Helena Harper's Blog

Wasn't it nice last year to escape from the economic doom and gloom surrounding us and take part - all be it as spectators - in the real life fairy tale of Prince William and Kate Middleton as they got married? Did you feel better after watching the wedding? More positive? Happier? Did you feel that more things were possible than before? I certainly did.

That is the power of fairy tales - whether real or imaginary. We all need them and that is why I think picture books are so important and why I love writing them!

Last year, my first picture book Pep, Polish and Paint  was published. In the story I wanted to transport the reader into an imaginary space world where there is a sun (Sammy) with a big problem - he's lost his shine and doesn't know how to get it back - and three spaceships (Jimmy, Jenny and Johnny) who think they've got the answers to his problem: a pep-me-up drink, polish and paint. In the end, Sammy realises that the answer to his problem lies within himself and with taking some ACTION and there is the happy ending that we all expect from fairy tales!

My hope is that the story may open readers' minds (both adults and children) to new possibilities in their lives, because when we start to take action we suddenly realise that things are possible that before we thought were impossible. I hope my story will inspire others to take action to light up their dreams and achieve whatever they want to achieve. But why not judge for yourself? If you're interested to read more, then just click here and you'll find plenty of excerpts to hopefully whet your appetite, as well as an account of how I was inspired to write the story in the first place.

And I would love to hear if you have or had a favourite fairy tale/picture book as a child and why you liked it so much - so please feel free to share! Here's to escapism, feeling good and endless possibilities!



Helena Harper, poet, children's author, teacher
http://www.helenaharper.com
SMILE MORE, LAUGH MORE, BE A CHILD MORE!

THEHAND 

Lovingly it cradlesthe delicately grooved wine glass;stretched flat it strokes warm, smooth furand ruffles clean, clipped hair;
limbs curvedit caresses silky, young skinand clasps the soft firmness of an orange;


pincer likeit graspsthe fluent pen.


Gentle as a breezefondling the velvet softnessof a virgin snowdrop's petals,yet bruising as a rocksmashing wood asunder -nature's miracleis mankind's puzzle.
Copyright ©Helena Harper 2009



Helena Harper, poet, children's author, teacher
http://www.helenaharper.com
SMILE MORE, LAUGH MORE, BE A CHILD MORE!

In the last series of Who Do You Think You Are? on the BBC, actress June Brown (Dot in the series Eastenders) explored her family history, and I was struck by the story of one of her ancestors, Isaac Bitton.
Isaac Bitton was June Brown's great, great, great grandfather. He was a famous prize fighter in England in the early 19th century, but he had been born in Holland. He came over to London with his father, Abraham, at the end of the 18th century because the Dutch economy had been devastated after a war with England. Isaac's mother, Rachel, and his siblings had remained in Amsterdam and the plan was probably to have them come over to England once Abraham had got himself settled in.
But Holland was then invaded and occupied by the French. England was at war with France and the Channel was blockaded, so there was no possibility of Rachel and the other children being able to leave Amsterdam and come over to London. The family were never reunited. Rachel and the other children died in Amsterdam. Abraham and Isaac died in London.
It can't have been easy for Isaac, separated from his mother and siblings, and trying to settle in a foreign country. But, despite his life being turned upside down, he made a success of his new life and became one of the most famous prize fighters in England, who remained undefeated throughout his career – an extraordinary achievement.
I was struck by the similarities between Isaac Bitton and my mother, who also had her life turned upside down by war and ended up in a foreign country. She was born in 1925 in East Prussia in Germany, very close to Poland and Russia, and towards the end of the Second World War, her father – though he was too old for active service and was not fully fit – was called up by Hitler and sent to Leningrad to fight the Russians. There he was killed and when the telegram arrived, confirming his death, my grandmother knew the family had to flee to West Germany, if they wanted to escape the Russians.
So my mother and the rest of the family (5 children in total) left their home, their school friends, everything and embarked on a hazardous journey westwards. Eventually, they arrived in Berlin, and from there they made their way to relatives in Hamburg (though my mother first went with her sister-in-law to Prague to try and rescue my German uncle, who was in a military hospital near the city, though they never got to the hospital because of a Czech uprising that forced them to walk back to Germany in stifling heat, being offered poisoned water on the way by the locals).
My mother, Hamburg, 1950It was all they could do to feed and clothe themselves once they were in war-torn Hamburg. My mother was on a starvation diet and, at times, there was nothing to eat at all. And any kind of cloth they could lay their hands on e.g. curtains or sheets, they turned into clothes. She managed to find a job at the British Army headquarters and there she met my father, who was an officer in the British Army.
They courted and married in 1952 and my mother came to England, to start a new life. It wasn't easy for her, coming to terms with new customs and crazy English spellings and pronunciations, but she made the best of it, as did Isaac Bitton. She became a much valued secretary and helped my father convert an old, dilapidated Victorian house into a wonderful home, whilst successfully raising two children.
The stories of both my mother and Isaac Bitton show us that we don't have to become victims of adversity. On the contrary, adversity can make us resourceful in ways we might never have thought of and, whilst our lives might take a different path from the one we originally planned, that doesn't mean to say it can't be rewarding.
"Resistance makes us all grow strongerand fly ever higher on the wind of life,so the difficulties we meet are what we needif we want to be the highest flying kite."(extract from Family & More –Enemies or Friends? )
Do you have a story of a family member who also has overcome adversity and made the best of a difficult situation? Then please feel free to share.Helena Harper, poet, children's author, teacher
http://www.helenaharper.com
SMILE MORE, LAUGH MORE, BE A CHILD MORE!

