Tina Rath's Blog: A Writer's Diary, page 6

Local Reading

I shall be reading as a Local Author for Local People on Saturday, from A Chimaera in my Wardrobe.

Tonight my husband Tony, Kevin West and I gave a spine t...

Tonight my husband Tony, Kevin West and I gave a spine tingling performance of ‘Alonzo the Brave and the Fair Imogine’ at the Poetry and Music Night at Our Lady and St George’s Church.

Stow Tellers on the Art Trail

The Stow Tellers story telling group will be appearing on the E17 Art Trail several times this year.

Tony and I will be telling stories based on the history of the Stow – featuring music hall, the (so far) unsung hero of the Saving of Epping Forest, early cinema, the Walthamstow Outrage – and very likely Bears – on May 31st at the Station Cafe on Wood Street.

See you there?

Yawner

Not my reaction to the election, but examples of my work – me, last week, as a seeded yawner in an unsuspecting audience – there to see if yawning is really infectious… is anyone yawning yet?

A Lovely Review for my Little Chimaera

A Chimaera in my Wardrobe by Tina Rath. Ebook review

Posted on April 9, 2015 by craiglockley in Reviews

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A CHIMAERA IN MY WARDROBE by Tina Rath, self-published , ebook, ��3.40

Reviewed by Stewart Horn

A young struggling writer/ actress/ model finds a genuine mythical beast in her wardrobe one day and agrees to let it stay. In lieu of rent it tells her stories. This is the framing device for a wonderful collection in which the titular chimaera tells the un-named protagonist stories that reflect her current situation. They are mainly light and comic in tone, and often have an up-beat and reassuring message.

As you might expect, the tales feature mythical beings and fairy tales, but with a modern sensibility. One features the goddess Artemis in a contemporary suburban situation, and introduces us to splendid characters Sergeant Prendergast and PC Oliver. Then two ancient Egyptian lovers find each other in a museum after 2,000 years. There is a gloriously perverse take on ���The Frog Prince���, and a demon with fantastic supernatural powers who is still trying to get a break in show business.

There is a biker gang that includes gods and titans ��� they attend a very strange art exhibition; a sad and beautiful retelling of Rumplestiltskin, and my personal favourite ���The Tump���, a wholly comic piece in which the queen of the fairies meets a stern puritan minister.

So much of what I read explores the darkest aspects of humanity. By comparison, this is a delight, making me smile often, and causing people on the train to wonder what I���m laughing at.

A whimsical, beautifully written and completely charming book, guaranteed to brighten anyone���s life.

The Sinister Dressing Table: Wildlife section

More additions to my project to set up a Sinister Dressing Table.

The photograph shows the Wildlife Section, with a Bottled Spider in the red flask, a Scorpion in a crystal casket and a Spare Toad.

Next week on Saturday 28th I shall, with other members of...

Next week on Saturday 28th I shall, with other members of the Walthamstow Stow Story Tellers Group, be telling stories for Herbal Day.

Do come along if you can.

Ash Wednesday

Carnival

Our love was like a carnival

So bold, so bright – so brash

And ended, like a carnival

In penitence and ash.

I danced all night at carnival

Now morning comes. I must

Walk soberly to early mass,

Remembering all is dust.

This, with some more of my verse celebrating the problems of love, is now available on Amazon in 52 Loves, an international collection of verse and prose.

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Demon

A demon in a globe – the most recent addition to my Sinister Dressing Table.

I’m not sure how it got in there. My husband suggests it was lured with a small piece of bacon.

Story Telling on Apple Day

Here I am, telling stories at the Vestry House Museum Apple Day.

The story of Hercules and the Golden Apples as you have (probably) never heard it before.

Did you know that the Pillars of Hercules can be seen to this day, in Soho in – where else? – Greek Street

Story Telling