Thursday 29 May 2014

Catching Up and Maya Angelou


After the great fun at the launch party for The Adonis Touch, on here and Facebook, I'm now trying to catch up with other bits and pieces in between the necessary ongoing promotion. I'm also working my way through my very first full length historical novel, Dangerous Deceit, to change it back into British English, now that the rights have reverted to me. It's tedious but very rewarding as I'm also tightening some of the original sentences in light of further experience! Hopefully, I'll be able to reissue it with a lovely new cover in June sometime.

I was saddened to hear of the death of wonderful author, poet and human rights activist Maya Angelou, whose autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), made her the first African-American woman to make the Best Seller List in 1970 . Besides her powerful writing, Maya Angelou has uttered so many meaningful quotes that I have some of them in my collection. The world has lost a unique voice. Here are a few of my favourite quotes:

'Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us. We need hours of aimless wandering or spates of time sitting on park benches, observing the mysterious world of ants and the canopy of treetops.'

'Sunsets and rainbows, green forest and restive blue seas, all naturally colored things are my siblings. We have played together on the floor of the world - since the first stone looked up at the stars.'

'You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.'

'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'

'Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud.'

There are many more such words of wisdom and I'm sure you'll have your own favourites.

Rosemary

10 comments:

Jude Johnson said...

Congratulations on regaining your rights to "Dangerous Deceit." And I agree with you about Ms. Angelou. She was a National Treasure.

Wendy's Writing said...

A joy to read these wonderful quotes, Rosemary.

Joanna said...

Thank you, Rosemary. I love all those beautiful quotes, but my favourite is the one about people never forgetting how you made them feel. It always brings a lump to my throat.

Good luck with the work on Dangerous Deceit. My middle daughter is writing a novel in American English and she finds it hard sometimes to keep stopping to check words and phrases. xxx

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Many thanks for commenting, Jude!

Thanks, Wendy.

That's my favourite too, Joanna. Thanks for your good wishes - I used to write for an American company (articles) and got used to to US style and spelling eventually!

Teresa Ashby said...

I am enjoying the Adonis Touch, Rosemary.
I was very sad to hear of the death of Maya Angelou, but what a wonderful human being she was and what a legacy she has left xx

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Oh that's lovely of you to say so about T Adonis T, Teresa - thank you!

Yes, a fine legacy indeed.

Julia Thorley said...

I've worked on UK/US co-editions. It's not just the spelling; it's also the syntax. Plod on, my dear!

Julia Thorley said...

I've worked on UK/US co-editions. It's not just the spelling; it's also the syntax. Plod on, my dear!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

You're absolutely right, Julia!

Joan Fleming said...

The question of UK/US English is one many of us have to address. Does UK English work with US syntax? (or vice versa?)

The legacy of Maya Angelou will live on.

All best with your work with DD!