Garden Parties and Earthquakes
I was interviewed by TV1 yesterday and they asked me about the significance of the damage to the house. I only had this realisation – that the earthquake functioned in the same way that a Mansfield story did – after they switched off the cameras. Dammit, I always do that! The best thoughts come to me in retrospect. Maybe that’s why I’m a writer – because I can never think of the right thing to say on the spot; I need time to consider my words. On the spot, words swarm out of my mouth like bees, complaining because a brick wall has fallen on their hive. I seem to have no control over them, and no memory of what I said afterwards. Anyway, I will post a link when it comes to hand!
Hey, in good news, Mansfield and Me has made the Ockham long list for illustrated non-fiction. Send all your good luck vibes so that I make it onto the shortlist too!
LET ME BE FRANK 
I don’t know what to do in an earthquake either, I think it was because I was brainwashed into standing in doorways when I was young and so can’t get my mind around new fangled advice like drop cover and something arother (sometimes known as or other)
Congratulations Sarah, well done on the long list.
I walk past Katherine Mansfield’s house most days. It’s so odd to see the daylight where the warm brick wall used to be. Thanks for telling your story, it’s put things into a different context and one I like.
Fingers and toes are crossed for the short list.
Yes, it seems very strange!
Sending good vibes for your book for the Ockhams – enjoyed reading about your experience in the earthquake and the whole under the door versus duck, cover, hold – it seems the door frame thing is no longer the thing to do.
Thanks, Maggie!