassie and of course the familiar pristine waters of the Whitsundays, rich with turtles, whales and dolphins. Equally beautiful though is the scrubby bush with the sun searing down on it and soaring gum trees, the bark dappled and ghostly against our vivid blue sky. We really do live in the most beautiful country and I always appreciate the beauty that surrounds me, be it the rolling hills around Tamborine Mountain, the thick rainforests just down the road from my house or the hazy valley views from the lookouts up here on the mountain. I love it all and much of that love of the landscape comes through in my books.

Book Covers – Designing book covers has been a journey in itself. The cover for The Shack by the Bay comes from part of a photo that I took of a shack down in Tasmania while Silkworm Secrets cover was a painting a friend did for me. For Two Heartbeats I engaged the help of a graphic artist, Ethel Beckett, also from Brisbane, who did a fabulous job giving me exactly what I wanted.

Rhonda Forrest’s/Lea Davey’s Books Are Available on Amazon
The Shack by the Bay (2016) – by Lea Davey
Silkworm Secrets (2017) – by Lea Davey
Two Heartbeats (2018) – by Rhonda Forrest

Book Descriptions

The Shack by the Bay (Lea Davey) An isolated fishing shack on a beautiful bay in the Whitsundays provides Luke with a retreat where he can find peace and solitude. However, the discovery of family war relics and a developing relationship with the beautiful Lily connects family histories and reveals a story that threatens to destroy his chance at real happiness.
Will the wartime secrets prove to be the breaking point for a beautiful romance? Or can two families put the deeds of the past behind them?
Romantic and purely Australian, The Shack by the Bay captures the pristine beauty of the Whitsundays and the wartime memories of older Australians while introducing an eclectic blend of friends and family.
Silkworm Secrets (Lea Davey) Ruby and Bobby are best friends who spend their spare time together in a tree house where they retreat from the adult world and share their secrets. To Ruby’s dismay, Bobby’s family life is far different from her own and when he is forced to leave home at a young age it seems that the two may never see each other again. But after many years the events of the past resurface, and as an adult, Ruby is unexpectedly faced with the gravity of their secrets and the seeking of justice. A court case forces her to search for Bobby who has not been seen since he left home as a child. Will she find him amidst the vastness of the Australian outback and if she does, will he want to return to what he has spent his entire life running away from.
This is a story about the secrets that children keep, the strength that comes from a childhood friendship and a special family love that overcomes the hardships of the past.

Two Heartbeats (Rhonda Forrest)
When Jess heads west for a fresh start in a small mining town, the dusty outback is a far cry from her former life in the city. Despite having no knowledge of country life, she finds herself loving the isolation and local people. All she has to do is keep her head down and work hard to create a better life for herself and Johnno, the only person she has ever truly cared about.
The caring warmth of a new circle of friends allows Jess to feel that maybe, for once, her life is heading in the right direction. However, problems arise when her temper and stubborn nature collide with her new boss, Daniel, who is suspicious of her background story. Has Jess been honest, or is there a hidden secret to justify his distrust of her?
Set amidst the rugged outback of Australia, with a cast of eclectic characters, Two Heartbeats is a story of friendship, resilience and the hope that ultimately loving relationships may triumph over obstacles defined by the past.

With gratitude to Rhonda for sharing her writing journey, and books with us today. Please add your thoughts in the box below:

Connect with Rhonda Forrest/Lea Davey here:

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Happy Writing, Happy Reading!

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On Characters – The Outlier

There are numerous defining aspects to what makes a character in a novel or short story, an outlier.

This is shaped by societal and cultural values, or more directly by prejudice. Size, race, ‘foreign’ origins are just some elements that create the outlier fence.
This deepens when layers of social and professional barriers are erected making the outlier, who ascribes to individual ways of expression, an ‘outsider’ rather than a unique contributor to society.

Regardless of the category/label attached to the outlier, it’s divisive, destructive, and a living death for the character experiencing the hell of being (mis) treated as such.

