A love letter to the planet
A Love Letter to the Planet – and the people on it is just that. The thoughts and responses, both creative and reflective, of a writer passionate about the world we live in and the impact of individuals and events. Tony Earnshaw responds to both global issues and happenings closer to home, explores the role of the arts, the importance of community and the encouragement we can give to each other. Along the way he manages to rewrite fairy stories for the modern world, bemoan the scarcity of tea shops in the late afternoon, write movingly about family, celebrate music and theatre, and comment on wars, politics and matters of faith.
Collated and published in response to demand from readers of his weekly blog, this is a thought-provoking collection of writings which will move the reader to laughter and tears and will challenge assumptions, and provoke thought, with each item accompanied by accessible poetry in which the writer shows his mastery of a range of styles and techniques.
Paths and digressions
Poetry specialist publisher Dempsey & Windle opted to publish Tony’s new collection under their Vole imprint. Here’s what initial readers had to say.
“I absolutely loved this collection of poems. Diverse and refreshing, at times sad, often joyful, but always thought-provoking. From the elegant Casclerigg to the hard–hitting Abdullah, the provocative Beyond to the heartbreaking I encountered death early, and the humorous Fox to the shocking Duck Shooting – Paths and Digressions is a remarkable collection of poetry, taking the reader on a journey through fife, love, religion, policies, and ultimately humanity. And the clever opening haikus are an added bonus!”
Steven Hayward is the author of the Debt Goes Bad series of thriller novels, of which Mickey Take and Jammed Up are available now, with more in the pipeline. He is also the proprietor of Eden Park Publishing, whose first release was Michael Tappenden’s Pegasus to Paradise: Trauma, survival & the power
of love in post-war Britain.
‘This is a lovely collection of poetry divided into six sections. Each one asks, What’s it all about? Tony Earnshaw paints moving life pictures using simple direct language that examine childhood, faith, war, wealth and all the idiosyncrasies of modern life. These are poems to read again and again, each time digging deeper into how little we actually know about who we are and why we are here.“
Lynn Ruth Miller’s latest book is GETTING THELAST LAUGH
Blessed Assurance
What's next for Tony Earnshaw?
Coming soon:
A Love Letter to the Planet – and the people on it is a response to demand. Readers of writer Tony Earnshaw’s weekly blog kept asking for the book of the blogs and here it is. Topics are covered with a light touch and humour as well as passion and opinion and reflect a real love for the world we live in, and the people he meets. These short pieces range from cycling across Kenya to walking the mountains of Cumbria, from world events to the vagaries and idiosyncrasies of the English countryside, and include a section of rewritten fairy tales, musings on the seasons, memories of Covid, and shared passions for the arts.
Tony Earnshaw is working on another novel, featuring a couple of the characters from Blessed Assurance. Here’s the gist…
The Devil’s Interval
The next book in the series, featuring Jonny Nower and Tom Raistrick from Blessed Assurance.
Redundant, early retired or just burnt out, five old friends seize the opportunity to dig out their instruments, get practising, and form a rehearsal band. A jazz band. Some of them played trad as teenagers but now they’re focused on swing and bebop. The American songbook.
Backed by the Nower Foundation and encouraged by Tom Raistrick, they book rehearsal space and expand their reach. Suddenly the rehearsal band is a gigging band. They find a name – the Devil’s Interval. As the five gel, we learn about their back stories and the strengths and weaknesses which go to make them what they are. Will they all survive as a group or will there be drop outs? Will the five be diminished?
Tilly the Tadpole
Tilly The Tadpole is a collaboration between Tony as writer and Katie Brent as artist and sprang out of an experiment in writing poems for children. It was quickly apparent that Tilly was a character worthy of a book and would that this would need to have visual as well as verbal appeal. Katie Brent was the obvious choice of illustrator. Tony and Katie have worked together before – on ‘Bull Run’ and ‘From Cradle to Grave’ (see Poetry page).
Tilly
Tilly the tadpole is a sympathetic character – a youngster frustrated by the restrictions of youth and keen to explore further afield. As Tilly grows into a frog, a wider world becomes accessible, but the pond remains home. Told in rhyming couplets, Katie Brent’s wonderful realisation of Tilly at each stage of development will enable young readers to identify with our hero and understand both the tug of exploration and the security of home.
Tilly is available from Amazon and all good bookshops…
ISBN 9781780881300
Talented Artist
Tony was delighted, as always, to have such a talented artist to work with. Katie has brought Tilly to life, in her various stages of growth. Katie’s background provides a good grounding for this project. She has produced many artworks for a London-based art consultancy as well as holding her first solo exhibition in Bridport last year. Katie has also had a number of private commissions working mainly in fast-drying oils. She has taught art at the local secondary school and is currently teaching art full-time at the secondary school in Beaminster.