Hello!
Regular followers and visitors to this site will know I'm using BLOGGERS WERE CHILDREN TOO! for my theme this year. I hope you're enjoying reading about bloggers, some you know and some you may not yet know, as they respond to some prompts I sent out. I've been so grateful for their responses as it helped me to get to know them better, admire their stunning cuteness as babes, and delighted me with random facts.
Thank you Adult Bloggers for your heartfelt responses. Thank you readers for visiting my posts. I hope you'll leave a comment and if you'd like to follow the link to my respondents' blogs they'd be delighted to meet you.
Today:
E is for Empty White Pages (Sarah Pearson)
I WAS BORN IN: Greenwich, South East London
I GREW UP IN: 6 addresses in London by the time I was 5. 2 care homes til 11, foster parents in Kent til 18.
MY FAVOURITE HOME WAS IN: my first bedsit at the age of 18 (a week after my 18th birthday, in fact) in Gravesend (yes, really :-)) Kent.
The questions made me work it out: As best I can recall I've lived in 27 different places - and that includes 7 years in one place as a kid (with foster parents) and 9 years here - thought I'd better try and put some roots down for the girls :-)
MY BEST CHILDHOOD MEMORY IS: Having a free pass to go to the swimming baths every day during the summer holidays. The library was next door and, although we were not allowed to join, I could read there for a few hours before getting my hair wet at the pool.
MY WORST CHILDHOOD MEMORY IS: After expressing an interest in being a ballerina at the age of 5, having to endure 5 years of dance classes. (It took about 3 weeks for me to realise I didn't want to be a dancer).
TODAY I LIVE IN: West Yorkshire in the North of England, a place I am very ready to move from. (2 more years until my daughters finish school!)
MORE ABOUT ME AND MY BLOG: I love music. My first choice of a career would have been to become a professional singer/actress in musicals. Unfortunately, I can't hold a tune and I hate being the centre of attention so that ruined that idea. One day on my blog I put up a few random songs that reminded me of happy moments in my life. I really enjoyed sharing them and I wanted to do more, but I wanted to link them with writing in some way. That's how Musical Stories was born, songs that actually told a tale. After more than thirty weeks of that, I felt it was time for a change. I knew I wanted to keep music on a Friday, and keep it related to writing. Originally I had intended to choose a song each week and write my own flash fiction piece around it. Unfortunately I discovered another blogger was doing the same thing, then I realised I could open it up to my friends. So now we have Musical Impressions. It gives people a chance to share what they're working on and get some feedback if they want it, and it gives me an excuse to play more music :-)
ON WRITING: I've recently come to the conclusion that I may well never have anything published. I'm okay with that, but I felt guilty at first, like I was part of the community under false pretences. I got through that though. I write. That means I'm a writer. That means I'm part of the writing community :-)My favourite part of writing is first drafts, I'm a definite first draft junkie! I'm going cold turkey at the moment, no more first drafts until I've made at least one complete revision pass on my current project :-)
Visit Sarah at her blog Empty White Pages and leave her an encouraging comment on her Musical Impressions' posts. Read some great synopses of novels to which Sarah will choose appropriate music. She's a whiz at this!
46 comments:
Wow what a lovely person and to think she's been through so so much and yet sounds so positive and happy with life. She is truly inspirational. Thank you for hosting her Denise.
First of all, yay for being a Brit! :D Sounds like a lot went on in Sarah's early years. A fascinating read, and I love Empty White Pages!
Thanks for sharing this, Denise. I know a lot more about Sarah now, of course. I'd been interesting reading about her early life. Love the first picture and that bit about torturous about the torturous lessons. It's not so easy undoing expressed desires when you're a kid. :(
Makes me feel I am cribbing over nothing. Its beautiful how she has managed to be positive throughout. I met her a couple of time s through blogfest, should visit again.
Thank you for featuring me Denise, and thanks guys for your lovely comments :-)
Sarah,
You ARE a writer! I agree. Own it. It publishing comes, it comes. Love your stories.
Thanks again, Denise for this group of posts!
How wonderful to spot light fellow bloggers for the A to Z Challenge!!
Cheers, Jenn
http://www.wine-n-chat.com
Lovely post, and Sarah, if you write you're a writer. Some say, to be a published writer gives credence to one's writing. Don't believe it.
Believe this: there are hundreds of writers who were once published writers and have been dropped by their former publishing houses (mid-list authors), and I dare say the "voice for published credence" will claim those mid-list authors as non-sellers. Not true, they had to go alongside downsizing of editorial departments in favour of "in Vogue titles" = celebrity biographies and ghost-written celebrity novels.
If you're writing because you love writing that's all that matters, it'll show in the end product. ;)
best
F
It's lovely to see such heart warming support for a lovely lady.
Denise
She's a new writer for me. I'm going to go follow her. Thanks for the introduction.
I'm heading over to her blog. What a childhood! She sounds amazing. (How does that song go? Something about music will save your mortal soul....)
Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs
This is GREAT concept for AtoZ!! Love it. :)
Thanks again for the story, this is a great platform for sharing.
Sarah, how nice to see you here. Look at your cute picture!
And I wanted dance lessons so badly, but my mother refused.
Nice to learn more about you. Thank for hosting her, Denise.
Wow - there's a book in that childhood :-) how cool that you found all of those siblings!
I think you will get published Sarah. Thanks for giving me a glimpse into your life. Now I can more effectively stalk you :P
Hello Denise. Hello Sarah.
