The same publication of the bound Early Days has a nice 'Welcome to Spring' which we need after the winter time. I for one am looking forward to the thought of spring time now - even though it hasn't been such a hard winter this year - mind you, my fingers are still tightly crossed, I am well ready for spring days, flowers and days in the garden.
A welcome to Spring by Rev Julius Spring - 1891
O! Shout, ye merry children, the smiling spring is here
Its brightest blessings bringing the waiting earth to cheer
The winter's icy sceptre is broken once again
And glory of the spring time is flooding hill and plain
The cuckoo's call is sounding, the lark is soaring high
And trilling out it's anthems to bless the earth and sky
And buttercups and daisies are blooming o'er the sod
The treasures of the children, the handywork of God
O! come ye where the woodlands with birds' sweet carols sing
And listen to the welcomes out-warbled to the spring
O come ye where the meadows are gay with green and gold
And gather of the glory as much as hands can hold.
But, better still let winter be banished from within
And let the heart's long springtime in brightness now begin
By summer time succeeded, with all its hold in store
Then golden harvest reaping in heaven for ever more.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Words About Books
Words about Books - Taken from 'Early Days' a Magazine/Journal published in 1891 - (January Issue, we have the bound years volume for sale on our website for 15.00GBP).
'It is often worse to read bad books than it is to keep company with bad boys. Actions grow out of thoughts, and a bad book can in a few minutes injure us for ever.
One of England's greatest and best men says that , when a boy, another boy lent him a bad book for just fifteen minutes. It sent a deadly dart to his soul. He never could get away from the vile impression made upon his mind by that book in so short a time. He shed many bitter tears over it, and tried to forget it; but the shadow lingered. God forgave him; but he could not tear from his soul the memory of that evil book.
My young friends, if you will hear the voice of age and wisdom, do not read the bad and trashy books and papers. They feed unholy thoughts, and lure to dark deeds. They poison the mind and corrupt the morals. If you fill your mind with rubbish, there will be neither room nor relish for the choice gold of truth and the diamond dust of pure thought........'
Well - if that doesn't warn you nothing will! I trust none of the books Peakirk Books sell come under the category of Bad Books!
'It is often worse to read bad books than it is to keep company with bad boys. Actions grow out of thoughts, and a bad book can in a few minutes injure us for ever.
One of England's greatest and best men says that , when a boy, another boy lent him a bad book for just fifteen minutes. It sent a deadly dart to his soul. He never could get away from the vile impression made upon his mind by that book in so short a time. He shed many bitter tears over it, and tried to forget it; but the shadow lingered. God forgave him; but he could not tear from his soul the memory of that evil book.
My young friends, if you will hear the voice of age and wisdom, do not read the bad and trashy books and papers. They feed unholy thoughts, and lure to dark deeds. They poison the mind and corrupt the morals. If you fill your mind with rubbish, there will be neither room nor relish for the choice gold of truth and the diamond dust of pure thought........'
Well - if that doesn't warn you nothing will! I trust none of the books Peakirk Books sell come under the category of Bad Books!
Saturday, 28 January 2012
One of the benefits of being a bookseller is that we sell books to all sorts of interesting people - some of which often include book authors. I mentioned before I sold books to Ronald Searle, well this time I write about selling a book to one of 'our' children's authors family - Kathleen O'Farrells daughter, Annie. Whilst 'chatting' Annie said that she thought her mum would be happy to write a bit about her life for us (Peakirk Books) to put on our website - which we have, and I thought I would put it on our blog too. Thus below, is the piece she wrote for us, last april.
Kathleen O'Farrell - Children's Book Author
The following was written by Kathleen in April 2011 for Peakirk Books.
I was born in 1924 in a village in Surrey. I started writing poetry while at school, then went on to write children's books in my twenties, while working in a city bank. My dear dad paid £5.00 for my first book of children's poetry 'Little Poems for Little People' to be published when I was a schoolgirl in wartime.
After I married I wrote more and more. Having six children provided plenty of inspiration! I still loved, and continued to write poetry and eventually went on to submit short stories to magazines including 'The Lady', 'Peoples Friend', 'My weekly' and 'Grace'. Very many stories and Poems have been published in these magazines, also in various gift books and annuals such as The Fireside Book and similar.
Many of my children's books were translated into several foreign languages and my poems have been reprinted as far away as New Zealand.
I am still writing, though output is not as much now and I will carry on as long as I can hold a pen. I have always written in long-hand before transferring onto a typewriter and have never used a computer.
I am unable to think of a more delightful hobby, or source of income, than writing. Through my work I have accumulated numerous pen-friends over the years, many with their own interesting tales to tell. Many of my stories and poems are based on fact, gleaned from people I've met, perhaps for only a little while but who have made a lasting impression on me.