The outlier syndrome is growing in society, slouching back to outdated values, and emerging new forms of prejudice in how individuals treat each other. Literature should mirror life in all its ugliness, hopes and dreams. While we read to lose ourselves in the pages of a good book, what is the experience worth if it does not linger with the ills evident in society, and the hope that we have the capacity to be change agents? Writing purely on the prejudice of life without the yardstick or suggestion on how this ‘disease’ can be overcome, would be remiss on my part, in particular, in any story I tell. Writers are change makers by opening our minds and voices to what needs rectifying. This is the beauty and at times the daunting reality of being a writer.

Hardship is a fact of life for the majority of the worlds’ population. This is not defined by financial issues alone. My novels capture these issues from death, parting relationships, loneliness, cultural pressures, past psychological and physical traumas, and more.
In each situation, an individual or character is an outlier by choice or societal prejudice.

Literature offers that connection to the outlier’s suffering and hope for redemption and redefinition. Reading is imperative, words linger and dwell deep in the readers’ psyche as a visual and emotional connection to the situations and events the outlier might experience.

Souls of her Daughters reveals that the outlier syndrome affects all regardless of professional or social position. Dr Grace Sharvin struggles with her secret, making her an outlier in her family- in her need to conceal her pain from her mother and sister. Her sister, Patience, is an outlier through interracial adoption in apartheid South Africa, forcing her to acknowledge her birth culture. Across Time and Space and the sequel Vindication Across Time unveil both Meryl Moorecroft and Marcia Ntlui as outliers in personal, cultural and professional contexts. Michael Morrissey, a human rights lawyer, becomes the outsider in his relationship with Meryl when the course of their lives change. Housekeeper, Ana Kuznetsov and Boris Malakov are outliers in their complicated families. Global landscapes invite the notion that the situations characters undergo are not isolated – shaping the universality of human angst and joy.

The Rain, a Collection of Short Stories presents this notion in the human capacity for good and evil.

Drama, crime and abduction bring high entertainment value to the reader, but beneath the layers lie the human face and soul of the outlier. The character should be carefully crafted to invite empathy or repulsion by stripping away layers that shroud the essence of human angst and joy.

The continuation of ‘Souls of Her Daughters,’ in the next saga, Chosen Lives, grows in representing the outlier theme with glimmers of a futuristic world where perfection resides in imperfection.

Let’s continue to create stories that leave a lingering message.

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The First Draft

When a story takes hold, leaving you sleepless, daydreaming… the first words trickle in, you write them, and you can’t stop going back, creeping back to your laptop or journal to write a bit more. When the writing bug bites, it’s there to stay, calling you wherever you are.
There’s an excitement, a thrill, the adventure behind closed doors… just you and your characters. With each line, you get to know more about them, then it’s almost as though the characters lead you into their stories.

The first draft is an exhilarating experience even if you have written a few books. You can’t stop thinking about it, you wake up at 3 a.m. with a jolt of inspiration, and if you don’t write it down, it’s gone… I have had a few lost… gone… but a 3 a.m. journal, a gift from my daughter, is safely ensconced on my bedside table, close to my reading lamp, capturing the late night unexpected bouts of inspiration that intrude upon restless sleep – not even a blaring alarm clock can do this on any good day!

Starting out

Starting out as a writer, I had two stories competing for attention. Thinking that this might be the one book I will write, I merged the stories, hooked them as plot and subplot. Across Time and Space pulled and tugged at intrigue, unexpected encounters, crime, romance and human rights issues.

Discovery

From that first draft of my first book to the first draft of my fourth book (locked in editing as we speak), my process has morphed along the way. While being between a plotter and pantser, I moved from laptop screen drafting to handwriting some chapters in a journal.

This sped up the drafting time, I was writing by hand with speed, more naturally than the words that filled my little laptop screen as I tapped my way forward. I then started writing in my little journal, my second arm, traveling with me wherever I went. No backspacing, just scratch and keep going… forward… ideas gushed, building up at a faster pace.

The benefit

Having a chapter crafted by hand gave me so much more to work from and editing, stage 1 began as I typed up the manuscript. I noticed the difference from those chapters that went from head to screen from a basic ‘pantser plan’ to those chapters that were handwritten – less cleaning up and more ideas emerged and flourished to grow the plot.

