In 2017, Peter Billingham – funeral celebrant and specialist eulogy writer – interviewed me for his podcast, which you can listen to here. We’ve kept in touch as we have much in common from our love of dogs, travel and motorhomes to celebrating people and preserving stories. He’s a lovely, genuine man and a super writer. […]
Posts
Pandemic 2020 – Some Memoiring
On March 30, 2020, I wrote a blog about How To Write Memoir During Lockdown. My advice was only to write if you feel able and not to succumb to Pandemic Productivity Pressure. I implored folks not to write about anything traumatic when we don’t have our usual routines and people around to ground us and […]
VEDay 75 – Lest We Forget
One of our great nieces, Libby, aged six, interviewed her great grandmother, GG, about VE Day 75. GG stands for Great Grandmother and is my mother, Maureen Smith MBE.
How To Write a Memoir During Lockdown
I’ve been enjoying Twitter these last few weeks. I have found so much sense there, and positivity. Not blind positivity, but a cheeriness, kindness, love and a desire to support one another. Of course we curate our own Twitter feeds by choosing the people we follow. And not that this has inoculated me from the […]
Living With Schizophrenia – Book Launch
Your Memoir author Jill Delahunty enjoyed a sweet and intimate book launch at the Tankerton Arms yesterday evening. Jill’s very special memoir is called Living With Schizophrenia. It was written, mainly, by Jill’s younger sister Christine who developed the mental illness when she was 15.
The Time Of My Life – Patrick Swayze’s memoir
I found Patrick and Lisa’s
memoir, written when they knew he was dying, published in 2009, and called, of course, The Time Of My Life. Patrick Swayze was so much more than “just” a celebrity, and so much more than “just” Johnny Castle.
The highs and lows of writing a memoir
In September 2019, Jane Bloom from Framlingham, Sussex, self-published her book Nannie, a memoir by Jane Bloom. Jane and I had been working together, editing her work since February 2017. Here, she shares her experience and feelings on the process. “In 1987 I joined a writing group. I have always enjoyed writing and the monthly […]
The unexpected gifts of writing a memoir
Those of you that have read my memoir writing guide, will have read passages from Sally Woodmansee’s memoir The Simple Philosophy Of Heaven, a true story of the unbreakable bond between mother and son. The book tells the story of Sally’s son, Tony, from Kent, in the South-East of England. Tony was 20 when, on October […]
Remembrance Day 2019
This summer, my father told me about his mother’s brother, Michael Ryan, who served as a rifleman with B Company, 2nd Batallion, Royal Ulster Rifles.
Should I write my memoir as a novel?
An interview with Teri Case, author of the life-inspired, award-winning novel Tiger Drive. I am regularly contacted by potential memoirists who are wondering whether they should write their memoir as a novel. Sometimes they want to tell their story but not have it associated directly with them. Other times they want to write about people […]
Dear Marnie
Wake Up Little Suzy Marnie – a trusted friend. I chose Marnie to help me with my first memoir back in 2017. My book had some very sensitive content. Marnie ensured I was kept ‘safe’ from any potential legal fall out. I felt confident that I was in the hands of selfless wisdom. She knows her subject intimately. Seven years…
When the Window Closes: What I learned caring for my mom while she was alive and dying I don’t know what to say except that Marnie is THE BEST! I found her in the acknowledgments a friend wrote in his memoir, and I messaged him to ask about her. He could not say enough good things, so I reached out to…
Marnie helped me dive deep and made sure my readers could understand where my character and the other characters were coming from. Most importantly, she helped me deliver the best memoir I could. For that I am very grateful and would suggest and recommend her to anyone who is looking to build something that they want and to have her…
