Breathing Books: Series I

By Robyn Gardiner and Emily Greenall

Breathing Books is a final year University of Cumbria project, that consists of a compilation of short, autobiographical stories, produced by real people, about their personal experiences.Every so often, we are presented with moments that set up camp within our souls forever. These stories are filled with these moments. You never truly know what you mean to someone or how you have influenced them, but these stories have been an opportunity for the authors to write about the people in their lives. The beauty of real stories from real people are that they are infinite, whilst I am writing this there are 7,380,479,070 people in the world, over seven billion people creating new stories every day! What an absolutely terrifying yet amazing thought. Each story is a bite sized journey!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781326481858

Book preview

Breathing Books: Series I

Breathing Books: Series I

Robyn Gardiner & Emily Greenall

Copyright © 2015 by Gardiner & Greenall Ltd

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: 2015

ISBN 978-1-326-48185-8

Gardiner & Greenall Limited

Lancashire

[e-mail]

www.gardinerandgreenall.blogspot.co.uk

Ordering Information:

Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, educators, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the above listed address.

U.S. trade bookstores and wholesalers: Please contact Gardiner & Greenall Ltd

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Introduction

This book has been created as part of a final-year employability project by two students studying English Literature at the University of Cumbria.

English in the World gives students the opportunity to work on a real-life project involving research, problem-solving, and reflection on tasks. The project is entirely planned and carried out by the students themselves with support from their tutor. Many students have used the project to gain more experience in areas they wish to pursue on graduation, whether that be teaching, editing a newspaper, organizing charity events, or working with local cultural organisations. Past students tell us that the distinctive nature of the project has helped them stand out in job interviews or applications - so our students not only can gain academic credit for a project employing and developing the full range of their skills, but also enhance their CVs at the same time.

Dr. Stephen Longstaffe

University of Cumbria

Open Letter from Robyn Gardiner

Dear Reader,

We decided against the traditional book dedications and acknowledgements. We had to really, didn’t we? Because this is not a traditional book. This book has been written with the purpose of taking the reader, and showing them the soul of each writer, not as the world perceives it, but how they see it, warts and all. This is a colloquial piece, and you should try to read it as if it were being said, even though many of the things said in this book, would be too difficult to say out loud.

When Emily and I first discussed our University project, we came up with many ideas. Well, I guess what really happened is I bombarded Emily with millions of ideas and she told me all the ones that would and wouldn’t work. The majority of ideas made her smile or laugh, and a few made her shout ‘no’ at me. I love provoking her to react; be it laughing at me or shouting at me. She can never stay mad at me. She tries desperately, but her sense of humour is too dominant and her heart is too big.

When I first told her that I wanted to get people to talk and share their stories, and make them accessible as literature, so that they never get lost in history, she said ‘let’s do it. If anyone can get people to share their stories, it’s you. You do it all the time anyway. Why not?’ and when I presented her with doubts and questioned how it was possible she said ‘we’ll just make it work’. Every doubt I have had, she has been there to tell me that I am wrong, showing me her detailed research and giving me a plan to follow. She has been the calm at the centre of this tornado, and she has carried a dust pan and brush throughout. 

Emily is right. I do have a habit of drawing information out of people. I love to talk to people. I need to know what makes them tick. I like to understand them. I ask them questions and I paint a picture in my mind of their souls. Everyone is vulnerable. I love to watch their own reactions to the things they recollect, and then I dig a little deeper. Souls are beautiful, tranquil and innocent. I think as humans, we are always fighting to protect our souls; our inner child. Humans are never as beautiful as their souls. People who let their souls shine through are beautiful, but they are vulnerable too. I need to know what makes them tick to defend my own soul.

Every so often, we are presented with moments that set up camp within our souls forever. These stories are filled with these moments. You never truly know what you mean to someone or how you have influenced them, but these stories have been an opportunity for the authors to write about the people in their lives. I am so lucky. I couldn’t possibly mention every person who has changed my life; all have changed it for the better, especially if their actions have meant that they are no longer in my life, because time is precious.

I would like to thank everyone who has written a story for this book. This is not an easy task for anyone, for a multitude of reasons. I’d also like to thank my lecturers and those who have given me a passion for English and life-long learning, particularly Dr. Penelope Bradshaw & Dr. Stephen Longstaffe from the University of Cumbria. I also personally owe thanks to Dr. Kim Wallis, who put up with me at Priestley College, many moons ago. I, of course, need to thank Emily for keeping me and this project together. Finally, I’d like to thank my Husband. He is not only my best friend, my worst enemy and my hero, but he is my biggest fan and I am his.  He is the perfect version of exactly what he was meant to be and so are my sons. All of my happiest moments are connected to you, enough to last a lifetime.

I dedicate this book to the people who have filled my heart with these moments. I dedicate it to each and every writer who have devoted their evenings, lunch breaks and weekends to display their soul, and create moments with you.

Love Robyn

XXx

Open Letter from Emily Greenall

Dear Reader,

I am beginning to feel the pain of our authors. I know exactly what I want to say but struggle to articulate it onto the page. Without a nagging voice in my ear telling me to keep at it I quite possibly would have abandoned this immediately after starting.  It’s absolutely obvious that this project would not be what it is without the dedication of our authors, who have chosen to share their life stories with us and now you. Not just their stories but their emotions, their reactions, their fights to overcome the impossible.

When Robyn first pitched the idea to me I thought she was crazy, well, more than normal. We knew nothing, and arguably still know very little about how to put a book together. What did we have to lose besides what little we had left of our sanity? I’m a pro’s and con’s girl, I have to weigh up the positives against the negatives, but like everything Robyn suggests, I was struggling with the negatives. I don’t know about you but there is something quite spine tingling about knowing a story you’ve read or a film you’ve seen was ‘based on a true story.’ You can’t achieve that feeling any other way. We are all capable of imagining and creating a story but nothing ever compares to those we experience for ourselves.

There have been times throughout this project we’ve felt like giving up, after eight hour days staring at the screen, after debates about punctuation and juggling assignments and life in general we are still going strong. The stories in this book are nothing short of amazing. Every single one of them is so touching nothing else compares. We owe a huge amount of gratitude to everyone that’s contributed to this book. First and foremost to the writers who have opened up their hearts and souls and shared their stories with us, without them this project would not exist.  Secondly, to our lecturers who listened to our idea and encouraged us to run with it. University has absolutely surpassed my expectations and it’s 100% true when people say they are the best days of your life, (admittedly I did not see this at three AM trying to meet those word counts). Next, to our families who have supplied tonnes of cake, tea and words of encouragement. And to Robyn, who drives me insane every single day but has given her all to this project. Without all of you, this book would not exist so thank you.

The beauty of real stories from real people are that they are infinite, whilst I am writing this there are 7,380,479,070 people in the world, over seven billion people creating new stories every day! What an absolutely terrifying yet amazing thought.

We have drunk more tea and eaten more cake than ever could be imagined. We have procrastinated and moaned until we ran out of things to say. We have nagged and driven our authors