In total I have had 15 children's books published and 3 books of poetry together with hundreds of poems and short stories for other publications.
My passions in life have always been my writing, my family, including my many grand-children and my pets. My daughter recently told me that I see beauty in everything around me and I would like to think that is true.
Kathleen O'Farrell - 2011
We would like to thank Kathleen O'Farrell and her daughter Annie for taking the time to prepare and write the above for our website.
Kathleen O'Farrell - Children's Book Author
The following was written by Kathleen in April 2011 for Peakirk Books.
I was born in 1924 in a village in Surrey. I started writing poetry while at school, then went on to write children's books in my twenties, while working in a city bank. My dear dad paid £5.00 for my first book of children's poetry 'Little Poems for Little People' to be published when I was a schoolgirl in wartime.
After I married I wrote more and more. Having six children provided plenty of inspiration! I still loved, and continued to write poetry and eventually went on to submit short stories to magazines including 'The Lady', 'Peoples Friend', 'My weekly' and 'Grace'. Very many stories and Poems have been published in these magazines, also in various gift books and annuals such as The Fireside Book and similar.
Many of my children's books were translated into several foreign languages and my poems have been reprinted as far away as New Zealand.
I am still writing, though output is not as much now and I will carry on as long as I can hold a pen. I have always written in long-hand before transferring onto a typewriter and have never used a computer.
I am unable to think of a more delightful hobby, or source of income, than writing. Through my work I have accumulated numerous pen-friends over the years, many with their own interesting tales to tell. Many of my stories and poems are based on fact, gleaned from people I've met, perhaps for only a little while but who have made a lasting impression on me.
In total I have had 15 children's books published and 3 books of poetry together with hundreds of poems and short stories for other publications.
My passions in life have always been my writing, my family, including my many grand-children and my pets. My daughter recently told me that I see beauty in everything around me and I would like to think that is true.
Kathleen O'Farrell - 2011
We would like to thank Kathleen O'Farrell and her daughter Annie for taking the time to prepare and write the above for our website.
Saturday, 14 January 2012
.....and yet another literary death - I suppose it is the heart of winter, and more older people die in winter, or so it seems. I heard last night on the radio that Reginald Hill had died, and very selfishly thought, oh dear - no more books to read by him then - which was both egocentric, but yet a tribute to the man who was still producing very good crime fiction. I shall miss his books, as will his many readers. No doubt his family and friends will miss him.
Hill was best known for his crime novels about Dalziel and Pascoe, and he wrote a further smaller humorous series set in Luton, featuring the private detective Joe Sixsmith. He won the Crime Writers' Association's Gold Dagger award, for Bones and Silence in 1990 and received the Cartier Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement five years later. However he produced more work than this - he wrote historical novels and standalone thrillers, and wrote further books under the pseudonyms of Patrick Ruell & Charles Underhill.
Reginald Hill was a talented writer, and wrote with humour and popular appeal.
Hill was best known for his crime novels about Dalziel and Pascoe, and he wrote a further smaller humorous series set in Luton, featuring the private detective Joe Sixsmith. He won the Crime Writers' Association's Gold Dagger award, for Bones and Silence in 1990 and received the Cartier Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement five years later. However he produced more work than this - he wrote historical novels and standalone thrillers, and wrote further books under the pseudonyms of Patrick Ruell & Charles Underhill.
Reginald Hill was a talented writer, and wrote with humour and popular appeal.
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Ronald Searle
It was with some sadness that I heard today of the death of Ronald Seale, the brilliant cartoonist, famously associated with St Trinians and who also provided illustrations for the Molesworth series, written by Geoffrey
Willans. Searle's work also regularly appeared in magazines and newspapers, including Punch
and The New Yorker. His work was award winning.
Only a couple of days ago Jeff & I chortled over a St Trinians film during the Christmas holidays, and were discussing Ronald Searle. A year or so ago he became a customer of mine for a short while, when he was looking for some abbey school titles for a friend of his in France. When I saw his French address, I had to ask if he was THE Ronald Searle, and he told me that indeed he was, and was friendly and chatty. I was impressed that a man of his age was not phased by using the internet (and really not surprised that a man such as he would be), and it was a pleasure to get the books. I am honoured that just for the briefest of time our lives touched. RIP.
Only a couple of days ago Jeff & I chortled over a St Trinians film during the Christmas holidays, and were discussing Ronald Searle. A year or so ago he became a customer of mine for a short while, when he was looking for some abbey school titles for a friend of his in France. When I saw his French address, I had to ask if he was THE Ronald Searle, and he told me that indeed he was, and was friendly and chatty. I was impressed that a man of his age was not phased by using the internet (and really not surprised that a man such as he would be), and it was a pleasure to get the books. I am honoured that just for the briefest of time our lives touched. RIP.
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