Catch Tilly’s story, Foolish, was published in the 2017 Stories of Life anthology, The Gecko Renewal. She’s kindly provided a photo of her amazing cast of Romeo and Juliet, and you can also hear her read her story here.

‘It’s the cast of Romeo and Juliet in front of one of the wagons.

Cast is (left to right):

• Bryan Keniry (Romeo),
• Ellonye Keniry (Juliet- married just before we set off to Romeo/also played Benvolio and Gregory),
• Mark Holgate (Tybalt/Lord Capulet/Friar/director)
• Caraid Holgate (servant and horse-handler)
• Catch Tilly (Prince/Lady Capulet/ Mercutio)
• Thea Taylor (Samson/Nurse/costume designer).

Missing are the two horses who also performed in the play.

 

We travelled in this wagon and another larger one for 2 months performing Romeo and Juliet off the side of the wagons in NSW before coming to Adelaide. We in fact travelled as far as Hay in one of the waggons.

 

The public performances were in 2004 in October and the school shows in august. Public shows were in Elder Park, below the Festival Centre.’

Catch Tilly

Elizabeth Robertson’s story, Busload of Blessing, was a runner up in the Eternity Matters Short Story category. It was published in the Gecko Renewal and you can hear Elizabeth read her story here:

‘Four years ago, I was interested to receive information about a course in Creative Writing offered by Tabor College Adelaide. The idea attracted me – until the icy waters of reality prevailed. The idea was ridiculous : I was eighty seven years old, I had never wanted to be a writer, I could not afford the course, I had no way of attending. BUT I do have a Heavenly Father who can do exceeding abundantly above all I ask and think. I graduated at 90, and it was at the suggestion Dr James Cooper that I submitted my story.’

Elizabeth Robertson     

Have you ever walked passed someone sleeping rough in the street? Have you ever felt that you should do something? But walked away, feeling bad? If you have, as I have, then you might identify with Yvonne Smuts, in her winning story, ‘Encountered’:

Yvonne won the first prize in the 2017 Tabor category. ‘Encountered’ was published in the 2017 Stories of Life anthology, the Gecko Renewal, and this is the background to her amazing story:

“The Journey to San Jose came about in the connection of a series of seemingly random dots: someone unknown to me earnestly praying in Costa Rica, a painful marriage breakdown, the tumultuous crash of the US housing market, the sudden recollection of a seemingly incongruous and insignificant conversation about an obscure Central American country that I had six years before. All these events were pinpoints in my life, and the spaces around these dots were to be connected together into the fabric of greater Purpose and Plan.

We see, mostly in hindsight, how a God of Perfect Order works in the sometimes chaotic dots of life in ways that are a Mystery. Often the significance cannot be discerned by someone outside that ‘working’ because it is in essence the deep ‘heart knowing’ of Relationship. And the impact remains strictly personal in the ‘One on one’ encounter, as the almighty Creator God interacts with the created beloved one.

But just occasionally the testimony can spill over into meaning for others where the teller senses that the lasting impression on someone else may be more than a sceptical ‘Really’? When the Divine engages with our frail mortality in a particular situation others see that this realm we live in is not all there is. This was my experience both in how I came to be in San Jose and how I saw God at work there.

I am grateful for the opportunity to share the experience through Life Stories, and for the chance, in the fabric of the stories of others, to glimpse the unmistakeable working of Christ present with us.”

Yvnonne Smuts

During our recent writing workshop, Claire Bell spoke on ‘What I love to read: a judge’s perspective‘. The first point she made was that a writer must forge a connection with the reader and the example she cited was from Anusha Atukorala’s story, ‘When healing doesn’t come‘.

Anusha was writing about chronic illness, which Claire does not have. What Claire identified with was the experience of  heart-felt prayers going unanswered, seemingly so.

Anusha writes about how she came to submit her powerful story:

“I pricked up my ears when I heard about a writing competition called ‘Stories of Life’. Since God had called me to be a writer ten years before, most of what I wrote were stories based on everyday life. I can do that! And so I did. I wrote not just one but two stories. I sent them in, eager, joyful, anticipating success. I was sure of it. Aha! But pride goes before a fall, does it not? A couple of months later, I checked the Stories of Life website very excited, sure that at least one of my stories would be selected. I was shocked at the outcome. Neither of my stories had made it into the anthology. I was so discouraged. I wondered if I could call myself a writer!

The next year, when the same competition was advertised again, I knew it wasn’t worth trying. After all, I’d proved that I couldn’t write a good enough story hadn’t I? But God kept whispering into my heart to try again. Eventually, I gave in. I had plenty of happy stories to choose from but He led me to write one about my struggle with fibromyalgia. It would be a voice for those who suffer chronic illness. A few weeks later, I had my story written and ready to send off.

However … as I re-read the instructions for the entries, it seemed that the stories they were looking for were ones in a lighter vein. Would my story fit?

I spent time in thought and prayer, and yes, there was no doubt about it. This was the story He asked me to write. And yes … surprise, surprise, this time, my story made it into the anthology. Hooray! What a fabulous sense of achievement it gave me, especially considering my failure of the previous year.

