Julia Darling
in the Post

I've just read your blog, and am delighted to hear the shrinkage news!

It was lovely to see you yesterday, and I enjoyed your play. It was full of humour and pathos, two things which I always think go well together. It was nicely timed, too. I wanted the eye patch lady to be my auntie.

Right then, late to bed again. Each evening I have good intentions, and then suddenly it's 1am again, and I'm still not in bed. Tonight was caused by a documentary on zoophilia, of all things.

Here's to shrinkage!

Clare Sudbery
www.claresudbery.co.uk

Hello Julia,

I mail you infrequently as I know from logging onto your website that you are very busy getting on with your life. And oh how I deeply admire you for doing so with such resolve, dignity, bravery, and fun!!

You have gained the love and respect of so very many people, for your imaginative, and vividly descriptive novels, and your beautiful poignantly, and often delicately humorous poetry, that can be literally breathtaking in that awesome way words can touch us.

I have been a follower/reader of your website ever since I attended one of your workshops in October 2001, and still use the list of 'writing ideas' you gave us all when the words won't form...

Sudden Collapses in Public Places is so authentic! You write with such realism and honesty. I can identify with your poems because I was a nurse for 20 years, a hospital social worker for five, and went on to manage a team of care managers working with older people for the last 20 years. Now I'm retired and I can curl up and read/write when I need/want to.

Congratulations on the video diary on Inside Out. It moved me, where do you find that inner strength to be so liberal when you are sometimes feeling so ill?

I think of you as one of life's valiant warriors, you are.

With love and thoughts

Maria

Hi Julia

I caught about ten minutes of your drama on Radio 4 whilst driving in the car last Friday. I missed the beginning and the end of it so had no idea who had written it. So, when I got home I researched it on the BBC web site so I could listen again. This in turn led me to your web site and then your blog.

So, here I am writing to you, slightly bleary eyed, to tell you how engrossed I have been reading the whole log after my night shift. (Much to the annoyance of the family who have been somewhat neglected as a result)!! I am amazed at your courage, not only in dealing with cancer, but by being able to share it with all of us out here in cyberspace.

I felt I had found a soul mate! I too live in the north east and have two daughters, although younger than yours being 13 and 10. We have a fondness for the same comfort foods, particularly porridge! Most of the books you mention as having read are just the books I have read and loved. In particular Anne Tyler, Anita Shreve and Annie Proulx (I devoured That Old Ace in the Hole) I wonder if you also like Helen Dunmore (novels and poems), Barbara Trapido and Carol Shields? I have recently finished The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time and thought it was fantastic. I have rediscovered my knitting skills lately after abandoning them when the children came along. I am eager to hear how you get on with your blanket.

I am not familiar with any of your work other than what I heard on the radio on Friday, but I intend to change that very soon and will be at the ARC for your New Manifesto in April. How scary being interviewed by Jenny M, I thought you gave a good account of what you are about in the short time allotted.

Looking forward to keeping in touch with what you are up to through the blog, a pat on the back to you web site designer, very easy to navigate and great links, long may it last.

Well I'm sure you are very busy so I'll leave it here (although I feel I could rattle on endlessly).

Yours truly,
Amanda

When trying to decide which Arvon Starting To Write course to go on, earlier in the year, I decided to look up some of the tutors on the web. The entries on your website were shining and zinging and so I booked on to your course. I follow your diary with interest and admiration.

It is not long till July 5th. Although the course is for beginners, I suspect people will arrive with copious manuscripts stuffed into their luggage. I am trying not to worry that I have written very very little, have not found my burning issues and, at the age of 60, am relying on an instinct that I could be inspired to use language creatively. Simultaneously I wish to ditch my full time administrative job and find something which will be stimulating and will make space for writing.

I have enjoyed reading The Taxi Driver's Daughter and Crocodile Soup.

Looking forward to meeting you -

Jean Riley

I just wanted to tell you about what I have been doing. I am currently on an access course which will enable me to start university in September. I am a mature student with three children between the ages of 8-13 years. I had to complete a thematic study in the first semester.The two novels I chose to compare were Crocodile Soup and The Taxi Driver's Daughter. I loved both. I am now having to do a individual seminar presentation on a novel and I have chosen to do mine on The Taxi Driver's Daughter. I wanted you to know that I have been inspired by the novel. The tree of shoes was so magical.

I had to do some research to find out things about the author. When I started my research on you I felt very saddened by what I read about your fight with cancer, but the more I read about you,I realised that I shouldn't feel sadness, but admiration for you.You truly are an inspiration. I hope you are feeling at peace at the moment. I can't wait to see Taxi Driver's Daughter on the stage and to read your next novel!

Kim Cliff

Just thought you would like to know that, when Stella Duffy (Singling out the Couples) was asked at Beverley's Readers Day what her all time favourite book is, she said Taxi Driver's Daughter by Julia Darling. James Nash agreed and said what a fine writer you are.

Love from Sue Lozynskyj
(Beverley Workshop The Poetry Cure)