After spending so much time, passion, and money to create and publish a novel, why on earth would I pledge to donate all proceeds from Ruby in the Dust to a local children’s charity, The Link Foundation?
There are three reasons for my decision: heritage, community, and investing in the future.
It’s easy to forget that in an affluent town like Maidenhead there are many families who struggle to give their children the basics – food, clothing, and shelter. What chance do those children have of gaining a good education and bettering their circumstances, in such unstable conditions? The Link Foundation generously supports Maidenhead children, to help them grow up strong, nourished, and educated. These children are the future custodians of our town, and we can all help to preserve a sense of community, to benefit all.
My family has lived in Maidenhead for several generations. My great-grandparents raised their family in Grenfell Avenue, and I love to look at old photos of the town, to connect with this heritage – it’s where old meets new.
This theme of ‘modern versus traditional’ is something that’s explored in Ruby in the Dust – which is set in Maidenhead. The book celebrates the useful aspects of the modern world, such as improved medicine and technology, while seeking to re-ignite the traditional sense of community in Maidenhead.
When we feel like we’re part of a community, we get a sense of belonging, and we’re more likely to behave accordingly – we’ll look out for each other and respect each other more. The most precious part of being human is sharing a connection with others. Thinking about others and spending time as a community often makes our life sparkle. Being a member of several mini-communities within Maidenhead – such as Maidenhead Speakers Club – gives me a sense of belonging. We can create that feeling on a town-wide scale. We can all come together and take pride in our common connection – the town of Maidenhead.
This highlights my final reason for wanting to give the proceeds of my book to The Link Foundation. The underlying message is: We need to look after each other because that’s how we ourselves will be protected, happy, and fulfilled. We’re ALL in this together.
You can buy Ruby in the Dust on Amazon UK or Amazon.Com
You can make a donation to the Link Foundation at http://www.linkfoundation.co.uk
We live in a world where we’re constantly stimulated. Often, if I’m waiting somewhere, like for example at a bus stop, I’ll usually grab my phone and surf the internet. But with yoga, we can train our mind not to need the constant stimulation that we’ve become addicted to in our busy modern world. This ‘doing nothing’ can be very peaceful and enjoyable. It’s the mental equivalent of taking the phone of the hook and just being alive, cherishing the present moment.
