Writing happier endings...
A wee bit about me...
On my 40th birthday, I had my first symptoms of what would be later diagnosed as Multiple Sclerosis. Most of us are happily minding our own business, working hard at our careers and raising a family, with plans and dreams for the future, until something unexpected arrives; uninvited and unwelcome.
I was a Group Health and Safety Adviser for a multi-disciplinary engineering company when MS struck. I also was a volunteer advanced First Aid Officer, and taught First Aid and Defib Operators courses.
My mobility became affected, and fatigue and neuropathic pain arrived, as more lesions appeared on my brain and spine. I could no longer do the job I'd worked hard at, and loved so much.
I was devasted.
But we're only given one life, and I made a conscious decision to find something to keep me mentally interested and challenged. I decided to change the two innocuous letters 'M' and 'S' from meaning Multiple Sclerosis, to offering an opportunity to tell 'My Stories.'
Years later, I now have secondary progressive MS, and my promise to myself is that as my physical abilities makes my world smaller, my writing will allow me to create a bigger world, filled with stories.
I will always try to write happier endings...
Lorraine Johnston
Some availability for talks and workshops.. For enquiries email writerlorrainejohnston@gmail.com
'Later Tartan Gator'
Illustrated by Preston Asevedo.
LTG was my first children's book and it supported funds for two Charites; St.Thomas Community Health Center in New Orleans www.stthomaschc.org in it's 1st edition, and Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance in it's 2nd edition. https://www.scaa.org.uk/
'MacMoley Moves Home'
Illustrated by Jane Cornwell
MacMoley Moves Home supported the Scottish Wildlife Trust from sales of each copy sold. www.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk
'Whit of Whiteleys Wood'
Illustrated by Mandy Sinclair
I was delighted to write this book and gift it to Whiteleys Retreat, and all proceeds of the sale of this book goes to helping this wonderful Charity. www.whiteleysretreat.com
The Pocket Anthology
Illustrated by Jane Cornwell
This is a collection of seven short stories from seven contributors, each with their own unique voice, that you can dip into and devour.
One story will take you somewhere and the next will hurl you somewhere entirely different.
Produced from a group of new creative writers, collated and edited by Lorraine Johnston, and gifted to The Friends of Dundonald Castle (SC031541). Copies of the book are available at Dundonald Visitor Centre and online, and 100% of all proceeds go to the charity. https://dundonaldcastle.org.uk/
Copies available at Dundonald Gift Shop or via Amazon below;
'Sky Painting' is a wonderful anthology written and produced by members of Strathkelvin Writers Group.
Light and dark, tender and cutting, funny and heart breaking — the stories, poems, non-fiction and sketches in this new anthology offer a glimpse into the rich seam of creativity that is the Strathkelvin Writers’ Group. With contributions from over 40 members, these pages will take you to foreign lands, to times past, present and future, and allow you to delve deep inside the minds of a host of compelling characters — the loving, the grieving, the criminal, the mad and even the downright dangerous. There is something here for everyone and you can get your copy by clicking below;
'Walter's Wonky Web'
Illustrated by Jane Cornwell
WWW is an award winning story of The Scottish Association of Writers and is available at Foggie Toddle Bookshop in Wigtown.
https://foggietoddlebooks.co.uk/ or via Amazon below;
Walter's Wonky Web
Foggie Toddle Edition.
Walter's Wonky Web
Published by Second Sands Publishing
£6.99
Encourages children to believe that their best is more than good enough.
Great for reading and story-telling.
Has delightful and engaging illustrations.
Includes interesting facts about spiders.
Walter's friends all help out, including his imaginary friend.
Shows kindness and encouragement.