As each handwritten chapter was completed, the digital chapter was typed no longer than a day later. The ideas are fresh, too much of life and its distractions have not happened in twenty-four hours or less, (fingers crossed) so there’s no fear that distractions will play havoc with the handwritten chapter, all that happens is a bit more spit and polish.

Am I converted?

I can’t quite be sure on that but I have stacked up on the journals that I feel comfortable writing in – the easily portable type, the ‘anywhere journal’ when inspiration strikes, even at 3 a.m.

How about you? Do you write from head to screen or are you a paper and pen person first?

Please share your thoughts in the message box below.

Happy Reading, Happy Writing.

Tell your remarkable story today to touch a life or many lives through storytelling.

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Truth Reloaded

In telling stories, writers draw from values they either ascribe to or find abhorrent.

Are stories purely to entertain or do they serve a purpose beyond plot and characters? Grand narratives are timeless because they showcase society in all its grandeur and dismal failings.

Living today, in what is so much a constructed, fake, flawed world – fair enough perfection does not exist and my own take is perfection in imperfection, we should continue to be passionate about truth – in the books we read, the news we hear and spread. We want to read the sequel or the next book in a series because we want to know more, the truth, the outcomes…

Whether it is the writer’s intention or not, the truth is at the core of the narratives we read. In a previous post, I included thoughts on why we crave the truth.

The need to know is as necessary as the air we breathe, ignorance is bliss is a temporary state of bliss, soon, regardless the loss incurred, the truth will be pursued. The female protagonists in my novels hunt down the truth or live, at first, in a temporary state of ignorant bliss, but soon the gnawing urge to know the truth seeps in, in whatever shape or form it might appear.

For what it’s worth

One cannot be true to what one believes or to who one truly is, if being part of the zeitgeist is prioritised in life – is risking the joys of an authentic life, being comfortable in your own skin, worth the group affiliation? Narcissism guides the exclusivity individuals create while drowning a sense of what is just. A shared humanity is crushed, elitism (as in vanity, not the cha-ching) separates and invites unjust notions of difference. Prizing individuality over falling in with the clique can lead to social isolation, so is it the choice of the brave-hearted alone? – this shapes the thinking reflected in art and literature – the higher purpose in storytelling.

Perfection in Imperfection

Now back to ‘shades of truth’

The energy and time taken to justify an untruth can be used (truth be told) to benefit the lives of all around us.

Politicians and the media are often starved of a good dose of the antidote to the truth to face up to and fess up to the agendas they serve (often aligned to those who hold perceived power) and the mistruths they engender. Truth is valued over empty promises, no matter how deeply buried and ignored, it drips back wreaking havoc which could have been prevented early on, with the plain old truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth saving the day.

Oprah Winfrey’s inspirational Commencement Speech at USC, 2018 sends a message to new graduates, (and the world at large) upcoming journalists, to accept truth as we see it, hear it and so should we report it. But is it as easy as that? What halts truth? Fear? Popularity?

Truth often pays a hefty price when the lid is lifted, it incurs cynicism and attack in the need to sweep its halo under a rug.

No matter how difficult or painful in the moment of revelation, owning up to the truth, perpetuating the truth ultimately leads to a stress-free glorious life, bringing a peaceful night’s sleep with it. Good mental health rests on truth, understanding, and compassion.

Go speak your truth, be who you truly are, nobody defines you, forget being cliquish, it destroys relationships and is often perpetuated by an egotistical leader. Meryl, Marcia, Grace, and Patience, strong fictional women in my novels, Across Time and Space, the sequel Vindication Across Time and Souls of Her Daughters with a forthcoming saga, face the truth with dignity, speak their minds and try to make the world a better place. They are flawed characters, but truth helps them grow and at times trip up. In their fictional worlds, they make art mirror life.

What’s your take on speaking your truth, standing alone, avoiding the pseudo-elitism of cliques, how will you live with truth, understanding, and compassion? We all need a good night’s sleep, right?

Be a truth seeker, tell your story, set the record straight.

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Story Ideas

As writers, students, readers, we often hear, ‘where do all these ideas come from?’

There is no short answer to that question. Write what you know is not a mandatory ingredient to write well, to pique your readers’ interest.

