Day Twenty Nine: Writers Group

Last night I went to the West Waterford Writers Group, and as always really enjoyed to be in the company of writers.

This nights facilitator had brought in a series of objects, from a Jerusalem Bible, cookbook, crossword book, travel stories, to Rosary beads and an engagement ring.

We were asked to write about any of these 'subjects'. The stories that emerged where diverse. Some had the capability of growing into a much longer story.

This is what I wrote:

At first glance the Bible stood out as it links in with my current writing - Noa's fictional autobiography.

Noa describes her birth- and how within the first twelve hours of being in this world she was whisked away from the cosy hospital ward to the cold sacristy of the parish church.

"Holy water cleansed me of my Sins.

I was chosen to be a child of someone called God.

I had only just acquainted myself with my parents...

And my great grand mother.

I now was given Godparents

Who are also my siblings.

and then there was someone called an aunt who took me from the arms of my Godmother-sister,

Whom to trust?"

In this fictional autobiography Noa is aware that in almost 560 days she will be 50 years old.

So far the themes that are jumping out are: flying, shadows, and an imaginative mind- needed to stay afloat in a family which had long established itself, and to find her way in her current life.

At the age of four, while singing a song with her classmates about a helicopter and and being happy up in the clouds, she takes on that sentiment -Flying becomes her dream/wish.

That's where the travel book -(one of the props)- comes in.

Will Noa travel in her mind as much as I have done in the past? Travel in thought, when a journey to the bathroom or kitchen was an adventure in itself.

I am planning to write Noa's memoir as one of.... have to think .. I am planning to write Noa's memoir as to the life I didn't have (for the past 12 years) - as in cycling to the local coffee shop, long walks up the mountain - a life of being well...

But I struggle with that sentiment- What is being well? I am well.

Is Noa me?

Am I Noa?

Who knows. - I will tell you the next time we meet and got to know Noa a bit better in the meantime.

(end)

I am excited to facilitate the next meeting which has the theme of this story Apples and Books

After the meeting I asked a few other writers about my current 'dilemma' of re-publishing Hatched - or not... To make a very exciting story short, the final outcome was to re-publish and to re-launch both my book. One of the participants - a PR man, is interested to work with me.

I was so excited about that news, and the support I got that I couldn't get to sleep... Facebook friends were there to congratulate me on this development.

Thank you all!

Day Twenty Eight: Ballynelligan (3)

... and of course Cirrus Kalani arrived in Ballynelligan.

The idea for a story about a Cloud Fairy had been in my mind for a few years, but the move to my new house at the edge of Ballynelligan, brought the story to life. Every time I walked a short distance of the path, the story evolved. I saw a cobweb, that looked like a hammock; I wondered about the empty snail shells high up in the crevasses of the old wall; a robin followed me on my walks...

Thus The Cirrus Chronicles- Landing in Ballyneligan, was born.

If you are interested to read this story of Magic Realism (for ALL ages), and bring yourself out of the negative field of the current recession for a few hours, please visit my web-shop

From now until Christmas there is no charge for postage.

Day Twenty Seven, Ballynelligan (2)

As I wrote in yesterday's blog, the walk to Ballynelligan fills my mind with all sorts of creativity and gratitude. No more so then a few weeks ago, when during a walk, I was thinking about the Family Tree Project I am doing with fellow artist Spark Deeley.

During the last time we worked together, we talked about possibly using a real tree branch as part of our project....

There it was. Lying on the side of the path!

I dragged it across the path to hide it, just in case anyone thought it to be a nice piece of firewood.

Days later I drove my scooter over the path... a painful, bumpy ride... and of course had the misfortune to be greeted by a group of about fifteen teenagers. All laughing at me.. Ok it must have looked funny, to be carrying this rather large piece of wood, in between my legs, bumping over the path on a scooter...

I am now working on that piece of wood and am creating our 'ancestors' that I see hidden in the branches and twigs.

Day Twenty Six: Ballynelligan (part one)

Last night I went on a short walk to Ballynelligan. This is the area adjacent to my house, and is part of the so-called Lady Louisa's walk.

Within two minutes of leaving my house, I am on a gravel path and am almost instantly overjoyed with being among such beauty. Here is where my creativity flourishes; my writing fills my head; where I see the beauty of nature, and feel this intense gratitude that I am 'allowed' to live here.

The first sight of nature's wonder are the Himalayan Balsam flowers. The scent emanating is that of a sweetshop. The flowers are like orchids.

I can not help but touching the seed heads.

They are explosive, so say the least.

When you gently touch the seed head, within seconds the seed head jumps open and scatters the seeds all around you. The seed head becomes a 'delicate sculpture'

Day Twenty Five: Funny lady

Just a rather short blog today, but one that I hope will make you smile.

(text: Still can get totally outrageous!)

It certainly works for me!

I came across this eccentric lady in an antique shop in Kenmare,

My visiting cousin kindly bought her for me.

Thank you Ton!

While she is standing proud on my desk,

I try to work out if/when I can re-print Hatched

Day Twenty four: Republishing Hatched?

At the bottom of every new blog-post I add a label: Photography; Writing; Nature, Day, M.E. etc, to note the main topic of the blog. Some have more than one label. There are now more posts with the label Day, then there are posts with the label M.E. Just a little observation!

Anyway...

The recent (renewed) interest in my book Hatched- A Creative Journey Through M.E. is touching me deeply. The comments bring me closer to what I love best, and would like to continue to do; writing and creating. Thank you all!

Some comments:

"Have finished reading "Hatched". A few pages in, I found tears rolling down my cheeks. Not necessarily bad tears, but tears of both empathy and relief - somebody (you) has shown me, by having the courage to publish, that others experiences are so like mine. At times we feel as though we struggle on trying to explain how it is... and you have done that Corina in a simple, beautiful, and human way.

The spider moving in the room, wondering whether to shower, achieving goals like walking down the road, when years ago that would have meant nothing. I have been in the midst of those thoughts, observations and feelings. Not fitting in the illness box - I don't belong there either. I think I would place myself in the Fledgling chapter - getting there, but a way to go yet!"

"This book has touched me Corina, as I'm sure it has many others, in places only those who have truly been there could touch. Thank you.'"

"Reading Corina's little book 'hatched". It is beautiful. Really beautiful . She has inspired me to pick up my poetry pen and find a special writing pad, then I may be able to put pen to paper again after these mind numbing years. The first will be the hardest. Thanks Corina-you give me courage."

"U took me on a journey and I almost felt like I was standing nearby watching U go through a life changing experience. I can only hope that one day U will be well again. U have such an amazing talent and its heartbreaking that U can't enjoy as U should. Life can be so cruel, but maybe one day that will all change for the better!!!"

As I said, I am touched, really touched!

...But.. this leads me to a minor dilemma. I only have about twenty Hatched books left, and am now debating if I can republish. In my mind, the next edition will have some additional pages/introduction and I probably won't include the DVD. But... where do I find the money to print? Unless a publisher is interested to take on the book.

Any help/suggestions gladly accepted!

And if any of you would like to own a copy of the first edition of Hatched, please go Shop or to "Two Book deal" for the current offer.

Thank you for your support and interest.