Coal Dust & Memories

About the Book

          Coal Dust & Memories is the story of one life, mine from my earliest recollections, roughly 1961 and my younger sisters birth. The belief that had she not been born my Pop, Pop (Grandad) wouldn't have died. 
          A rollercoaster ride that I have ridden, each pitfall a memory, each memory recalled and put aside to make room for the next rise or fall on my ride of destiny. You may see it as the writings of a victim but I don't see myself that way,it is the story that has led me to the place where I find myself today. It may be that you see your own experiences reflected,or it could be you who inflicted some of it on me or someone else
           The title Coaldust & Memories derived from just one Christmas.I had been allowed home for two days to be with my Dad from the girls hostel where I lived in care. He wasn't there, no food, the electricity cut off, cold and alone in the dark, in a house that was once my family home, with just my Mum's wedding dress, coal dust and memories to keep me warm

About the Author

 "firstly I am not a celebrity, quite ordinary really, much like anyone else you may see. My experiences don't show, I don't wear a beacon on my head or my heart on my sleeve. I'm a wife, an ex-wife and ex, ex-wife. A mum to four, step mum of three, and nanny to sixteen. I still live in the town where I was born.
        In 2003 I became disabled and had to give up work and with time on my hands, decided to write 'coaldust & Memories' initially for my children prompted by the fact that I knew so little about my own parents.The original hand written version was finished in late 2005
        With no experience of typing or computers until Dec 06 (being 'technophobic') I had to learn quickly in order to enter a poetry  competition organised by United Press, prompted by the £1000 prize. My first poem, 'Mill N Stour' didn't win but was published in early 2007 in Home Thoughts. A further 14 different poems have been published in various books and diaries since then, most recently the 2009 diary by United Press.A story was printed in the May issue of 'Chat it's Fate' magazine"