Drawing from universal life experiences to create your work of fiction shapes characters and situations. At the heart of the story is the writer’s passion to either showcase a better world, expose the ills of the world or present hope in dark situations.

Thrillers can be inherently dark but genre in contemporary writing morphs into what the story becomes, often crossing more than one genre.

Crime Fiction will reflect the elements of the genre, as would Romance – what good would these be without a dead body, missing person, corporate embezzlement or terrorism etc. Crime Fiction without investigation is, for me, like eating apple pie without the apples. Imagine romance without lovers? While these might be diverse genres, the point of commonality is conflict.

Conflict keeps the reader, hanging on, will there be a resolution or does the tension mount, will the character I’m rooting for, be saved, loved, killed or elected etc?

To deny that conflict is a significant aspect of life (as much as we abhor it – oh the drama of life!) while creating a perfect world with perfect characters would no doubt be like having a dose of ‘soma’ as in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.

In creating characters, the potentially ‘good’ characters that are fraught with conflict, are truly memorable ones. They represent the reality of life through fiction – a point of reader connection. Shakespeare’s mastery on the creation of the ‘good wayward’ character, is timeless, and there are many such writers who create unforgettable, quotable characters.

How do you imagine and create your character ideas? Where do they come from?

Observations of people in the bustle or stillness of life, the man sitting on a park bench or train alone, lost in thought – Who is he? Where does he come from? Why is here? Why is he alone? What is he thinking?- A story idea prompt is wherever you are in your day.

Turning to the works of influencers of the craft will create inspiration for story ideas:

To quote Stephen King, ‘You cannot hope to sweep someone else away by the force of your writing until it has been done to you.’ attests to ‘Reading a lot and writing a lot,’ as essential for generating ideas, developing and enhancing your writing style.

Reading gives the composer a storehouse of ideas to draw upon in creating a new, unique story world that readers connect to.

Keep reading, keep observing the hive of life, learning about new ways of thinking and behaving, story ideas abound around us.

Writers Block you say?

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…it was the spring of hope…we had everything before us (A Tale of Two Cities– Charles Dickens)

There’s much on the social and political landscapes, history in the making, story ideas can be a fusion of the past and present, to shock, delight, inform and move your reader.

What are your thoughts on where story ideas are drawn from?

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Rear to Front View

We hear and read much about goal setting with the onset of a New Year.

The rear view must be kept in sight to negotiate the lift-off to the front view, to minimise errors and risks that need refining − that backward glance reminder is significant as the new year begins

Looking back on the not so distant past year, its exit a rapidly fading memory− caught in the fanfare and fountain of eternal fireworks that kick-start the New Year− if we linger on the threshold of the New Year, we might not move forward fast enough.

With everything in life, we get better at it when we do it over with a new spin, a new attitude and a passion to achieve the best we can.

We are human after all, we can only get better with a little effort and skill.

How do we keep the rear view in focus while bolting to the front view?

Make a list of your past successes
Make a list of some past shortcomings
Match them against each other
Now decide what is worth pursuing and what should be culled.
Work at culling first and shutting down that rear mirror.
Pick up the shortcomings that need attention – make them a priority, review, add-in, refine and polish. Repeat the cycle a few times. Once this is defined as the way forward, look at the new front view, you want to see, and advance at a speed and pace that is comfortable for you.

How do we create that front view?

Itemise THREE small goals you want to achieve
Make a list of the tools you might require
Set a timeline for how you will achieve each goal
Structure the above timeline in four monthly slots
Start with the goal that is perceived as crucial to a glorious front view
Proceed with getting as close as you can as the four-monthly goal post rolls in
Move to the next goal, even if the first has not been fully realised, the first view should continue to grow as the second is being crafted
Continue with this pattern, with your eye on the long view

What if there are challenges within each new view?

Here’s the thing:

reflect-reflect-reflect
write down or voice record what happened, why it happened and what you can improve upon
without conscious acknowledgement of why the challenge arose, the risk is, it might recur, awareness through thought, guides and creates a redirection for a better view.
turn to influencers in your craft: writer, teacher, mother, father, painter, musician etc, draw inspiration from their blogs, podcasts, Facebook specific groups, face-to-face interactions and professional associations.
Ask questions, no question is too simple.

