No, not five gold rings but five freshly printed copies of FROM ROOTS TO BRANCHES, Volume One, containing the winning entries from the Federation of BC Writers 2021 Literary Contests. What a wonderful boost for any writer at the end of a busy year!
I have spent the months since my return from Scotland writing fairly intensively. While taking a brief break before Christmas, visiting a local craft fair, I met the dynamic young ceramicist, Sydnie Johnson who is combining microscopy as an integral part of her pottery designs. The piece I fell in love with and purchased, is a domestic-ware bowl for which Sydnie uses a magnified section of a rose stem to create the pattern for the celadon green glaze. Sydnie shows respect for the environment through her collection and use of recycled stoneware clay and stoneware glazes. We spent long happy minutes talking and on my returning home, pottery remained at the front of my mind.
microscopy inspired bowl by Sydney Johnson
By happy coincidence, one of the main characters in my Scottish novel is a skilled potter. I have been drawing extensively on my own expertise in ceramics for technical accuracy and, on casually sharing this fact with a surprised writing colleague, I realized that this is now a relevant part of my background to share with you.
The arable fields around my childhood home were of Hertfordshire clay; as a young child I would collect it up after the autumn ploughing, and create small animals for my father to ‘bake’ in the anthracite boiler which heated our house. These were the beginnings of my life-long love affair with clay.
Once at university in Wales, I volunteered to resurrect and run the pottery club and subsequently won a travel scholarship to visit ceramic manufacturers in Paris, France and Quimper, Brittany. I continued to take evening classes while working in London and when I moved to farm life in Essex upon my marriage, I set up my own pottery in a disused pig shed! There was a local wildlife park nearby, Mole Hall Wildlife Park, Widdington, and I made and sold animal-related and food items there (egg cups decorated with otters, chicks and peacocks; lidded pots containing local Essex wildflower honey). At the same time I accepted commissions which were mostly large earthenware urns for garden patios. In addition, I spent one day a week at the Hertfordshire College of Art and Design in St. Albans, in the ceramics studio. This led to my being invited to set up and teach in, a sixth form ceramics course and ceramics studio at Princess Helena College, an independent co-educational school in nearby Hitchin, which sadly closed its doors in 2021. The end of the marriage meant my return to London to earn my living: this meant the closure after eight years of my Widdington studio and the end of my lovely time as a member of staff at Princess Helena.
After arriving in Canada, I immediately joined the Burnaby Potters’ Guild, but soon realized that I would not be able to teach ceramics without formal qualifications. Family life became hectic; other priorities took over and pottery faded into the background.
Until now. Reliving these happy times through the artistic talent of a fictional character has made me realize that no life experience is ever a waste of time.
May I take this opportunity to thank you for joining me and my blogs throughout 2023. May I wish you a Happy New Year and send heartfelt best wishes for 2024.
In My Own Words 
CEM Winstanleyâ
Congratulations on your runner up award for The Jumper. I didnât know youâd written a Scottish novel and would like to read it. How do I get a copy?
I also didnât know you were a potter. You might want to look up one of the most relevant spiritual teachers in the world today: Rupert Spira. (UTube). Heâs also from the UK (lives in London) and was a master potter before he became an enlightened teacher.
Good to hear from you. How are things going with the Sooke Writersâ?
RP Mickelson Former member, Sooke Writersâ.
PS *Iâm working on a trilogy and have finished the first volume. You can find my work on the Filidh Website under âOur Authorsâ.
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Hello, Rick,
Thank you for this enthusiastic comment. Good to hear from you again and that all is going well for you.
The Scottish novel is fifty percent written and a work in progress. The finished previous contemporary novel (set in England/BC) is doing the rounds of agents etc.
Well done with progress on your trilogy. I will check out your website.
With all best wishes for 2024
Clare
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Clareâ
Whatâs the title of your previous novel and how do I get a copy?
Itâs good to know youâll check out my work on the Filidh website. If at all possible, let me know what you think of my page on the site. Happy New Year.
RM
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