My Alphabet

Ruth Hartley Storytelling, Children's Stories, Education, Reading, Writing Process4 Comments

ABCD EFG HIJK LMNOP QRS TUV WXYZ A Bright Child who could Read at 5 I couldn’t Pronounce the Sounds I’d never Heard Just because the Desks were Full I was sent up a Grade from Class One To Where the Kids were Big and Bold. But I was much too Young

International Albinism Awareness Day

Ruth HartleyChildren's Stories, Family, Human rights, Identity, Southern Africa, The Colourless Child, ZambiaLeave a Comment

I’m writing a new story titled The Colourless Child. It’s taking me on a new journey and I’m making new discoveries. This Sunday 13th June is the United Nations International Albinism Awareness Day and the theme is Strength Beyond all Odds When I lived in Zambia I taught art at the International School and this wonderful photo by Ian Murphy […]

The Booklaunch of When We Were Wicked

Ruth HartleyBook Launch, Memoir, Politics, Southern Africa, When I Was Bad, When We Were Wicked6 Comments

When We Were Wicked My new short story and short memoir collection, When We Were Wicked has been published this January 2021 during the pandemic lockdown. How on earth could I organise a book launch for it? This is what happened: Celebration online, in print, and in person! Here is the first answer – Booklaunch magazine! I discovered Booklaunch through […]

White Woman, Black Nationalists – Diana Mitchell’s Memoir

Ruth HartleyColonialism, Freedom Fighters, Human rights, Memoir, Politics, Racism, Southern Africa, Visual Arts, Zambia2 Comments

Diana Mitchell – an important Zimbabwean journalist and archivist I was delighted to be told of Diana Mitchell’s memoir and bought it immediately. Its 300 pages are densely packed with Diana’s personal and political life over the period when Rhodesia became Zimbabwe. It isn’t a quick read for me – every page contains so much that relates to my life […]

The colour of light and the rainbow

Ruth HartleyApartheid, Colonialism, Creativity, Race, Racism, Visual ArtsLeave a Comment

What made the Europeans:- the French, the British and the Germans and the rest so successful at building their empires? What made them so cruel in the execution of their power? Was it that thin epidermal layer that covered their bodies yet provided minimal pigmentation protection? Did their skin colouration make them evil? Did it make them successful? Technology and […]