It’s a pattern− not an inflexible structure− t should be one that guides your drive through the year, a look in the rear-view mirror, as you proceed, is a worthwhile look− reduce the frequency when you reach your halfway mark.

Keep driving, keep looking ahead, and a safe and happy arrival is assured!

Happy New Year!

What’s your view on the rear view? Add your comments below.

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Want to be a Writer?

Why not?

You will enjoy the process of creating the story you have always wanted to write.

What’s holding you back?

Fear and Time?

Counteract fear by writing the best story you can. Temper your inner critic, the belief that you’re an imposter in the craft – avoid this or you become your own worst enemy. Trust your desire to write and turn to the supportive person in your life who will allow your light to shine.

Find time in your day to get down as many words as you can. Do it consistently to keep yourself inspired to go on to complete your novel. Fifteen minutes a day is better than not writing at all.

Will you be a pantser or plotter?

Would you meticulously plan scenes, with graphs and maps etc or let your creative energy lead you with just the basics planned out for your novel? There are various schools of thought on being a pantser or plotter. I’m somewhat hybrid on that. Mental planning with a few scribbled thoughts here and there make me more a pantser than a plotter.

Challenges that could occur

Shut the door as you write, as Stephen King advises in, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, ( I gained the courage to finish and publish my books drawing from the advice in this book), until you are ready to tell the world.

Once you begin to tell others, be prepared for either cynicism or support. The cynics are not worth your time – leave them to their cynical worlds and do what you have to do – write the best story you can!

Writing is an emotional process that often dives into a point of long-held pain or passion. When dubious eyes, lopsided smiles, and tongues that doubt, disturb your orbit, it’s time to turn them down or off.

Consistent writing, turning to influencers of the trade and reading books on how to write well or listening to podcasts on writing and signing up for webinars on the craft is the way to pay your way forward in your growth as a writer.

No story is not worth telling if your aim is to enlighten or connect with your reader or you know what you have to say will make a difference- write that story.

And there’s more…

Writing the story is not all you have to consider, you should then research traditional and self-publishing options and find your best fit. Know your genre, research writers in the genre you want to write in and carve your approach, your own style. Once the final product, the actual book, with a professional cover, professional editing, blurb, author biography, ISBN, date, publisher, and place of publication etc are in place, the marketing of your book begins. Whether you opt for traditional or self-publishing, the onus is squarely on your shoulders to market your book.

Don’t put off writing your book. Now is the best time.

It took me several years to finally master the fear to turn to my beta reader to have a look at my work.

We need more stories, stories that speak of angst and optimism and stories that make us laugh out loud, hold us in suspense, evoke disbelief or leave us in meditative contemplation.

We need stories that remind us of our essential humanity.

Write your book today. Publish it…

Don’t you know yet? It is Your Light that lights the worlds – Rumi

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What have you done with your days?

It’s the summer of December 2017. Eleven months of the year are done and perhaps not quite dusted yet as we tie up loose ends to set us free for the holidays.

Do you take stock of the year in your business of life? Do you tick off all that you have achieved and create another list of goals yet to be achieved?

The final month of a year is time to step back, think over and set the bar further for a host of things that will drive your passion into the next year.

Here are some suggestions to consider although your life plans may differ:

Mark ‘you’ time in your calendar for a balanced life
Make time for those important people in your life
Toss toxic relationships
Avoid pulling down others – ‘live and let live’
Set goals desired for 2018
Address that which was not achieved in 2017
Search for and befriend influencers in your line of work/life experience
Lend a helping hand to those less fortunate – every little bit counts
Clear out the clutter that has not delivered as expected in 2017
Surround yourself with positive energy
Take a holiday once a year, go someplace you’ve never been to before.
Nurture your spirit
Look at yourself in the mirror- what ‘face’ are you presenting to the world? – SMILE!
Keep a gratitude journal, write one affirmation each day no matter how small it may seem to you
Ask yourself, ‘what would I like to change about myself for 2018?’ – again this could be a minor change
Remain authentic and steadfast to your life goals

It may seem like a long list, but all areas are within our grasp. Let’s take stock of what matters to us the most.

