In common with many writers, I've been writing on and off (mostly off) for a very long time: plays, poems, songs (the magnificent ballad of Jim the Pirate, for example, written when I was 8 years old and featuring several guitar chords), short stories, novels; and several things that frankly defy description.
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BiographyFor those who like to know a few biographical details: I live in England, have sat a lot of exams, and spend a lot of time wondering.
For those who want a bit more: my first degree was Archaeology and Prehistory (University of Sheffield). I have Masters degrees in Social Policy and Planning (London School of Economics), and Creative Writing and Personal Development (University of Sussex), and postgraduate certificates in Theatre Stage Management (Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama - or, if you prefer, the College of Mucus and Trauma), and Book Repair and Restoration (from what used to be the London College of Printing, then was the London College of Communication, and I've rather lost track of what it might be called now). If I had more money, I'd probably do more courses. I enjoy learning (not the first bit, where you know absolutely nothing: I like the second bit onwards, where you know a bit and then a bit more and then ...) but I'm not good at everything. For example, I have Physics 'A' level but struggled with the multiple choice papers: I could always give really good reasons why all 5 answers might be right. I routinely got 20% on those papers. Being creative in science wasn't much appreciated at that stage in my learning ... |
Working life
I've worked professionally in the theatre, in the voluntary sector, and for national charities and think tanks, but for a long time I've been a freelance researcher, evaluator, writer, trainer, speaker, and facilitator. Most of my work's been around health, housing, and care, for/with people in later stages of life.
Except in the theatre. That involved things like doing a full length version of Great Expectations in small arts venues with a cast of five; sobering up at least one actor before studio theatre perfomances of a children's musical; travelling round the castles and abbeys of Wales with an open-air Shakespeare production, hoping (in vain) that it wouldn't rain (or, if it did, the audience wouldn't want to stay. No chance. They arrived in full wet weather gear, every time); or turning up at village hall after village hall across the wealthier parts of rural southern England - each of which was being voluntarily run by (different) retired Colonels (or so it seemed. That they were all Colonels, I mean; not that they weren't different Colonels). |
Publications/ Broadcast
I've had a lot of non-fiction published - reports, factsheets, and articles in particular. I've also had 3 factual books published (two editions of Your Rights To Health Care, and one of Moving On From Community Care), and am a member of the Society of Authors. There's more about my non-fiction writing on the Consultancy website.
When I worked for national organisations I'd quite often be interviewed on the radio - for the BBC World Service, or on BBC Radio 4's consumer programmes such as You and Yours, and Moneybox; even The Today Programme (once!). And in the dim and distant past I was on the telly a few times - usually on the news, or one-off 'specials' about care in later life. I was even on 'Kilroy' once, discussing paying for care. (I know!) My great claim to fame - as far as I'm concerned - is that, when I was 11, I wrote a winning story for a BBC TV Jackanory programme competition. It was broadcast, read by Kenneth Williams. You can read it on this website. I still think it's a great story. |
© Lorna Easterbrook 2016-2020 All Rights Reserved
Top image: Front cover for 'Book of Nonsense' made by Lorna: leather and fabric on leather (with apologies to vegan readers).
Photo, far right: Assorted pens, some of which actually work, and an alarming number of rulers.
Photos, left and centre: some burglar or other (or possibly a pirate), claiming to be Lorna.