This September my niece started sixth form - unbelievable! I still remember when she was just a baby (see above) and now she's studying for her A levels. How time flies.

To mark the occasion, I thought I would post an extract from my poem 'The Niece' in my book Family & More - Enemies or Friends? Enjoy!

Such a small, fragile-looking being,this newborn babe,crumpled faceand delicate limbsfascinating all who lookwith their phenomenal miracle of creation,eating and sleepingher only desirein this foreign world of noise and people.The eyes shine brightwith sparkle and lifeand hands lift and agitatewhen the new and wondrous suddenly appearin this amazing world of her imagination.
Inquiring into everythingwith mouth and tongueand later with stumbling feet,curiously watchingbumble-bees hoverand snails slither,joyously creating game after gamewith books and toys,packets and tins,twigs and leavesand anything else you'd care to name.
Playing she loves,other babies, too,and a playmate at homeis what she'd like,a baby girl or boy, if you please.Her wish suddenly grantedshe can't wait to see the baby brotherwaiting for her in hospital at the appointed time of three.
She looks at the childwith fascinated eyes,at last a baby of her own,reminding the aunt of that picture of the mother,who as a toddlerhad looked in just that wayat the baby sisterwho had arrivedafter the long, painfullabour of a day.
To school she goes,only just four,yet others are five alreadyor a bit more.Keen to please but shy with new children,learning strange thingscalled numbers and letters,tiring stuff for one so young,but determined she is and give up she won't no matter how hard it all is... She'll try and try until she bursts!The effort pays off and great strides she makes,reaching the top group in Englishwhen secondary school starts.Who would have thought itall those years before,when reading was an uphill struggleand all those words just one big muddle?But anything can be achievedwith strong focus and desire,all that's needed is motivationand a heart truly on fire.
Copyright © Helena Harper 2010
What do you remember about a son/daughter/niece/nephew or any other person you know when they were young?
Helena Harper, poet, children's author, teacher
http://www.helenaharper.com
SMILE MORE, LAUGH MORE, BE A CHILD MORE!

As a child in the UK, I grew up watching Dad's Army. I loved it and more than 30 years since the series stopped, it is still being shown on TV! That is testament to its enduring legacy of wonderful writing, wonderful acting and wonderful humour. I was watching one of the reruns at the weekend and, as ever, was thoroughly enjoying it.


