Sylvia Grace Interview Published on: 06, Apr 2022
Where did you spend the majority of your childhood?
I spent my childhood days growing up in Tayport (Fife, Scotland). I've written about my childhood days in the back of my book.
Who were your best friends as a child and do you still keep in touch?My best friends were: Petrena and Diane. Petrena and I had lunch together only two weeks ago. Diane died a few years ago.
What got you into poetry? What sort of day jobs did you hold before you chose to become a writer? What kind of effect do you think they may have had on your writing career?I never thought about writing poetry at all but, I recall when I attended secondary school I wrote a poem about one of the teachers whom, I found quite amusing.
Poetry came to me... words in rhyme would buzz around inside my head for years which I ignored but, in '95 I began writing them down on bits of paper. I recall sitting in Pizza Hut waiting for my order when a poem stirred in my head so, I grabbed a napkin and borrowed a pen and wrote it down.
Over the years I ended up with a collection of poems written on the backs of envelopes, odd pieces of paper and of course the napkin. I then bought a jotter to start writing them in and I still have the book today.
I retired a few years ago but during my work life I had different jobs. My first job was an apprentice hairdresser. I had been a shop girl after school, weekends and during school holidays from the age of 13. It was just a natural progression to train as a hairdresser when the owner of the shop offered me an apprenticeship when I left school.
However, that came to an end 15 months into the apprenticeship because of my skin reacting badly to products etc. Next, I worked for Philips Electrical for six years before starting my training as a State Enrolled Nurse. By that time I was married, and the future had different plans for me. Towards the end of my training I found I was pregnant and so I became a full-time mum when my son was born.
Years later when I was 42, I embarked upon a two-year course and I qualified as an Aesthetician, Cosmotologist, Swedish Massage Therapist and IFA Aromatherapist. All my qualifications are International. I worked for myself for three years before sustaining a severe whiplash injury which put a stop to my work. I then had another injury to my hip and for many years I suffered terribly with pain.
Unfortunately for me, I was misdiagnosed over and over again. Those were my dark years because of pain which caused depression. It was during those awful years, that I began to write more and more. I learned a lot about the human condition and would write my thoughts down... it was cathartic!
The reality is that not once did I think of writing poetry it came naturally. Poetry chose me! In fact, that's all I had during those painful years because, the pain interfered with all aspects of my life and my hip got so bad I was struggling to walk. Yet doctors fobbed me off over and over again. It was only when we moved to the States that I saw a specialist who diagnosed the problem and I had a hip replacement and treatment for the neck injury, too. All of this happened to me in the UK but, it was the American doctor who was wonderful and knew what was wrong.
God bless him!
What made you decide to be an author? What is your advice to new authors that may be considering this route?My husband is published, he writes novels and he pestered me into publishing my book... Colours Of My Life. I never thought about publishing but, Randy had other ideas and so the book came to fruition. I must give credit to my husband who had faith in me and believed that my poems were worth publishing.
One friend said to me if you don't publish you may live to regret it. So I published. To anyone who has a story to tell or poems, share your writing with trusted friends and spouse and ask for their feedback. It was the feedback that encouraged me to share my poems. Without feedback I wouldn't have taken that step.
What are the biggest challenges when writing a poem?Biggest challenges when writing a poem? That's a good question, Mady. Honestly, I don't know. When the muse takes me, I just write what comes then, I read the poem and edit and organize it. That's it! Sometimes late at night thoughts come and I'll get out of bed and write those thoughts down... a few poems have come that way but, they've began as a story rather than I poem. Just keep on writing!
What sort of significance does the title "Colours of My Life" hold?Ah! Colours Of My life was inspired by the song written by Judith Durham of the Seekers, an Australian group who had success in the UK in the '60's. The words of the song says: "Colours of my life bloom like flowers in my heart." When I read my poems, I recognized that many are written from my heart and that's where the poems initially blossomed.
Colours are used to describe emotions: in the pink, green with envy, feeling blue etc. So, I thought the title Colours Of My Life was appropriate for the title plus I love Judith's about colours of my life. It's a beautiful song. Interestingly, when The Seekers were in the charts people would say I looked just like Judith which I do. Funny how things come around. :)
How important do you think a book title and cover are?I think the right title is very important. The book cover and title are the first things people see so, on some level, I feel it has to tell something about the book itself. Like a finger gesturing to look further. Often times book titles say nothing about the story within.
When is writing hardest for you? What do you do to pick yourself up during those moments?When is writing hardest for me? Quite simply, I write when the muse takes me. If I try to write when I don't feel inspired it becomes a chore and, so, I wait until it comes naturally. That's it!
What was the best part about writing your first book?Colours Of My Life is my first book and the poems in it are a collection of poems written over many years.
How do you maintain discipline and keep up with deadlines when working at home?I just go with the flow...
On average, how many days a week do you write?I don't go by any timetable. I'm retired and I write when I'm inspired. I'm very laid back about it.
As an author now, what does your daily schedule look like?Oh Mady, I really don't consider myself an author. I see myself as a woman who wrote poems over many years then, I was encouraged to share my writing in a book. That's it!
Which is the best compliment or fan-mail you have received for your work?There are a couple of good reviews on Amazon that warmed the cockles of my heart. When I read them, I realized only then that publishing my poems was worth it.
Isobel, a person I know and went to school with, said that my poems helped her during difficult times such as Covid. It's feedback like this, that's food for my soul and it's enough reward to keep writing my poems.
How has your experience of being associated with AllAuthor been?My experience with All Author is a positive one. The feedback from All Author has warmed by heart and put a smile on my face. With thanks to all of you for doing a great job. :)
