Blogger & Writer Extraordinaire - Kerry Grier

The bloggy world is full of some amazing people!

Kerry is one of those individuals.
Her story is unique.
Her travels and current location exotic.
(Just look at those lions!)

Please welcome Kerry!



Why Write?

I have recently been driven to write by the people and stories I carry within me like so much ballast. I believe it is every human’s right to be seen. My stories are a small way of saying “I See You”.

Teasing and tugging the knots of stories out of people, really listening to what they have to say lays down layer upon layer of proof of our sameness and interdependence. For all the sorrow I have experienced in my work, the courage and humor I have come across makes me feel privileged to be part of this wondrous world.

All my stories so far have been based on true characters or events. I intend to continue with this. I find the layers that make up a story fascinating. Sometimes a pause or an unconscious picking at a piece of imaginary fluff says more than a rush of words.

Writing is a form of sharing that follows the paths of our ancestors. We can learn from each other, our stories setting off sparks of recognition. I like to write the stories of people you walk past every day, the woman who is always complaining at the post office, the quiet man who occupies the seat in the corner of the library.

I like to write the stories that would otherwise go unwritten. Bit by bit I want to reveal the stories of the every day heroes I have met in Africa. “Losing Patience” is one such story. In sharing it with you all out there I hope to have raised awareness about the problems facing the hard working women of Africa.

Stories are great facilitators. They are the friendly person at a party putting people together, introducing like-minded individuals to each other and just knowing they will get along.

I am rapidly learning that as with any craft, writing requires discipline and hard work. It is all very well to gather pretty stones together in a basket but you also need to consider having to dig them out the ground, clean them up and then carry them around to show your friends, even when they get heavy and that basket starts to chafe.

I had never read or written a blog until two months ago and am so encouraged by the wonderful writing groups such as this one. I am delighted to be participating in my first guest blog but must admit to feeling a bit of an imposter as I am not yet a published writer.

I believe that writing is not the action of putting words on paper but rather a way of observing the world. I have delayed writing for many years because it involves taking off armor and letting the world permeate you. There are risks involved. Noticing something means having to respond to it, even if that response is not to respond. Putting words to things means living them. In writing about the stories which have touched me I feel I am spending myself in the best possible way. And now that I have started there is no going back. There are stories I have to tell. I am nothing but a conduit laying myself at your service.


Bio

I am a third generation Zimbabwean and lived there until 10 years ago. I am a human rights lawyer specialized in international criminal justice. I left the country of my birth due to political strife and have lived in the south of France for the last 10 years. I have five children and a cat called Jules. We are moving to Canada in summer 2010 where I plan to retrain as a midwife. I have a children’s book coming out in spring and I am currently working on a series of interviews with ordinary people who I find extraordinary. Writing is my first love.

Please visit Kerry at Kerry Characters