Author Carmel Bird delighted a packed room of around 30 people on Monday 2 March, in an event hosted by the Maldon Athenaeum Library. She spoke about her writing processes and her inspirations, going back as far as her childhood.

She described how, after observing a tragedy when she was eight years old, “something stirred” and it became obvious that writing was her true purpose. Carmel said: “I couldn’t do anything about it but I could do something with it.” She talked about writing as a way of “delving into the meaning of things,” even if it is not always possible to arrive at an answer.

During the event, which was followed by a convivial morning tea, Carmel read her elegantly illustrated children’s book about a shy cat called Arabella and held a generous raffle to give away copies. The audience laughed at Carmel’s portrayal of a dying cockroach (a grandmother and a matriarch!) and mourned with a protagonist who had lost her tightly wound mother many years before. Carmel Bird’s short stories demonstrate wonderful imagination, empathy and humour.

It was clear that Carmel enjoys speaking and engaging with an audience; she named some of her favourite authors (Nabokov, Martin Amis) and asked about local writing groups. In fact Carmel admitted that she even came prepared to manage disruptions; when somebody coughed she said: “Have you got a cough lolly? Because I have! I carry Strepsils for the audience, just in case.”

Carmel created a joyous and comfortable atmosphere and surely everyone who attended left feeling inspired to either read one of her books or try their hand at writing.

This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 7 March 2025.