GLORIA'S WRITING BLOG

Welcome

My latest book, titled ‘ONLY IN SRI LANKA’, was published by Jojo Publishing in 2016. This story is based on my introduction to Sri Lankan life, its culture & customs, as experienced by my Singhalese daughter-in-law, my Australian son, and my three Aussie/Sri Lankan grandsons. It’s the story of village life, the time of the civil war and the tsunami. It’s the story of coming to terms with losing my family to another culture and another country.

You can buy the book at https://www.elankashop.com/

‘I found this book a warm, loving and vulnerable account of our journey to explore/understand the new cultures of both Sri Lanka and 20th century grand-parenting. It blends two very ‘current’ interests to baby boomers , travel to less well-known places and cross-cultural grand-parenting. I got to learn about SriLanka from the inside. I’m enriched by reading the book because I know more now about Sri Lanka because of it.’  Sandra Watson.

 ‘I absolutely loved your book. You have a way of writing that brings the people and places to life, and I now want to go to Sri Lanka. You’ve also captured so well how we distant grandmothers feel.’ Linda Raine

I am a writer-cum- freelance journo and over the years have been most fortunate in securing a variety of publishers for my various non-fiction books, plus the publication of numerous articles and short stories. Writing is a large part of my life but not the only part. I have raised two very interesting sons who in turn have produced four very interesting and extremely beautiful, intelligent, talented grand-children. My other activities have included working in a number of community health centres co-ordinating Work Related Injury Support groups, and acting as an historian/interviewer for the Koori Heritage Trust helping to record the experiences of several of the Stolen Generation. I have also taught Creative Writing to adults at several TAFE colleges. In recent years I have helped numerous people to record and document their Life Stories. These are then bound into a book or booklet as a gift for their family. Over the past ten years my partner and I have lived on a permaculture community in Nimbin, northern NSW, where we raised chooks, tropical fruits and vegies.

Our garden, March 2011

Currently we live in a cute little cottage on a bush block in the tiny central Victorian hamlet of Chewton. Each month I interview a new or old-time local for the Chewton Chat.

As latter-day treechangers we have discovered the wonders of semi-rural life.

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RECORD YOUR MEMORIES

Ida and Vic

One of my really enjoyable interests is helping people to record and document their life stories. My most recent one was working with a wonderful couple. Ida is 88 and Vic just turned 91. We did the interviews at his nursing home and at their own home. Their seven children and several of their grandchildren also contributed their personal family memories. We included a family tree and a number of family photos. When I presented the family with the final book, bound in a magenta coloured cover, Vic’s eyes filled with tears.

I urge people to consider recording their life stories and memories, before it is too late.

YOUR LIFE STORY IS OF INTEREST TO YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.  IT IS A WONDERFUL GIFT FOR YOUR FAMILY AND IDEAL AS SOMETHING SPECIAL TO GIVE FOR BIRTHDAYS, WEDDINGS.  IF INTERESTED, CALL ME AND WE CAN DISCUSS.

CONTACT GLORIA:  gloriameltzer@outlook.com