I was approached a few months ago by the wonderfully talented author, Sheila Hall and was asked if I wanted to join her merry gang of writers to create an anthology.
In her infinite wisdom she has decided to start a new charity called Creative Smybiosis to raise funds for authors that needed a little help in the world – mainly financial help. I created a blog on the whole process back in November when the button had been pressed and the book was realised into paper matter – a very exciting time for all! http://greatbigjar.com/2013/11/05/one-small-step-for-woman-one-giant-leap-for-womankind/
There are many things we sometimes take for granted such as a roof over your head every night, a warm and safe place for your family and money in the bank to buy essentials to live. Sadly, not everyone has these luxuries and Sheila, along with many authors from around the world, including myself decided to join forces, rally the troops or whatever metaphor you know that conjures up sheer determination and enthusiasm. Being a part of a fantastic book not only brings with it feelings of awe and pride but also the realisation that there are people out there that just need a break and what better way to help them. I wrote what I thought best portrayed my thoughts on it all ‘Light After Dark’ and pressed the send button! ‘The Struggle’ anthology was born and the rest, as they say, is history.
As a mere writing contributor to this fantastic collection of poems, short stories and tales of courage, I wanted to seek out the amazing mob that put it all together and ensure the world know who they were and how inspirational they are to writers all over the world.
So, without further ado – Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you The Struggle Anthology creators along with their own personal insight into the creation of this masterpiece. I could have re-formatted, picked a fancy font and played around with the text but these writers are individuals in their own right so I just pasted their replies in with their own unique message for this post.
I am eternally grateful that they have taken part and I wish them all every success for 2014 and beyond…
RICK AUSTIN (@EvolvedRick) –
- 1.The instigator of this amazing anthology is Sheila Hall. How do you know Sheila and what was your first reaction when you heard about her plan to create an anthology involving authors from around the world?
I met Sheila in an operating theatre at the TWGHs Wong Tai Sin Hospital in Hong Kong 12 years ago. I’d been called in to perform emergency multi-lithonephrotomy and she was the nurse assigned to dab sweat from my forehead. I was disappointed to discover that her plan had very little to do with global domination, which is my favourite pastime, but happy to know I could do something to help people who needed it. That’s my second-favourite thing!
- Did you submit an entry for the anthology or were you involved in another part of the publishing process?
I submitted, but that’s only because of her wide variety of submission moves to make her opponents tap out. She locked me in an anaconda vice, a camel clutch and a hello-kitty kimura lock.
- Every day life brings its own struggles. How did you decide what to write, or why did you get involved?
The story I wrote was a deeply allegorical one, symbolic of the sciamachy within my own thoughts about the neo-existentialist state of being by transposing the ancient casuistry with the modern hermeneutics, hoping to lead people to definiendum. It made sense to let it out and give people a laugh.
- This book is to raise funds and awareness of Creative Symbiosis, a non-profit organisation helping writers in need. Can you describe your thoughts on this venture and where you would like to see it progress?
There are many writers out there who need a boost because they have talent that deserves to be rewarded. The more this anthology succeeds, the greater the chance for these and future writers to succeed. We’ve laid the foundations for something wonderful, and I’m incredibly proud to have been a part of it.
- In four words, can you sum up your experience of being involved with Sheila and the amazing writers and artists involved in The Struggle Anthology’s creation?
Not in four words!
Rick Austin is a partly-shaved monkey who owns a laptop and insists on using it. Originally from Birmingham, England, he currently resides in his own mind and South Africa. A qualified journalist, he abandoned a career in the frozen yoghurt industry to pursue his creative writing. He is the author of the fantasy-parody novel Life Insurance of the Gods and contributes both articles and short stories to a variety of websites. On a bad day, he takes himself far too seriously and consumes far too little coffee.
To read his blog (if you’re bored or want a good laugh) you can look him up at: http://www.jn-devsite.com/rickstash/
To promote literacy and his bank account (he needs the money!), you can buy Life Insurance of the Gods in paperback at: http://www.lulu.com/shop/rick-austin/life-insurance-of-the-gods/paperback/product-21271344.html
Or download the e-book for your Kindle-thingy at Amazon.com.
MARI WELLS (@Mari_Wells4)
Q. 1
I met Sheila Hall in January, through a mutual friend.We become co-workers at TheDarkerHalf.com and as anyone who knows Sheila can confirm as soon as you know her you quickly become friends. When she told me about The Struggle I was all for it. I had to get some details then I was hung ho!
Q. 2
I sent her a poem and a short story. I also Pimped the whole process.
Q. 3
I had just finished a poem. It was about a woman becoming who she was and not what others wanted her to be. I talked to Sheila about it and she thought it was a perfect fit. The short story I sent her is very similar to my own struggle with insomnia.
Q. 4
“Creative Symbiosis” was the second reason I was a part of “The Struggle” the first was to help out my friend. I think “Creative Symbiosis” is a great idea. As writers we all find ourselves in moments of struggle or need. This organisation will help those writers.
Q. 5
Absolutely fun and amazing!
ALY MORLOCKQuestion 1:
The instigator of this amazing anthology is Sheila Hall, how do you know Sheila and what was your first reaction when you heard about her plan to create an anthology involving authors from around the world?
