The Children of Violence

Ruth HartleySouthern AfricaLeave a Comment

Martha Quest The sky is clean, the moon twisted and the temperature zero. Outdoors I would freeze and die. Here in my study, I think of Doris Lessing and the five novels that make up Children of Violence. When I read the first book, Martha Quest, I had the frightening sense that Lessing was writing me into existence and I […]

Reflections on reflecting screens

Ruth Hartley Storytelling, Art Process, Books by Ruth Hartley, Creativity, Imagination, Power, Reading, Visual Arts, Writing ProcessLeave a Comment

The stories we write or tell about ourselves come from within us. Now in lockdown, we turn to a screen and a digital image to make contact with people. Videophones and Skype seemed normal – I looked at you looking at me. I was still inside myself and our gaze was shared. When I Zoom to the “Screen” to be […]