A writer’s world has perseverance stamped across it in big letters. My entry into the 2017 anthology proved it and I’m glad I listened to God. I’m so glad I didn’t allow failure to keep me from trying again. Whenever I think of my story that made it, a little orchestra of joy plays a tuneful symphony within. I pray that God will use my small offering to encourage others who struggle with chronic illness. Thank you Stories of Life competition for giving us an opportunity to share our stories. Thank you God that you fill our lives with story after story of your abundant love and faithfulness.”

Anusha Atukorala, 2 May 2018

We are delighted not only to share these pictures and Anusha’s backstory today, but also to congratulate her on the imminent launch of her book, ‘Dancing in the Rain’ – words of comfort and hope for a sad heart.

Anusha would like to extend an open invitation to her book launch (details below) and asks that anyone who can make it to please email her at anusha.atukorala@gmail.com by Friday, 4 May.

‘Dancing in the Rain’ Book Launch 

Date: Saturday, 12 May 2018

Time: 2 – 4 p.m.

Venue: Tea Tree Gully Memorial Building,

Memorial Drive, Tea Tree Gully, SA 5091

I wrote to Lisa to ask her for photos because I was intrigued by her story, Dream Team, which was a runner up in last year’s competition and published in the 2017 anthology, The Gecko Renewal. 

Lisa’s story was about her roller derby days and I had no idea what that was. In fact, I had to google the term ‘roller girl  decal’ . Lisa has graciously shared these photos with us. For me, this is the joy of reading : to learn about and to enter worlds that I had no idea existed.

This is the point Lisa makes in the last paragraph of her backstory, when she explains what being published in the anthology has done for her and for the people in her life.

“I heard about Stories of Life through Tabor, where I am doing the Master of Creative Writing. I love life writing, and I had been thinking about my roller derby days a little bit in the lead up to writing the story. I suffered a knee injury the week before Fresh Meat testing, and on the day of the retest I was quite ill because I was having a baby! It took an instructor asking in an aerobics class for me to work this out though. It was only through retelling the story to friends that I realised that God does have perfect timing – unlike me who struggles to jump over pool noodles due to poor timing.

I entered the competition because I wanted to share my story and any promotion of roller derby being a fun and easily accessible sport is good. I was also challenged by many of the Facebook posts from last year – Sue had posted about writing her story under a very short deadline, and I ended up doing the same with this one. While my other story about my poor little broken down car took many drafts to get right, this one just seemed to flow really easily. Looking at the finished product, I am happy with the quality of both.

One interesting thing about being published in Stories of Life has meant that people in my life who don’t usually read have been really happy to read The Gecko Renewal – and not just my story either. The incidental collaboration with people from all walks of life is refreshing – there really is something for everyone in this anthology. It has also helped me frame my life experiences in a different way. I tend to be a bit accident prone – if there is a small risk of something happening – a broken down car, missing luggage on a flight, picking up an item without a barcode – I’m the one it happens to! There is always joy in the little things, even if those things can seem like a set back at the time. And that joy creates great stories.”‘

Lisa Birch

When I read that last paragraph, I thought: what a great reason for us to write our stories. Our stories are the means through which others can enter into a world where a loving God is active and at work.

Today we get to read one of the stories that was runner up in the 2017 Tabor Stories of Life category, On the Clifftop by Margot Ogilvie. Margot’s story was subsequently published in the anthology, The Gecko Renewal.

Asked about the backstory, Margot wrote:

“When I sent the story to Maureen for her approval, as recommended by the team, her reply made me smile: ‘The cliff top walk – I think you changed the facts around a little but you are forgiven. The fact is, Missy, that I was the concerned one with two elderly people with breathing problems and one wife and mother of three with heart issues!!! (However, as I said you are forgiven and I’m content to leave the story as it is.)’

I could just imagine her pretending to be telling me off, calling me Missy as if I was a naughty child, then giving me her cheeky smile. It added to the fond memories of her visit even more.

The photo of me on the clifftop didn’t come out. I appreciate Stories of Life because it gives me the opportunity to combine two of my greatest passions – God and writing.”

When I read Margot’s story, I wished that I could see some those priceless photos. I wrote to Margot, and she  has kindly shared some of those photos with us.

Today we meet June Hopkins, who has had stories published in both the 2016 and 2017 anthologies – a veteran of the Stories of Life competition, so to speak. Her very short story, The Gecko Renewal, would give us the title to the 2017 anthology. The story is takes less than two minutes to read out loud, but in that two minutes, June poses a question, and then resolves it. Well done, June.

With only 3 days to go before we start accepting entries to the 2018 competition, I wonder if you might have a story that will appear in the 2018 anthology. What will this year’s book title be? Will you be the one to craft it?

Listen to June’s story, The Gecko Renewal.

“I learned of the Stories of life Competition on the Christian Writers Down Under Facebook page, and entered a story which was printed in A  Chicken Makes a Difference. Subsequent to this, I learned from a follow up email about the Creative Writers Course online with Tabor College, and enrolled in a Post Grad course which I started last year and am still doing this year. I am in my 70s and have been writing since I was a young child. I write from a Christian world view but I do not always write overtly Christian stories.”

June Hopkins

A Senior Lecturer of the Tabor Creative Writing Course, James Cooper, will be speaking at the writing workshop on 12 April. James will speak on how to turn life experiences into gripping, well-written short stories. The workshop is free, but please register your attendance here.