Guest Feature – Karen Mooney – Patricia M Osborne

Today I’m delighted to feature poet, Karen Mooney, who is a fellow poet with The Hedgehog Poetry Press. Karen has come along to Patricia’s Pen to talk about her pamphlet, Missing Pieces.

Missing Pieces

Karen Mooney

I was equally delighted and terrified when Mark Davidson, Editor of The Hedgehog Poetry Press, offered me the opportunity to have a poetry pamphlet. I confess to having dragged my feet through a lack of confidence, and it may never have happened but for the repeated interventions and encouragement of Gaynor Kane, with whom I co-wrote Penned In, which was published in 2020.

I’m a latecomer to this writing thing without any formal training unless, of course, I go back to English classes at school, but that’s in the dim and distant past. And on leaving school, I entered local government as a clerical officer; took advantage of part-time education in business studies and human resources, only to retire early due to ill health in 2013 after 32 years of memo, policy and report writing. Not an ideal foundation for creative writing triggered by a life-changing event; my father’s death.

In coming to terms with his death, I reflected on the past, realising that growing up in the era of children being seen and not heard, other circumstances of loss hadn’t actually been addressed. Some had never been spoken of, but stiff upper lips can soften in time. In essence, the pamphlet marks some stepping stones of my life, many of which may resonate with others.

It deals with loss; a baby sister, a school chum, my mother, marriage, miscarriage, father, love, but it has a happy ending. It’s also a recognition that there is a beginning with every end.

I’m delighted to have had some compliments on the book cover as I designed it myself. It’s based on a photograph I took of the sun setting over Strangford Lough. I manipulated the image to represent kintsugi’s gold lustre, which happens to be the final poem.

All proceeds from signed copies will be donated to Marie Curie, the UK’s leading end of life charity. Why? Because endings matter.

Fancy a signed copy and helping Marie Curie – a little taster of what you can expect from Missing Pieces. This is one of the most poignant poetry pamphlets I have read. Have your tissues ready.

Still not convinced? Read Damien B Donnelly’s review on Eat the Storms – if I didn’t already have a copy I’d be racing to get one. A great gift – a great keepsake – and not only that you will be helping Karen’s most deserving charity – Marie Curie.

Order your signed copy from Karen NOW – via Twitter or Facebook – see details below