My stocktake revealed:

A reconsideration of balance
Time management considerations: to fulfill and extend my writing and reading aims
Making time for relationships that matter
Saying ‘no’ to some demands
To make a difference in what I do and how I do it
To get in more hours of sleep for a healthier me
And then some…always a WIP!

List your dreams for 2018, pin them up on your fridge, above your desk, on the dashboard of your car, your wallpaper on your phone, slip a page with your goals/dreams inside your favourite book. Create a five-year time capsule, bury it in the garden or a pot plant. (This was done in collaboration with a friend and looking back it’s amazing how most of the goals have been realised or are in the process of being realised.

Inking rather than just thinking the dream is closer to claiming it!

Dig up the buried time capsule when the time is right, and you’ll be surprised!

Wishing you an insightful stocktake of the self in this final month of 2017.

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Are You Grateful?

Every day should be Thanksgiving.

Kindness, Thankfulness, and Generosity in equal parts, blended together, is the alchemy needed for harmony and peaceful coexistence.

The words, ‘thank you,’ ‘I give thanks,’ ‘I’m grateful for,’ send out good vibrations to both the messenger and recipient of these encouraging words.

Let’s take a look at wise words on moments of gratitude.

‘I can no other answer make, but thanks, and thanks’ ~ Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

‘Oh Lord that lends me life, lend me a life replete with thankfulness’~ Shakespeare, Henry V1, Part 2 (This is quoted in Vindication Across Time

May the work of your hands be the sign of gratitude and reverence to the human condition. ~ Mahatma Gandhi

‘…Any who is grateful does so for the profit of his own soul’ ~ Surah AL-Luqman 31:12

Always be rejoicing, Give thanks for everything’ ~ Thessalonians 5:16, 18

‘When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them’ ~ Chinese proverb

Whenever I am offered in devotion with a pure heart, – a leaf, a flower, fruit or water – I accept with joy. ~ Bhagavad Gita

‘What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.’ ~ Nelson Mandela

So what am I giving thanks for in my life? Firstly it’s the gratitude I feel for having a loving family, caring friends, amazing students, the realisation of my creative dream, supportive readers, and followers.

If there is a lesson I reflect upon with gratitude- it is injustice – this has infused my soul with how one should never mistreat, abuse and slander the kindness of others. My writing speaks from my soul with gratitude for finding my voice.

Thanksgiving is my everyday quiet moment, my soulful to-go to place.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving. Continue to exude love, kindness, acceptance, tolerance, and understanding. Above All: continue SMILING, it gives others permission to smile too, that you acknowledge them, that you see them.

Continue reading “Are You Grateful?”

Why We Need Migrant Literature

The world is a melting pot, an ever-increasing paradise of voices that need to be heard if tolerance and understanding are to reign for peaceful coexistence.

Migrant literature, while evident through powerful voices, needs new sounds to add to the colourful history that should be shared if we are to live side by side.

Knowledge is necessary to foster understanding and compassion to move us closer to our innate humanity. Living in international communities in the 21^st Century is a goldmine of multiculturalism that offers rich insights on culture and values.

What better way than to extend understanding through the literature we read and write. This could be a work of fiction, a non-fiction book, or a blog that creates connections to our neighbours near and far.

Literature is and should continue to be a vehicle that dispels ‘otherness’ or the ‘outsider’

I have for you today a reader’s perspective on what she enjoys about migrant literature in Australia. Samantha Govender, author of the blog site, Currychick – Spice it Up, covers everything from culture, history, education, lifestyle, glorious food, expat tales and more. She graciously agreed to answer my questions on migrant literature.

What is your home country?

‘I hail from the striking, picturesque country of South Africa nestled in the southern hemisphere.’

Why did you choose to migrate to Australia?

‘My LIFE AS AN EXPAT series on my blog charts that moving away from one’s country of birth is truly one of the most daunting life-changing experiences anybody can undergo. The crime and general political climate in South Africa were unnerving so the opportunity to move was an enticing prospect. Many of my colleagues were seeking greener pastures and Australia seemed to be offering that. When my husband finally agreed, I grabbed the bull by the horns and took the leap to leave my motherland. In a nutshell, we sought a better life and future for our two children.’

What do you enjoy about Australia?

