Since the publication of
my first novel, Gypsies Stop tHere, in the spring of 2008, surely there must have been
changes in the Gypsy and Traveller world. The book, along with the sequel /
prequel, No Gypsies Served, presents
a snapshot of how things were, using a fusion of fact and fiction to weave a
story. Romany Gypsies, Irish Travellers and people not from their communities
have said lovely things about them – see the reviews on Amazon and more inside each one! But this post is not
really about my books.
Firstly, as reminder, let’s
take a look back at some blog posts I wrote a while back. You can pick and mix
according to what catches your eye and takes your fancy!
My next blog post will take a look at what has gone on since and what
is happening now. Have things improved, progressed for the better or do the
same problems persist?
How come Gypsies and Travellers?
This is
what seems to intrigue people. I am not a Gypsy myself. How come I am writing a story with a theme that
hinges on Gypsies and Travellers, their origins, culture and present-day
problems?
 |
| At Yateley a few years ago |
 |
| At Bourne Hall Museum event |
Friday, 12 February 2010
A simple question often asked. But how complicated
the answer!!
This looks at terminology and ‘labels’ and how easy
it is to unwittingly offend.
Sunday, 19 December 2010
It really is stranger than fiction when fiction
becomes reality. I felt as if I had stepped into a scene from my own
novel Gypsies Stop tHere. The public meeting was to discuss proposals for an
inevitable development at Deepcut.
Thursday, 20 January 2011
Could not let TV Channel 4’s Big Fat Gypsy Wedding
go by without offering a few thoughts – could I? It wouldn’t be right!
Firstly, these were, going by their accents, Irish Travellers rather than Romany Gypsies.
Firstly, these were, going by their accents, Irish Travellers rather than Romany Gypsies.
I understand Channel 4’s aim to achieve high
ratings. To suck in an audience that might ultimately consider more serious
aspects of Gypsy and Traveller life and culture, you need to lighten up first.
I get that. But at what cost?
The first paragraphs of this post were published in The
Guardian – Letters to the Editor (first one on the page!)
Friday, 11 February 2011
Big Fat Gypsy Weddings not so bad?
Jake
Bowers speaking for the Romany Gypsy community: http://bit.ly/h9TldF
on Daybreak.
I may be revising my view of Channel 4
documentary, dubbed ‘mockumentary’. I hope it really does help relations
between Gypsies and non-Gypsies, rather than make for more bad feeling. Excellent
representation on BBC Breakfast show this week. http://bbc.in/e0kK5J
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
More media stuff on BFGW
Various media links …
Have you heard of
Travellers Got Talent?
No? Well, at the time of writing, June is Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month. It began three or four years before. Various events displaying and exploring the culture and traditions of Gypsies, Travellers and Roma take place around the country.
No? Well, at the time of writing, June is Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month. It began three or four years before. Various events displaying and exploring the culture and traditions of Gypsies, Travellers and Roma take place around the country.
Monday, 10 October 2011
I could have
chosen an easier subject for a novel. Friends and family advised me against it;
an agent told me a publisher would not consider a title with ‘Gypsy’ in it. All
of this spurred me on. This was around 2006–7.
Since I am not a Gypsy myself, many people ask me how? and why?
Since I am not a Gypsy myself, many people ask me how? and why?
Monday, 2 July 2012
 |
| At a Romany Day, Tilford |
On Saturday (30
June) I went with a supply of my three books to 'Romany Day', held at the
Rural Life Centre in Tilford, a fascinating outdoors museum near Farnham,
Surrey, well-worth a visit any time. (The front cover of my third novel has a picture of Tilford Green.)
This may make
uncomfortable, even shocking, reading but I was interested to gather
opinions ...
You will find
the words: ‘eviction, deportation ... murder, fascism … ethnic cleansing …
apartheid … genocide …’, and yes, this was 2013.
Gypsies
Stop tHere
has an Eastern European character, vital to the plot, who is a Roma immigrant
in Britain. No Gypsies Served goes a
little further in drawing attention to extreme racism prevalent in parts of
Europe. The reality, however, is much worse, as this post reveals.
There is to be a great meeting in
Westminster in October to discuss the provision of sites for
Gypsies and Travellers.
As you may know, my first two
novels, Gypsies Stop tHere and No Gypsies Served have story
lines relating to the shortage of Gypsy sites and relationships between.the
travelling community and 'mainstream' society.
Thursday, 26 September 2013
Surrey Gypsy Traveller Communities Forum
It is bit of a mouthful, isn't it? But it
does say exactly what it is. If you are interested in Gypsy issues but, like
me, decided that the meeting in London would be an expensive trip unless you are
funded by an organisation, then another October meeting may be for you. For
some years now I have attended the Surrey Gypsy Traveller Communities
Forum when I can, as an observer.
Monday, 26 May 2014
Surrey Life Review
I
was delighted to have my books chosen for review in the March issue of
the beautiful, glossy Surrey Life Magazine I thought you might like to see it.
That's about it for now; I hope this did not cause too much verbal indigestion. Look out for the next blog post to bring us all up to date. I am intrigued, I hope you are too!
My books are available on Amazon or through Waterstones. Just click on the book covers.