I’ve worked with Sheila before with The Darker Half project, and I’ve always enjoyed working with her, so when I heard about the anthology, I first felt insanely honored to be included, and sent back an immediate ‘yes’. Truly I think that her idea to help writers by allowing writers to do what they do best is fantastic, and there really isn’t a better way around the issue at hand.
Question 2:
Did you submit an entry for the anthology or were you involved in another part of the publishing process?
I submitted a short story called ‘Aftereffects’ for the anthology.
Question 3:
Every day life brings with it its own struggles, how did you decide what to write or why did you get involved?
It was actually insanely difficult to think of an idea. As a writer that writes mostly trauma-based hardships, I felt as if everything I wrote kept on trailing too far over the line between ‘struggles’ and ‘torture’. It wasn’t until a friend of mine brought up the idea of writing the trauma and then writing the struggle afterwards that the idea for ‘Aftereffects’ popped into my head.
Question 4:
This book is to raise funds and awareness of ‘Creative Symbiosis’ a non-profit organization helping writers in need, can you describe your thoughts on this venture and where you would like to see it progress?
My favorite part of this idea is how it’s a double-edged sword of positive action. On the one hand you have the actual raising of money to help artists with basics like food, and shelter, and basic human necessities. And on the other you have the publicity of many authors that may have not been heard of otherwise, giving them something that really is invaluable as well. It’s not a freebie, or a handout, nor is it a plea for donations. It’s a product that we have created together that someone can choose to pay for and, therefore, support people in need and that’s what I think makes the idea special.
Question 5:
In four words, can you sum up your experience of being involved with Sheila and the amazing writers and artists involved in The Struggle Anthology’s creation?
One amazing innovative opportunity
LILY LUCHESI (@LilyLuchesi)Question 1: The instigator of this amazing anthology is Sheila Hall, how do you know Sheila and what was your first reaction when you heard about her plan to create an anthology involving authors from around the world?
I “met” Sheila via Twitter, I believe she saw me on Robert Zimmerman’s WordPress blog and we followed each other. I found her quite talented.
I was intrigued, excited and honored to be asked. As I am a struggling indie author/poet myself, I was happy to comply with a poem that meant a lot to me, personally, and that would contribute to a great cause.
Question 2: Did you submit an entry for the anthology or were you involved in another part of the publishing process?
I submitted a poem titled “Aftermath”, which was about my (still ongoing) ordeal with post-traumatic stress disorder due to my being inside my home as it was set on fire, and then being homeless after watching it burn.
I am grateful I’m alive and hope that it helped someone else going through a difficult time.
Question 3: Every day life brings with it its own struggles, how did you decide what to write or why did you get involved?
As I explained above, the arson fire destroyed my home and shattered my mind. I’d had this poem written for almost three years and this was the perfect place to publish it, in my mind.
I’ve been through homelessness and joblessness and still, to today, suffer from anxiety, PTSD and depression.
Other writers’ have helped me, so I hope that my work helped someone.
Question 4: This book is to raise funds and awareness of ‘Creative Symbiosis’ a non-profit organisation helping writers in need, can you describe your thoughts on this venture and where you would like to see it progress?
I think that this is a wonderful undertaking. Musicians and even actors have funds set up to help them along, so I’m glad to see one started for authors, as this is a difficult business to make a living in.
I hope to see it grow in the future and even have bigger authors/poets help out with fundraising for every author having a hard time making ends meet while trying to make their dreams come true.
Question 5: In four words, can you sum up your experience of being involved with Sheila and the amazing writers and artists involved in The Struggle Anthology’s creation?
Gratified, happy, hopeful & blessed.
Lily Luchesi is a published poet & aspiring novelist, who’s been composing prose and poetry since she was three.With a love of words, her only goal is to spread enjoyment of a similar sort with her future works.
THE BOGFATHER (@mojonathan73)
Question 1:
In four words, can you sum up your experience of being involved with Sheila and the amazing writers and artists involved in The Struggle Anthology’s creation?
PETER DAVIS PARKER (@highwulf)Question 1:
The instigator of this amazing anthology is Sheila Hall, how do you know Sheila and what was your first reaction when you heard about her plan to create an anthology involving authors from around the world?
A1: Sheila is a good and close friend & my initial reaction to the anthology was it’s a great idea, good luck & I’ll help any way I can.
Question 2:
Did you submit an entry for the anthology or were you involved in another part of the publishing process?
A2: I did submit an entry (Struggle of Head and Heart)
Question 3:
Every day life brings with it its own struggles, how did you decide what to write or why did you get involved?
A3: I was going through bad grief at the time so I was told that I should write a letter to the deceased to help me, the poem sort of evolved from that.
Question 4:
This book is to raise funds and awareness of ‘Creative Symbiosis’ a non-profit organisation helping writers in need, can you describe your thoughts on this venture and where you would like to see it progress?
A4: I think it to be a wonderful venture as all of us writers & even artists have been in need at one time or another and it’s good to have something in place for when it happens to other up and coming writers & god forbid, ourselves, again.
Question 5:
In four words, can you sum up your experience of being involved with Sheila and the amazing writers and artists involved in The Struggle Anthology’s creation?
A5: invigorating, honoured, hungry, prepared
What an amazing group you all are.
xxx Hugs Galore xxx
a great article & interview. Is good to get an insight into the incredible writers involved in creating The Struggle anthology
Thanks Peter, I still keep going back to The Struggle and have to keep pinching myself that I was involved. Happy New Year when it comes 🙂