‘Beautiful one day perfect the next.’ Truly, I do not exaggerate when I call this country ‘heaven on earth.’ I love the people, the food, and the freedom. The safety and abundant, carefree living that comes with first world living, is supreme. Australia has enveloped my family and made our move worthwhile. I feel blessed to call this magnificent place home.’

Name the three things you miss about South Africa?

‘The food ‘Bunny Chow’ (yum! read about it on my blog); the feeling of belonging and not having to constantly prove yourself; the culture in addition to friends and family that gives you a deep sense of belonging. I think only a migrant will cognize the profound need to belong.’

What is your genre of choice today? Has it changed in the last ten years?

‘My job is intensive so reading is my ‘go to’ place. As much as I prefer print books, I am steering along with modern technology. Thus, I use my iPad and Kindle a fair bit to download genres such as politics, health, well-being, and romance. Currently, I am reading Shashi Tharoor’s Inglorious Empire while hankering to read Mala Naidoo’s sequel Vindication Across Time. Finally, to answer the last part of the question, I would say yes. As I have grown older my taste for more thoughtful, serious reading has increased somewhat.’

What role does migrant literature play in Australia for you?

‘Migrant literature is necessary for establishing connections, to feel you are not alone in fears, hopes, joy, cultural expressions etc. Recently I listened to acclaimed novelist Salmon Rushdie whose perspective that some literature is timeless, mirrors mine. Accordingly, I agree that migrant literature is vital in our current ever-changing society.’

Do you believe migrants should give voice to their culture and values through literature and other art forms?

‘Absolutely! I think it’s the best channel and a means of expressing our story to others. Be it a humble blog like mine or a letter to the editor; voicing our opinions as well as sharing our experiences are paramount to us being noticed and valued. The trials and tribulations in addition to the magnificent experiences migrants undergo must be heard by all. Literature and art open this communiqué giving us the ability to speak and more importantly to be heard.’

What other migrant voices would you like to read about?

‘I am always keen to try out new authors and meet people who have made life-changing choices in their migratory or other journeys in life. I recently had an insightful conversation with a co-worker from South Korea who has made Australia home. No doubt listening to and embracing migrants and their perspectives is an evolving, unending education.’

Continue reading “Why We Need Migrant Literature”

Literary Life Lines

There has been a lot of interest this past week on a previous post, here on why characters and quotations from literature are often remembered long after the book has been put down.

Thank you for the comments, I’m delighted that you found educational or personal clarity and have selected a few more literary life lines in this post.

Literature that speaks to the human condition echoes through time when emotional connections are formed.

Love, despair, fear, envy, passion, hatred and kindness guide our motivations in the choices or decisions we make in life.

Students of literature are often expected to engage in critical appreciation of texts.

Values, culture and language, events or situations motivate characters’ actions and in turn, motivate readers’ reactions eliciting a new wave of interpreting ideas. And so the chain of literary discourse begins…

Reading for life connections and intellectual stimulation

Let’s turn to a few more examples from literature:

William Shakespeare:

Henry IV Part 1– envy

Yea, there thou mak’st me sad, and mak’st me sin
In envy that my Lord Northumberland
Should be the father to so blest a son

This implied comparison while praising the son of another reveals a father’s apparent disappointment in his own son. King Henry IV is disgruntled with his son Hal’s ‘unprincely’ moral conduct when compared to Hotspur. No doubt a timeless view of good sons and misbehaving sons.

Anthony and Cleopatra – fear and hatred

In time we hate that which we often fear

That which instils fear breeds hatred when the victim is pushed to the edge. How often have we observed the heinous outcome from either being bullied or being mistreated? This is advice that Charmian gives Cleopatra as a life lesson on what mistreatment might court.

Jane Austen – love, passion

Pride and Prejudice

In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.

This proclamation of love has saved many a marriage or started the blossoming of love that might have been lost were it not for honesty! Mr Darcy became a hero in this moment not only to Elizabeth Bennett but every hopeful lover who wanted to feel the passion in such an unremitting declaration of love.

Good literature should resonate with the reader —bringing personal or literary value.

Countless writers have produced prophetic lines that will continue to reverberate into the future.

Continue reading “Literary Life Lines”