On Connection

With gratitude for the threads that form a web of support

Back in my teaching days, when planning a new topic, I would plonk an idea in the middle of a page, and draw lines radiating from the centre, adding new ideas as they came. Known as a spider diagram, each leg is a thread, and the details within each strand stick like hairs to this spider’s leg. I could do the same with the connections I have made over my six decades and how these are bearing fruit as my first novel goes forth into the world, each thread connecting in a web of support for which I am so very grateful.

To write a book could be thought of as a lonely pursuit and indeed, I intend to withdraw from the world, turn off social media in January and February (intention maybe not reality), turn on the heater and lock myself in my study, preferably following the advice of Stephen King and sit in a corner with no view or distraction, and get the sequel to The Rewilding of Molly McFlynn written. I read an interview with Jeanette Winterson in the New Yorker, ‘Jeanette Winterson has no idea what happens next’ in which she was talking about writing the supernatural. She said,

‘If you’re doing creative work, you have to move your mind out of its habitual executive function, its administrative mode, and to allow other things to come in, to allow patterns to emerge, to connect things in ways that are simply impossible when we’re just formatting stuff.’

To write, and to be creative, it is vital to withdraw. However, to get my work out into the world, I have had to come out of my shell, stick my head above the parapet and shout, I’ve written a book! I have a partnership publishing deal, which means I do not have the weight of one of the bigger publishing houses behind me. The Book Guild does have a marketing team, but they are small, and both their reach and time commitment are limited.

I remember the gasps that went around the virtual room (it was lockdown and we had lectures on Zoom) when learning about The Profession of Writing on the MA when the lecturer began talking about how a writer needs to market her work, get out there, arrange book events, do talks, visit schools and WI groups. For many, this seemed a step too far, and I believe for some, it put them right off publishing their work. Fortunately, I’m not shy, don’t mind speaking to an audience and so on my blank page with my novel at the centre, I’m drawing in the lines and connections made over six decades, and using them to get myself and my book out there.

First line – teaching – Until last week I hadn’t been back in school for twelve years. I was very nervous, but it seemed that working with groups of students is like riding a bike. I’ve worked this week in a country village school with a small group of year 8s, and then in a large city middle school with sixty students, all enthusiastic, and we had great fun together as we played a drama game, townsfolk versus witches. The questions were brilliant too, my favourite being, ‘Did you name Molly McFlynn after Marty McFly in Back to the Future?’

I am so very grateful for the connections made working at Hexham Priory School and was touched that ex-colleagues came to my book launch, and got a hug and the comment that I’d come full circle from Helen, the Chair of Governors at the school. Hazel, who was a teaching assistant in my class, sent a photo of Molly Travelling to Scotland in the car – it made a great Instagram story with bagpipes playing Scotland the Brave.

Let’s draw another line – Liverpool – I moved to Toxteth in 1984 to live with Tim in a large house once the Cuban Consulate, now divided into ten self-contained flats. Malcom lived downstairs, and after leaving Liverpool for Chicago, we kept in touch. Today his wife sent a photo of my book with the Chicago skyline behind, I’m so pleased I kept this connection going and love that my words have travelled to The States. I’ve made the decision this week to pay for my book to be published overseas, as so many are asking where it can be bought.

The connections made through social media over the years are precious. Sure, spending too much time scrolling through our phones can be counterproductive, addictive and damaging. Still, over the years, I’ve found my tribe on social media, and isn’t finding one’s tribe so important, especially when standing up for nature and the environment?

I’ve spoken before, about The Woolly Pedlar, upcycling waste wool knitwear and I love the connections made with this woolly crowd. I’m now getting booked for WI meetings where I once spoke about wool. Many have followed me over to my Sue Reed Writes writing socials, and continue to support me as a person, and many have placed orders for signed copies of my book from my website, and have taken the time and trouble to post reviews, some with photos like this one from Vanessa who went to all this time and trouble to make this fabulous montage.

Rose, who I know from my time helping to run Woolfest, and who lives in Penrith, came all the way by bus to my book launch. I am so very grateful for the friendships forged and connections made through wool.

Then let’s pick up the pen again and draw another line – family – my mum, who seldom ventures out these days, went into her local bookstore to collect copies of her daughter’s novel, and my dad is marching around the village with his rollator, dropping copies of my book off at his retirement club, the deli and the local library. My aunt down in London, trailed the shops in that initial week of panic when the first print run was exhausted and copies ran out at Gardeners. My daughter, who gets a special mention in acknowledgements, and who works for Waterstones (handy I know) has been such a champion of her mum’s writing, and the connections there are fantastic. I’ve been invited to go into Waterstones Newcastle for their Christmas shopping event along with the lads from Viz! Who remembers the fat slag? I asked if I could wear a Fat Slag badge but got told to behave!

I met up with

Harry Watson

in Newcastle Waterstones the other day, and here is another line drawn  - the connections made here on Substack and maybe where I’ll end this piece, although I’m sure more threads could be drawn. Harry has recently moved back to the northeast and writes about his wanderings. It was great to meet a fellow Substacker in real life and I thank Harry for his wisdom and support as I panicked about typos in my book's text. I was horrified that despite several attempts at proofreading, some have slipped through the net. Lesson learnt, and the next book will be professionally proofread. Corrections are now made, and future print runs will be typo-free, but still, I was in a right old tizzy and so grateful for Harry’s support.

The Unhurried Reader

gets a special mention here, for her astute wisdom and generous writing in her review of The Rewilding of Molly McFlynn ‘Thou Shalt Not Suffer’ and her observation that my writing, which is now reaching a wide, crossover audience, is for ‘feminists of all ages’.

I wrote about the wonderful artwork sent to me by

Emma Gibbs De Oliveira

in my last post, Bowled Over By Love, and as it is so beautiful I am going to share it again. This post is a continuation of that theme, of the immense gratitude I have for connections made and the love, generosity and support that is shown and shared. I’m thrilled to have another piece in Brazil Arte’s upcoming Zine, Fire – it’s a bit from The Rewilding of Molly McFlynn in which Molly, her mam and Nan jump the Beltane Fire as maiden, mother and crone.

Connections made, my tribe found, and as I send my work out into the world, I am grateful for them all. My web is cast.

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