Roundtable Wednesday

Welcome to yet another edition of Roundtable Wednesday.

Keep in mind that somewhere down the road I may call on

one of you to take part in this, so if you see me

knocking on your door, you'll know what to expect.

This month the focus is on a young girl from Australia.

Friendly, open, and a treat to know.

After you read this, you will see what I mean.

Please give a warm welcome to:

HelenaTherese.

Can you shed some light about yourself that other people here can get a feel for who you are?

I’m a fifteen year old author and musician from Australia looking to spread some cheer in this somewhat depressed modern world. I’ve been writing since I was six and, while it is currently just a hobby, I hope to publish a novel someday.

Writer’s write, it’s what we do, but what do you see as your strong point, or motivation to write?

I want to impact other lives with my words. I want to make them smile or cry or laugh. I want to change the way they look at life. I think it’s incredible how convincing even just one carefully crafted sentence can be, and that someone as young and boring as myself has the potential to change lives simply through a lot of black lines on white paper.

The very first thing you ever wrote, if you remember it, how did it come about?

I think it was a short fairytale written in a small pink covered notebook when I was about six years old. At that time I was obsessed with reading Enid Blyton’s stories and my style was heavily based on hers. I think fairytales were a good foundation for me and taught me how enjoyable writing can be. I still have that notebook and it has since been filled with more embarrassing short stories (and an awful lot of spelling errors too :=).

Who are your favorite authors and please; give us a few names?

I am very fond of Henryk Sienkiewicz, Robert Hugh Benson, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Kate Seredy, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens, Baroness Orczy, and Corrie Ten Boom. I’m sure there are half a million others I could add to the list, though.

Any favorite songs/artists you listen to that set a tone for you when writing?

I love anything by Jim Croce, particularly Time in a Bottle, and I Got a Name, and I enjoy some Billy Joel songs such as Honesty, Piano Man, and She’s Always a Woman. Lately I’ve been listening to Mozart’s Lacrimosa on theremin (which has got to be the most amazing instrument created). Some other random songs I love are old ones like Toselli’s Serenata, Swedish Rhapsody, and Estrellita.

Do you have any literary work on tap for publication, or have you been published?

I’ve had my poem “Rainbow” published in a small online magazine, but that’s all thus far.

Is there any one particular book you have read you would recommend others to read?

A book that I found very interesting was The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn … though it’s rather heavy, it’s worth the read. I will cheat, though, by adding another - The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom.

When you aren’t writing, what do you do that pays the bills?

Being only fifteen, I thankfully have no bills to pay; but before Covid, I would go out on the street to busk (playing music on the street for people). I loved seeing people’s reactions to the music and I earned enough to buy myself a nice shiny banjo.

Why did you join Prose and how long have you been a Proser?

I joined five months ago (I can’t believe how fast that time flew by) because I was desperate to share my writing and get valuable feedback. I thought it wouldn’t hurt to give it a trial. I’m not turning back!

When you hear the term “less is more” … what is the first thing that comes to mind?

Well… sometimes the less you say, the more impactful your words are. I could spend hours writing a persuasive essay to try and convince you of something, or I could simply say what’s necessary in one sentence without sounding preachy. That’s how I interpret it, anyhow.

Are there places as far as social media accounts, perhaps your own website you would like Proser’s to be aware of where you can be found?

Not currently. I don’t even know how Instagram works ;)

Favorite hobbies?

Ooh, I love playing my guitar and violin, singing, fishing, eating (not sure if that’s a hobby, but I do consider myself to be something of a food enthusiast) and keeping a journal.

What is the single most thing you like?

The sea. I love staying in little seaside towns, fishing off jetties, sitting on the beach, searching for creatures in rock pools, and writing about it all. Can’t say much for my swimming skills, sadly, though I do love being in the water.

What one thing do you really dislike?

Modern pop music. One day I shall have to write an essay on this subject. I can’t stand the lyrics and autotune. Perhaps I’m just old fashioned.

With Covid surrounding us, what advice would you want to share with people?

Quit binge-watching YouTube and Netflix. Do something worthwhile like learning a new language or working on a passion project so that by the time lockdowns are just a past nightmare, you’ll have results and peace of mind knowing you didn’t waste valuable time.

If you could offer up one piece of advice for other writer’s, what would it be?

You have a story to tell so tell it; don’t stifle it just because you don’t believe it’s good enough. Take your time, be honest with yourself, and write because you enjoy writing.

Lastly, your favorite quote?

“There is joy in self-forgetfulness.

So I try to make the light in others' eyes my sun,

the music in others' ears my symphony,

the smile on others' lips my happiness.”—Helen Keller

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Thank ye kindly for being a part of Roundtable Wednesday,

HelenaTherese. This was a treat!

Now, as with past Proser’s, she has no idea which of her

writings will be featured here.

So please enjoy and check out some things she has written!

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Rainbow

Violet is a humble flower, hidden in the shade.

Indigo is ripened grapes, coloured with their age.

Orange is a candle flame, flickering in the breeze.

Red is a little poppy, pretty as you please.

Blue is the ocean, spraying cold and wet.

Yellow is the sun, as it rises, as it sets.

Green is the grass as it sways in the field.

Rainbow is the symbol of a promise fully sealed.