I'm
delighted to welcome Emilie Lauren Jones to my blog today. Emilie is
a budding writer with her first book of poetry Sitting
on the Pier out
now. In fact she has a
book launch at the Big Comfy Bookshop, Fargo Village, Coventry on
Saturday 15th
October from 1pm-3pm. So
make a note in your diaries.
Emilie
is a member of the
Coventry Writers' Group and
a member of my own Monday Evening
Writing Class when her
bowling allows! Really
keen to learn as much as possible about all aspects of writing, she
is also studying with
the National School of Journalism.
“The
course is the short story writing course from the LSJ,” explained
Emilie. “You are assigned a tutor who feeds back on the
assignments. There is no time limit on handing them in so it's good
one for people with lots of other commitments.”
Writing
and understanding how magazines work has been in her blood since she
was a child. Her mum founded the Coventry magazine, Chatterbox which is very much a family affair,
and when Emilie was just 9 years old she began 'working' for the mag.
“I
used to put a poem in each edition,” said Emilie. “And the whole
family were involved in delivering and collating the magazines by
hand. Grandad and I got so good that we could collate one forwards
and one backwards to save time! As a teenager I learnt to use the
professional design software and since then I've been involved in
writing pieces of the editorial, setting pages and designing any new
adverts that come in. Mum calls me her 'co-editor!' Although this is
a voluntary position!
Emilie's
day job is a HLTA
(higher level teaching assistant) at
a primary school in Coventry, working with individuals
and groups and also
covering
classes with years 5
and 6. A job that she loves.
Emilie
told me: “I do love
my job and it comes without all the paperwork so I have time to write
when I finish work whereas teachers, as you know, have to do a LOT of
extra hours!”
However,
she almost didn't get into teaching as the pull of writing was almost
too strong. Emilie explained that
when she was six months into teacher training at one of the top
teacher training courses in the country, she had
a dramatic change of heart.
She
explained: “I was
asked the question: ‘where
do you see yourself in a year?’ And
I answered: 'I see myself as a writer' which definitely wasn't what
they wanted to hear!
“It
was the uttering of these words that led to an afternoon of serious
conversations and the eventual decision that I should not be
completing an intense teacher training course. Before I left, the
teacher I had been working alongside took me to
one side and said: 'If
they can do it, why can’t you?'
The next day I began
writing again.
“I quit my training and spent the year volunteering and writing the book. But because writing poetry doesn't pay too well I got a job as a TA and now as a HLTA.
“Having
previously had individual poems and stories published I was aware of
the challenges ahead but this time I was determined to make it work.
I had spent too long wanting to be a writer whilst doing less and
less actual writing; a dilemma I have found a lot of writers face at
one point or another.
“The
result of this period of writing came in the form of my poetry
anthology Sitting on
the Pier and
I spent much of the summer performing and book signing anywhere that
would have me – from
literature festivals to
churches to a market stall in Kenilworth! Within six months I had
sold a couple of hundred copies in and around Coventry.
So,
it
was true – if they could do it, so could I. Okay, I’ve not sold
millions of copies yet but I am writing and people want to read it
and that means a lot to someone who wrote their first novel at six
years old about Drippy
the Tap.
I’ve
also been fortunate to win a few competitions, again it’s a great
feeling to know that
people are enjoying your work. My aim has always been to write poetry
that is ‘real’; poetry that stirs emotions and ideas that people
can relate to. To me, poetry is about inclusion – usually
each person who reads a
poem will find something different in it and interpret it in their
own way. The title Sitting
on the Pier is
intended to encapsulate this inclusion. I am at my most content when
around nature, especially by the sea; I feel an inner peace and sense
of belonging – I can just ‘be’ as I am and so can everyone
else.
Sitting
On The Pier
Sitting
on the pier,
Because
all are welcome here.
With
their thoughts and dreams,
Their
pasts and presents.
The
sea air does not care
What
mistakes you have made
Or
will make.
The
waters do not mind
If
you are black or white or purple,
The
sun and the rain
Do
not discriminate,
They
choose to fall equally on all,
Because
they share this world.
The
wood, rock, water, sand and cloud
Are
content for me to sit with them
Here
in my denim shorts
And
worn sandals.
To
think, remember, imagine.
To
mourn or to laugh,
Together
or alone.
Healthy
or struggling,
To
stay for a day or a lifetime.
All
are welcome here.
THANK YOU SO MUCH EMILIE for being on my blog today, and good luck with the launch
of Sitting on the Pier on Saturday 15th October at
the Big Comfy Bookshop, Fargo Village, Coventry. See you there
between 1pm-3pm.
Sitting
on the Pier is
available from Amazon at:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/095722530X
Or
order either instore or online from Waterstones
For
signed copies please email Emilie directly at: emsj13@hotmail.com
Discover
more about Emilie Lauren Jones: http://www.emilielaurenjones.co.uk
Follow
her on Twitter @emilielaurenxxx
