In my former blog home (MySpace), I’ve been fairly quiet of late, focusing on the completion of my latest novel, If I Never, and generally doing my best to keep out of trouble (with limited success where the latter is concerned!) Now, however, with the second (submission standard) draft almost finished, I feel energised and clear-headed enough to once again build up my cyber-presence and, hopefully, say something interesting every once in a while.
Only recently it was brought to my attention (thanks, Sheila!) that I may be a somewhat obsessive writer. No arguing with that. I simply have to write. It’s a fundamental part of who I am and whilst most obsessions can have a detrimental effect on the life of an individual, I have to say that, for me, my particular obsession has had only benefits.
All of which is by way of saying that it shouldn’t surprise my regular readers to learn that I’m already girding my loins (that’s for you, Sheila!) in preparation for starting work on Children of the Revolution, my next, very personal novel.
I’ve discussed this elsewhere, but I’ll summarise here. Briefly, it is intended as an individual’s experience of the integration of children with physical disabilities into mainstream education in the north-east of England in the mid-1970s to the early 1980s (I was one such child.) The key phrase in the above is “individual’s experience”. It will be one child’s story, told by the more informed adult retrospectively. I want it to be a complete story however, and so I am interested in hearing from people who experienced a similar scenario — as a teacher, pupil, nursing auxiliary etc. If you have anything you’d like to share, it would therefore be greatly appreciated. (Or if you know someone who might be able to help, please send ’em over :-))
Cheers!