Learning from Others

I have just watched on TV the ancient ceremony of the proclamation of King Charles III. His mother, the wonderful Queen Elizabeth II, has not yet been buried yet his duties as King have already begun. Her majesty The Queen set a fine example throughout her seventy years of reign. There is much to learn from her dignity and calm reassurance.

As Bob Dylan sang, “The times they are a changin’” so I am thankful for a monarchy giving stability in these rocky times and I know many others around the world feel the same.

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I’ve had the privilege to interview a new author from Northern Ireland, Rosemary Mairs. Some of you may know of the long-standing radio programme “Desert Island Discs”. In this interview I’m asking Rosemary which books she would like to have with her if she became stranded on a desert island.

Hello Rosemary, if you were cast away on a desert island which books would you like to have with you to remind you of your life over the years?

Picture yourself as a child – which book would you choose to remind you of those days and tell us why?

I had a wonderful childhood; seemingly endless summers spent outdoors (there was little parental supervision, you just had to be present at meal times!). The author that stands out for me when remembering that time is Enid Blyton and her Famous Five series of books. My rebellious older sister was always either planning or executing an exciting new adventure. Looking back, I wonder how we survived some of our more dangerous escapades!

Tell us about your life as a teenager, just leaving school. Which book do you relate to and wish you had with you?

My father died suddenly when I was seventeen; it was his love of reading which inspired my passion for books. He was a big Dickens fan, and I treasure his well-thumbed hardbound complete works. Another favourite of his was P.G. Wodehouse, and I would be tempted to take a Jeeves and Wooster to the island to give me a laugh on my isolated days. However, I think I would most wish to have a James Herriot book with me, such as ‘Vet in a Spin’, because my father was a vet, and this would remind me most of him.

Think back to the days when you started work. What would be the book that reminds you of those days?

This was a difficult time for me as I had depression. I turned to my faith (which I’m ashamed to say I often struggle with, have frequently turned away from) but it got me through those years. My Bible was my most important book at that period of my life. On the island I would wish to have my King James version with its beautiful prose, the newer, modern translations don’t appeal to me.

Think about your later life, the time when you start writing books yourself. What inspired you to start?

I have a stammer, and writing has been a means by which I can freely express myself. When I began writing, I entered short story competitions; to my astonishment, my stories won prizes and were published in anthologies. The confidence boost this gave me dramatically improved my speaking fluency, which has been a life-changer for me.

Tell us about the first book you have written.

My short story collection ‘A Recycled Marriage’ is a series of insights into the human experience. Each story delves deeply into the psyche of the characters as they face a major dilemma or problem in their lives – what will they do, how will they cope? A mother is asked to meet her son’s killer. Should a pensioner conceal evidence, or expose a family crime? A teenager with a stammer meets his dream girl, but how can he win her heart when he can’t even say his own name? A reviewer described them as ‘thought-provoking’ and ‘suspenseful’. I’ll go with that!






Are you publishing another? Tell us a little about it.

I’m currently working on a second collection of stories, which I hope to publish next year. The theme is deception. How we can be deceived by others; how we deceive ourselves. I have been scammed, thankfully for hundreds of pounds, not thousands! At the moment, I’m writing a humorous story about an ex-con man, determined to keep on the straight and narrow, but finds himself being drawn back into the world of crime by an old acquaintance; will he be able to outsmart him and stay out of prison?

Thank you, Rosemary. If you could take only one book to the desert island, which one would it be?

That would be so difficult, only being allowed one book! How would I pick between my favourite fictional authors such as Sebastian Barry and John Banville? Actually, I’m tempted to pack my favourite poetry anthology: ‘Staying Alive, real poems for unreal times’, edited by Neil Astley. Even the title seems appropriate for surviving a desert island! However, I’m surprising myself by saying, if I’m only allowed one book then I’m taking my Bible. Of course I am, what else would get me through!

Thank you, Anna, for interviewing me.

Thank you for your very interesting responses.