Let yourself be taken on a journey by these deep and wonderful poems. This newest edition by renowned poet, Helle Gade, is as beautiful as it is vast. With poems addressing loss, longing, heartache, mental health and imagination, this book will transport the reader into another world. Experience pure emotion while following the poetโs words, weaving through and plucking away at your heart strings.
Let yourself be taken on a journey by these deep and wonderful poems. This newest edition by renowned poet, Helle Gade, is as beautiful as it is vast. With poems addressing loss, longing, heartache, mental health and imagination, this book will transport the reader into another world. Experience pure emotion while following the poetโs words, weaving through and plucking away at your heart strings.
Blurb: A new collection of poems by this award-winning author will take your breath away with the emotions portraying love and loss, sadness and joy. Connect with her words and celebrate life and acknowledge the loss as the author takes you on a journey through her emotions in a most beautiful way โ with her carefully chosen words. Her undeniable talent, her beautiful words, the loss she reflects on, will all make you feel her emotions deeply, as they resonate with yours.
Blurb: A new collection of poems by this award-winning author will take your breath away with the emotions portraying love and loss, sadness and joy. Connect with her words and celebrate life and acknowledge the loss as the author takes you on a journey through her emotions in a most beautiful way โ with her carefully chosen words. Her undeniable talent, her beautiful words, the loss she reflects on, will all make you feel her emotions deeply, as they resonate with yours.
When a tree is ready to topple, the weight of one bough breaking will bring it crashing down. For a family with something to hide, memories can be as destructive as a gale.
In April 1972, Maureen buries her husband on her allotment and pretends he’s run away, leaving her to care for their ten-year-old twins, Lucy and Carol. But living a lie gets harder as time goes by.
For years, Maureen has kept her secrets close, but now, she’s ready to talk. The question is, who is listening, and will they unearth the truth?
Hi, Iโm Ada and Iโm an author – how fabulous to be able to say that! Iโm thrilled to be releasing two novels with Butterdragons Publishing this year. I spend as much time as I can reading and writing, but I also love yoga and gardening.
Have you always wanted to become an author?
Yes and noโฆ Iโve come to this in my forties, having not written any stories, nor having dreamed of doing so. But Iโm an avid reader and I have a cat, so writing stories seemed a natural progression. But I was recently reminded that, when I was a child, I said I wanted to be a writer when I grew up, so I can safely say itโs always been a part of me, just hiding away, waiting for the right moment to bloom.
What was your inspiration for your current book/series?
When lockdown came in 2020, I was luckier than most and able to spend as much time as I wanted in my little bit of the English countryside. I became fascinated by tiny changes, every day something altered colour, grew or flew, and I wanted to capture those in a novel which was rooted in one place. I started taking notes, and I realised how these observations sparked memories, from childhood, or a trip out, which made me think about how we share our histories with others, out of order and not all in one goโฆ from there, the structure and style of The Condemned Oak Tree was firm in my mind, all I needed was a story, which emerged as I wrote.
What are you working on now?
Iโm finishing up the edits on my second novel Statuesque. Itโs a loose retelling of Austenโs Emma, with a contemporary twist to explore a new narrative within this classic story. Apparently, it has some amusing moments. Iโve also started thinking through some new ideas. Iโve so many ideas, Iโve not decided yet which one is next.
Do you have any quirks while working?
Not at all, Iโm all about a quiet place and a routine, which sounds really dull and it is, but it works for me. When Iโm writing, I aim to write at the same time each day, and every day. While I donโt berate myself if it doesnโt come, I do have a plan and I try to stick to it. Iโve been known to create spreadsheets, which now I think about it, everyone thinks itโs downright weird! So maybe I should have said yes to this question.
What are your hopes for the future?
I have this overwhelming desire to chat with book clubs about my stories. Iโve been fortunate to be supported while Iโve been writing, by my partner and my publisher, but Iโd love to talk to readers who donโt know me, and explore my characters, see another side of them and learn how they appear to other readers. Plus, Iโve never been part of a book club, and I really want to be.
Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?
Gosh, I donโt think Iโve enough experience to be handing out advice, so Iโll stick to dishing out some encouragement – keep going! Just like training for a marathon, you donโt have to want to go for every early morning run, but you do have to like running. Have fun, work hard, be bold, persevere, enjoy!
Do you have anything to say to your followers?
Do you have a book club, and if so, can I come say hi?
When I left the house that day, I never expected to find myself in this kind of situation. A day like any other โ work, casual conversation, then an exciting date with her long-time crush. What could possibly go wrong? Well, nothing much if you stay away from stray dogs and their bites, but I didnโt.
So much pain. So many weird occurrences. What was with all these strange cravings?
Trying to go through my days, as usual, ignoring what was happening to me as best I can. Will I ever figure out what is happening to me? Surely, I will find something or someone to help me before it’s too late โ not just for me, but for everyone around me. I donโt know how much longer I can pretend I am okay…