Nice to meet you Sarah. Wonderful feature. I really like Francine's encouraging comment...you write, so that makes you a writer! Good luck & thanks for sharing.
Day 5: Empty Streams
Wonderful. I loved learning more about Sarah. How wild to learn about all your siblings. I hope your experiences in foster care were possitive. I just did a story for our local magazine on a family that has taken in 22 foster care kids over the years. I'll post the link when it is published.
Play off the Page
I loved this one! I've met and been following Sarah's blog through the challenge. This is the first in your series that I knew before coming over here. It's been a great way to meet new bloggers but even more special to read about someone I knew before stopping by. Such a great idea!
Sarah, didn't know you were a foster kid.
It was wonderful to learn more about Sarah! :)
Another absolutely fascinating post! Now I want to jump over to Sarah's blog to see what she's doing with writing and music. And what was it like to actually live in Gravesend, that jumping off place so many ships sailed from. Nice work!
Hi Denise. Hi Sarah.
Nice to meet you Sarah. Lovely to read your posts Denise!
Riya
Sarah's been through so much, yet exudes a positivity that inspires. All that moving around and she's got the confidence to root herself. I'm clicking over to say hi. Thanks for the introduction, Denise.
Dear Sis, WHY do you have such trouble commenting on my WP blog?! The way you signed in, your link took me to Twitter, where I found I don't follow you yet. Are we both getting boggled by trying to keep up with all of this ? ! ? ! I'm so tired but happy tonight, though. Finally found a great new aide today for Jen. More later when Z finally arrives. How many more days....???
XXXXX
Great and honest post, Sarah. I feel like I know you a lot better now. How did it feel to find out about all those siblings?
Oh, and if you write, you're a writer IMHO. Publishing is an optional step on the journey, and one which (I'm guessing) the majority of writers never take. So I reckon you are in good company.
I went back to read about all the bloggers you featured so far – they are a very lovely bunch – so varied with so many interesting talents. This is a great series.
I love Sarah's blog. I love music too. Unlike a lot of people from India, I find music to be soothing in any language. Fortunately for me I understand and love English poetry, hence it was not hard for me to find Sarah. Cheers!
Hi Denise, Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you come back often!!!!
I have other blog friends participating in the A-Z Challenge... That is neat that you are featuring other bloggers. That's how we all get to know others in the Blog World.... Neat idea!!!! Thanks for sharing.
Please come back to my blog anytime.
Hugs,
Betsy
Sarah rocks! I just met her through the Challenge. I love first drafts, too. So much possibility.
Excellent post. I have a not so happy memory of ballet as a kid though I didn't have to suffer nearly as much. Writer is a good label and nothing to feel bad about. Nice to meet another writer.
Don't want to hijack your comments thread Denise, but just wanted to say thank you again to all the people who left lovely comments :-)
Wow, that's a lot of moving around.
LOl about the dancing. But you are well coordinated now, yes :)
........dhole
Sarah is just a FAB woman with a super smart attitude in life and she is THE most perceptive woman I know (who is *not* married to me:)
I've been following Sarah since I was a little itty biddy blogler, so *thanks* Denise for hosting her today... I know Sarah doesn't like being in the spotlight, but YOU ARE AWESOME, so catch these flowers as I join many others in going BRAVO! BRAVO!
It was great getting to know more about Sarah. She's been through so much and maintains a wonderful attitude. It's a pleasure to follow her blog.
I enjoyed getting to know more about you, Sarah. And all writers are welcome, published or not. = ) (Thank goodness, or I'd be booted for sure. LOL)
What an amazing story you have Sarah.
Thanks for sharing lovely ladies
Xx
Sarah really is a wonderful person. My interactions with her have only been positive--she knows how to make a person smile. And she's got a killer taste in music. Thank you sharing her story.
Sarah really is a wonderful person. My interactions with her have only been positive--she knows how to make a person smile. And she's got a killer taste in music. Thank you sharing her story.
Hi Denise .. and Sarah .. great to meet another UKer .. what an amazing childhood - sounds like you could almost do a Charles Dickens for us - report on the social times ..
And 10 others - that's a number of people and their relatives to get to know ..
It sounds like your musical links to your writing rings many bells in other bloggers lives - that's great .. I'll be over to meet you properly -
Happy Easter to you both .. it's raining in Eastbourne .. not sure if North Yorkshire is the same?! Happy times with the family - cheers Hilary
Sarah, I'm SO late getting here, but I found your story so interesting and poignant. To think you were an only child, and then to discover you are one of 11 - I have goosebumps. I remember seeing movies as a kid in which children in a family were split up, and it upset me so much! Despite how annoying my older brother and younger sister were ;) - I am so glad you found them. What an interesting/unique story yours is.
What a lovely story Sarah. Cute picture of you.
I grew up in lots of places too. I can so empathise about feeling like you'll never become published. I would love to one day, but am afraid I hold myself back too much. I can also empathsie with the ballet lessons. i had lots of lessons I had to endure, but not because I'd expressed a liking for them... Oh dear. Lovely to hear your story. So glad you found blogging.
Wow, this was so interesting to read Sarah. You are one amazing lady and that is a very cute photo. Thanks for sharing with us.
WOW, what an interesting childhood! SO MANY HOMES! And what a cute photo :-)
I'm the same about first drafts - it's hard sometimes to move onto the boring editing part, especially if you're editing a 5th draft or something. ;)
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