Latest news from Fiona Linday (23/12/2009)
“I’m published with a novel for teens. The publishers are Onwards and Upwards and the book is called ‘Get Over It’ Adventures. It tells the hopeful tale of a youth, John and his dad when the mum dies. They go on an extended holiday in Greece delaying facing the truth. I hope to run creative writing workshops in youth settings to help them with the challenges they face and their issues.
Now, I’m looking forward to celebrating Christmas with my family. Blessings and good health to fellow contributors. The New Year will be exciting included in the Maybe Tomorrow Anthology.”
This free passage was promised to all. Only, no one knew when or where. It just happened to come when we, Mr and Mrs Jones, were the other side of the world! We were on a special holiday, in deepest Asia. Typical! It kicked off on the day we planned to meet the staff at the orphanage our church sponsored. This holiday was going to last much longer than we imagined. Not all my family were with my hubby and me; just our youngest, Fran and her mate, Kate.
But some couldn’t take it, couldn’t believe in a free lunch never mind free passage! It was just the same here as at home. They were like our neighbours. We were in unfamiliar territory. It was expected to be hot but not this hot! This was stifling, stinking and burning. There in front of our four-wheeled vehicle was an erupting volcano. We didn’t realise it hadn’t been active for years. Our native tour rep panicked. He turned the Land Rover and expected us to go with him. But through the translation headphones we were fed lies…
Story:
I’d like to say my story is on the light side, not the dark. But it all depends on what you believe. On holiday in exotic Asia the Jones family get it all sorted. For them the outcome of the greatest act of God is very good. But unfortunately for others, this story is not so pretty.
Author:
I live in the beautiful Vale of Belvoir and work with children and youths. For many years I’ve told and retold stories but took up the challenge of recording them a few years ago. That’s when I embarked on an online Certificate in Creative Writing at Lancaster University. I was a member of Melton’s Writers Club before joining The Association of Christian Writers, who meet in Southwell. I wanted to create fiction for youth in a voice that reflects their value systems but adds in hope to their many issues. I have had the success of publication on the web at www.therecusant.org.uk under prose, a short piece called ‘Off the Beaten Track’. This story raises awareness of the plight of teens suffering abuse in Eastern Europe and won a short story first prize with ‘The Fosseway Writers’.
After the experiences of volunteering in a day hospice and child bereavement centre I have written a teen novel. This adventure tells of a youth, John, who with his father goes to Greece to avoid the sensitive issue of his mum dying. Their story tells a hopeful journey adapting to life without her, with a lot of help from their friends. It’s called, ‘Get Over It!’ published by Onwards and Upwards in September 2009. It can be bought, on offer, at Waterstones and is available on Amazon, too. I hope it will give empathy to those families going through similar tough times.
I can be viewed in a short story listed in an Anthology at www.lulu.com – purchase books, under ‘The Critters Bar Anthology 2009’ see pgs 24-28, ‘Megs Diary’ or hear audio at http://www.crittersbar.com/
This is similar in content to Paradise Lost-Not! telling of another epic final journey.
