The History of History

Did you know that my history writing and everything that followed came about because of my stroke?

I wrote stories and poems since I was a child, encouraged by my Dad. I would pester him for a topic to write about. He once gave me ‘I am a camera.’ Quite a task for a ten year old! I carried on writing occasionally in adulthood but I was pretty busy with work, church, married life and four children. But one day I was in the town centre of Swansea where we lived, and I looked up at the ruins of the castle and wondered what it was like when it was lived in.

Most idle thoughts are quickly forgotten but this one stayed, so I Googled it and started making notes. I became fascinated and researched further, discovering the Lordship of Gower in medieval times and one particular lady called Alina de Braose. Then I had a stroke.

I’ve told the story of my stroke elsewhere, but during the long hours in hospital I thought about my notes and realised I could turn them into a book. There was no book about Alina or her family, I knew, because I’d looked.

It meant that, when I came home, instead of vegetating in the corner, I got out my laptop and organised my notes into a book. There were lots of blessings along the way, including finding an artist to create illustrations, and a professionally designed cover, both at no cost.

Thanks to Amazon I was able to self publish, but first I paid a printer to produce 300 copies and I persuaded several shops to stock them. I also got involved with the Friends of Oystermouth Castle, which is where Alina spent a lot of her life. Oystermouth Castle is only 6 miles from Swansea and I was able to go to events, hand out leaflets, and sell books.

That led to more research and more books, and then the courage to write in other genres. I now have 18 books published and more planned. And it all started because of my stroke!