Cream Tea and Meet Olivia Mulligan

Olivia will be joining us for a fantastic Cream Tea and Meet The Author event. talking all about her poetry collections, Advice From A Stranger, Poems On The Gatepost and her new collection, 10:37.

Poems On The Gatepost: In the first months of 2020, the world came to terms with a virus  that threatened life and society. Extraordinary measures were taken, the  like of which we had not seen before. Airlines ground to a halt as  international travel was stopped. Most countries were forced to  institute draconian steps that had all but essential workers confined to  home in what became known as ‘lockdown’. For those who already carried  the burden of health issues, extra care had to be taken to avoid coming  into contact with anyone who might carry the virus.

Those that could, worked from home. Many of those who could not work,  were furloughed. The internet, and particularly video conferencing,  took on a new dimension. Children were home-schooled. ‘Zoom’ entered our  daily lexicon. Among the myriad ways that people demonstrated their  creativity, some turned to crafts, gardening, painting, sculpting,  dance, singing… Some took up writing and one posted poems on the gate  post.

Advice From A Stranger:   I asked 70 strangers, ‘Please give me a piece of life  advice.’ I used their responses as inspiration to write my next poem.  This poetry collection is the result.

The youngest stranger I asked was six years old. The oldest stranger was eighty-something.

Some were asked in the queue at the supermarket or the post office.  One time I asked the waiter at a restaurant. I also asked Joanne, who  was trying to sell me car insurance over the phone.

My favourite? It’s hard to choose. “Don’t tie your shoelace in a  revolving door” said by a chap called Russell was a corker. “Spend time  with the people you love” said Nicole, aged nine, on a particular day  when I was feeling alone, really pulled on my heartstrings. And then  ‘Make every day count’ said Matt, was a particular fond memory. I met  this stranger by chance in a woodland car park. It was a cold winter’s  day and I had been for a run in the woods. Caked in mud I arrived back  at the car park only to find I had somehow locked my car keys in the  car. He was an incredibly kind man and he drove me to my house and back  to get my spare keys. During the car journey, with conversation flowing,  of course I had to ask him for his life advice.

Available at all good book stores and online in print and digital versions.

When I was younger I was told, ‘don’t talk to strangers.’ Good advice. But on this occasion, I am so glad I did.

Our Cream Tea events are cosy, comfy, and your ticket includes a drink and a cream tea, with a homemade scon