One of my favourite characters is Lance Corporal Jones, played by Clive Dunn (seen here on the far left of the picture), whose stock phrase of "Don't panic, don't panic!" always brings a smile to my face. You can't help but like the elderly soldier - kind, gentle, loyal, bumbling but always well-intentioned. So successful was he as an 'old man' that he actually had a number one hit single "Grandad" in 1971, where he sang with a children's choir. They couldn't have chosen a better person for the song - he looked every inch a loveable, wise, gentle grandpa! 
Many of us, perhaps, have not been fortunate enough to grow up with a grandfather around (both of mine died long before I was born), but we can still learn from them and be inspired by them as we look at old photos and listen to our parents. I have grown up listening to my mother talk of her father, whom she adored. I would have loved to have met him - he was hardworking, intelligent, generous, kind and loving to his family (though stern when he needed to be), a great sailor and swimmer, had a wonderful singing voice and was very gifted with his hands. 
He was every inch the family man, so when he was called up at the end of the Second World War by Hitler (he was German and lived in East Prussia), it must have been heartbreaking for him to leave his family. He was too old for active service, of course, but what could he do? It was his duty. He was sent off to Leningrad, where he knew immediately that the situation was hopeless. He wrote a letter to his wife and children in which he explained that there was really no hope - the Russians were due to attack the next day and defeat was certain to happen quickly - and, indeed, soon afterwards my grandmother received the fateful telegram. And with the Russians on the advance, she decided that the family had to flee to West Germany. 
There are times, perhaps, in life where we have to put personal interests and wishes second to some greater cause or purpose. Whilst I abhor the way my grandfather lost his life - it was so futile, because whether he had fought or not fought, the outcome of the war would have remained unchanged - I admire him for his sense of duty and, as a loving partner and parent, he set a wonderfully positive example to others. 
One thing, of course, that grandparents can contribute to our lives is a wealth of knowledge and experience. I wasn't able to get that from my grandparents, but I did get that from my father, who was 50 when I was born, so he had a lot of great advice and knowledge to give me as I grew up into my teens and early twenties. My maternal grandfather and father have had a great influence on me, even though one of them was long since gone when I was born, and I have paid my own tribute to them in my book Family & More - Enemies or Friends? It is important, I think, that their stories are told so that others can learn from them. 
What about your family stories? What have you learnt from your grandparents? Why don't you write down what you know? The written word will help their stories live again and educate others. Perhaps leaving a comment on this post would be a start or sharing something on my Family & More facebook page. Don't let the stories of your grandparents disappear into the mists of time - they are too precious...

Helena Harper, poet, children's author, teacher
http://www.helenaharper.com
SMILE MORE, LAUGH MORE, BE A CHILD MORE!

Air blown through a ring of soapy water,countless bubbles being born,each taking a different path -reaching skyward,skimming lowor somewhere inbetween...A long path for some,a short one for others,then finally a pop,signalling the end...or another beginning?
Separate and alone they seem,but look! There's a twosometransforming into three,another merging seamlesslywith the twinsso that all can continuein oneness and unity.
The memory of a common originlies buried in forgetfulness,yet all are joinedand the separateness
of the journeyis just an illusion -wonderful, elegantand clever.We mistake it for reality,but in truth, that it can never be:no, never!
Copyright © Helena Harper 2008
Helena Harper, poet, children's author, teacher
http://www.helenaharper.com
SMILE MORE, LAUGH MORE, BE A CHILD MORE!

I'm really excited to announce that my first children's book, Pep, Polish and Paint , will soon be published - after numerous revisions and illustrations and many doubts as to whether it would ever see the light of day, AND 15 years after the first version of the story was written! Click on the BookBuzzr widget in the side bar to see the beginning of the story.

Here is the blurb: "Sammy is a sun with a really big problem. He's lost his shine and just doesn't know how to get it back! But three spaceships – Jimmy, Jenny and Johnny – think they've got the answer. Sammy isn't sure that anything will help, but what has he got to lose? And as the spaceships argue, something totally unexpected happens...

A wonderfully imaginative story that shows that anything is possible when we decide to take action, as ACTION is the key to unlocking the power that lies within us all."

Download space quizzes, wordsearches and crosswords here .  Colouring sheets coming soon!

