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April 14th 2022
My writing is about the everyday: the nothing and the everything! Families, friendships, break ups, pets, siblings. I write for the 9-12 year age group, a time when you are still a child but you are knocking on the door of teenage years and life can be a little confusing. I have such strong memories of being that age. In many ways, I feel just the same now, as I did back then, and I hope children sense that honesty in my writing.
Every Cloud focuses on that challenging time when Year 6 are getting ready for high school. I’ve seen this situation played out in many ways: straight forward, easy transitions and those riddled with problems and sometimes, heartache. This latter scenario is where Amy finds herself. Her family moved a year ago and she is no longer in the catchment area for the school that all her friends will be attending. Added to this, she has to stay with her grandparents on the other side of town. Pops has dementia and is struggling. Her Mum and brothers and Amy move in with him and Gran while Dad stays at home, trying to improve the house they had to move to. She is now unable to join in the holiday fun with her friends which makes her feel even more distanced and alone.
Amy finds out that Jay, the quiet boy from her primary school, is living with his Dad on the same road as her grandparents. She spends time with Jay and Pops, playing an old game called Shove ha’penny. This intergenerational relationship helps all three of them. Jay’s stammer and Pops’ dementia are minor things when they are together. Amy finds that her friendship with Jay is simple and honest and it helps her to re-evaluate how she handles her old friend Cassie, who can be difficult and unkind. I hope readers will recognize how important new friendships can be in life and how they can form when we least expect them to.
As an author, I’ve piled the problems on to poor Amy and her reactions to this situation are hopefully reflective of how an 11 year old would behave. She is cross and upset and a little scared. I hope that my writing can help young people to understand that the frustrations and disappointment they feel, are strongly felt by others too and that they are not alone. Family dynamics bring lighter, more humorous moments, especially with Maxi, Amy’s younger brother who is a dribbling, crawling, squawking bundle of fun!
Every Cloud offers many opportunities for healthy in-depth discussion about friendship, families and how we deal with challenges in life. There is great scope for students to empathize with and discuss the character’s situations and the strong themes in the book. How do young people cope with bullying and teasing, whether they are distressed themselves or helping others? How do we all cope with ageing grandparents? How do we deal with major changes in life when we have no choice in the chosen path?
I hope Amy’s journey helps readers to understand that difficult times can be overcome. If Amy can bring reassurance to just one reader, that would make me a happy writer indeed.
Every Cloud is out on 14th April.
