It was in Africa that I became a professional writer. And it was writing for children like Zaina that spurred me to begin. It seemed to me, that unlike many British young people, Kenyan kids were desperate to go to school and, once there, strove to do their utmost to make something of their lives. I was cross, too, at the then lack of contemporary local fiction that showed young Kenyans as heroes, and in the kinds of situations they could identify with. Then I found that many of the stories I wrote for African children also worked for a European readership, or at least for those who were keen to find out what life was really like in the parts of African that I visited and lived in. And now, all these years later, and living back in England, these are still the things that drive me to write.
Tish Farrell 
That’s an awesome example of motivation.
Thank you very much š
Marvellous, you are an inspiration, Tish…
That is a very lovely compliment, Sue. Thank you.
š
I am so pleased to learn this about you. Such a rich history. Thank you..Janet.
š
I am going to check these out!
That’s very sweet of you, Stephen.
Very interesting to learn about what makes you tick, Tish. Love the photo image.
Cheers, Sylvia. Thank you. I do often wonder how I tick though š
African children really value any opportunities they get in education.
Absolutely they do, Gilly. There’s a lot of very super bright children across the continent who are missing out on one.
Wanting to help others; what better inspiration could there be. š
Thank you, Su.
A beautiful shot of Zaina, and an inspiring account of your inspiration. You’ve written quite a library. In Australia there are an increasing number of good books with indigenous protagonists, and the indigenous voice, but that’s a fairly recent development. I think it’s important to see yourself and your life in fiction (as well as other people and their lives) – not something that happened for me as a girl in 1950s Australia either. Now the protagonist only has to be aging, and I can recognise myself!
You put your finger on it, Meg – not only re aging protagonists and shortages thereof, but it IS about people’s voices being absent from the story. It’s good to hear that such voices are emerging more in Australia. There is so much to be gained from listening to what the marginalized have to say, and as the African saying goes, ‘Only stories have the power to change the human heart.’
What a wonderful inspiration. I am sure that you have many friends to whom you are an inspiration yourself… I remember as a child, learning to love certain writers, and to feel a connection to them that transcended space and time.
That’s just it, Shimon, being taken out of oneself and one’s own limited preoccupations, and seeing a whole new vista of possibilities. It’s opening the doors and windows onto the world.
I love that you, that there is someone, anyone, writing for these kids, about their own lives and culture instead of force feeding them the “western ideal”, as if that’s the only truth, and the only way to live. Kudos!
Alison
Yes, that’s what annoyed me – the wholesale imposition of western culture as if it’s in some way SUPERIOR. Thank you for your kind words, Alison.
Good for you, Tish, and good for all those who read your books!
janet
Thank you, Janet.
Thank you for sharing the source of your inspiration.
Well thank you for keep coming here to read my posts, Takami š
It’s my pleasure. And thanks for the inspiration!
You have written so many books Tish!
Oh not so many, Noel. How are you over there at my inspiration’s sourceland. I’ve just been reading Meja Mwangi’s Going Down River Road. Have you read it? It is not a pretty story, but it is wonderfully written. The sad thing that struck me was that in 40 years the landscapes he describes have not much changed for N’bi’s urban poor. Wondered what you thought.
I have not read it but I will try and create time for it.
I am well Tish. Hope you too are.
I am well too thank you, though a little stiff from too much digging in my Wenlock shamba.
I have not been to the shamba in about 5 or more years. But my younger days, going to the shamba during the holiday season was not open to debate. Take a rest, maybe some uji and you should be good
I will do just that, Noel, though can only approximate the uji with some Shropshire oats.
Oats can be a substitute.
Have a pleasant day good friend
Very inspirational Tish, What a lovely young girl. Do you still write books?
Yes, indeed. Most recent books are for reluctant teen readers in the UK e.g. Mantrap and Mau Mau Brother. I’m working on other stories too, albeit a bit slowly.
And you still have time for blogging, the allotment and preserving all your goodies!!! Well done, I’m impressed š
Well things do get a bit chaotic – on all those fronts. I might do better if I did one thing at a time.
Ah yes but I don’t think life would be so interesting…
*Smile* You’re quite special, Miss T.
š
Tish- You are an inspiration. Your motivations for writing are admirable and kids all over the world need positive role models and encouragement. Thanks.
Thank you, Jane.
VERY COOL…
I think I could have guessed at your inspiration, Tish, but what I think is wonderful is that all these later you still have it. š
It’s not quite so ‘hot’ as it once was, but yes, I’m still writing š
‘years’ š