This month, I'm honoured to be able to feature fellow poet, Magdalena Ball, on my blog and her latest book Blooming Red.

Blooming Red is a poetry chapbook that explores the holiday season as you have experienced it, but rarely read about it. It’s real, insightful, beautiful, sometimes intense poetry that cuts deep into the emotions, nostalgia, loss, love, greed and goodwill. There’s nothing syrupy or overly mystical here, though there is plenty of wonder and mystery. It’s Christmas poetry for the rational.  

The book is co-authored by Magdalena Ball and Carolyn Howard-Johnson, both award-winning poets, and features original watercolour artwork by Vicki D. Thomas. The book forms part of the celebration series that the authors have been producing. These are small, beautifully presented and illustrated books of themed poetry priced very inexpensively, with the aim of providing a much deeper, more powerful alternative to a card for special occasions. The books make wonderful gifts (no need for an additional card), and can be paired with flowers, chocolate, or small toiletries to make a perfect, budget friendly gift. Other books in the series include Imagining the Future: Ruminations on Fathers and Other Masculine Apparitions for men, Cherished Pulse  featuring love poetry (ideal for Valentine’s Day), and She Wore Emerald Then  for mothers and other women.
I, myself, have been privileged to read She Wore Emerald Then - a book that has a marvellous variety of poetry about what it means to be a mother (and a daughter). Maggie's poems in the book have a wonderful cosmic quality to them and, at times, combine both the sublime and commonplace, which had me smiling. Maggie is a very gifted wordsmith and has a brilliant understanding of the art of poetry. If you are looking for an unusual Christmas gift, then Blooming Red would most certainly suit the bill. Here are a few poems to whet your appetite!

Memory Trick
I wanted to manufacture a memory
knit with organic yarns of kid mohair, boucle, alpaca
in colours like blue sky, mulberry, ecru, lime
knubbly and pathological
wrought with nostalgia and wrung
through time’s dryer
waving and flapping
cobblestones and chimney path
in the tired hours when your eyes
strain to bring back what you’ve lost.

A Christmas memory, perhaps
green scented and fresh
rosy cheeks, winter of course
though inside there’s warmth, abundance,
fire and care.

Down deep
where the plaques and tangles of
dead brain cells
mix with the living
we click our needles
in sync
wrapping wool round godlike fingers
mixing reality with invention
until, there
before your startled eyes
the scarves and stockings
bright weaves
cashcotton history
soft, inflationary
so real, you touch it.

Carol to the Universe
Take down the tree
tinsel trash tidied
broken baubles swept
garbage bag wrappings
discarded
through greedhaze
glitter snowglobe
lights off
exhalation
into the new
year.
A carol to the universe
held in one breath
between motion
and inertia
kiss of the godless
earth mother lump
to her quantum
creatures
evolving
beneath
every tap of the keyboard
a newbie springs forth.
No need for
leather clad rulebooks
ark over flood
fatherly edicts
no sacrifices in blood
here.
This is a rational zone
still
so many years on
fertile.

Find out more about Maggie at http://www.magdalenaball.com/
...........................................................................................................................

Check out this post tomorrow at http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/ for useful writing tips and information. A really informative blog!
...........................................................................................................................Helena Harper, poet, children's author, teacher
http://www.helenaharper.com
SMILE MORE, LAUGH MORE, BE A CHILD MORE!

My poetic memoir Family & More - Enemies or Friends? has just been released and I'll be doing a book signing at Waterstones bookshop in the Peacocks Centre in Woking, Surrey on Saturday 25th September between 12pm -3pm, so if you happen to be in the area and feel like popping in just to say 'Hello" please do!

I was privileged last weekend to meet UK children's author, Judith Kerr, at the Lightbox Museum in Woking. The Lightbox is at present hosting a marvellous exhibition about children's books and their illustrators, from the late 19th century to the present day.

Judith Kerr, as the author and illustrator of The Tiger Who Came to Tea and  Mog, the Forgetful Cat is, of course, featured in the exhibition. And running concurrently is a whole series of talks, so that if you're interested you can meet...