Through storytelling, rhyme and hand drawn pictures, I wanted to explore how we approach coping with grief and loss with children.
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Several months ago, I was approached by a journalist who asked to feature my story in That’s Life magazine. I won’t deny it; I was a little wary about sharing my story with her at first. I am not a big reader of ‘real life’ publications (with the exception of those in the GP’s waiting room which are often, let’s face it, several years old). I didn’t want my story to be sensationalised or to be come a joke through some flippant headline. However, after a little conversation I realised that this could be an excellent opportunity to promote road…
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A short review of the ‘crash, not accident’ discourse from a personal perspective. Is it an argument worth reopening old wounds for? “It’s crash, not accident” For some time now, I have been aware of the drive -excuse the pun- in road safety circles to use the term crash or collision rather than accident when referring to an incident on the road. It is an international shift; I have read articles and had discussions with advocates here in Australia as well as in the UK, Canada and the US. Evidence shows that almost all vehicular collisions are the result of…
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Join me in (finally) celebrating the launch of The Ballad of the Bunny and Other Poems: The Diary of a Car Crash and Beyond with a LIVE online poetry reading. I’ve been planning this for so long, but life (and post concussion syndrome) got in the way…! I will be going LIVE on Sunday May 12th at 6:00pm AEST. (Sunday May 12th 9:00am BST). The event will last approximately 45 minutes and be streamed on my Facebook and YouTube channels. Let me know if I will be seeing you here! help raise funds for those affected by road trauma I…
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The time has come to address the driving force behind Catherine Hannah Poetry- that is, the concept of poetry as a tool for trauma healing. Of course, I do not advocate for poetry as some sort of singular miracle cure for universal affliction. I do however believe that, when explored alongside medical intervention and other therapies, poetry offers a unique method of expressing our deepest feelings surrounding trauma and the recovery process- thoughts we may keep hidden even from ourselves. navigating change After the car crash that left me with a broken neck and brain injury (and later diagnoses of…
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I’ve really been enjoying reading out my poetry of late. So I’ve decided to share the joy with the launch of the Catherine Hannah Poetry YouTube channel. One of my favourite things about poetry (and art in general) is how open a piece is to interpretation based on the consumers’ own context. I’ve had some truly insightful comments from readers of The Ballad of the Bunny and Other Poems: The Diary of a Car Crash and Beyond. I love how someone can draw comfort from my poems in a way I had not considered- both writer and reader find our…
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Delighted to finally make this release announcement: The Ballad of the Bunny and Other Poems: The Diary of a Car Crash and Beyond is now available in paperback from Amazon and a number of other quality online retailers. See Where to Buy drop down menu under the Book Sales tab for direct links and details. On this drop down menu, you will also find Signed Copies if you would like to add one to your collection! The EBook version is also available for preorder, if that is more your thing. Many thanks to everyone who has supported me not only…
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Hello! Unfortunately due to a few life hiccups (including a flare up of symptoms and a sick rabbit), the release date of The Ballad of the Bunny and Other Poems: The Diary of a Car Crash and Beyond will have to be postponed. Looking at publishing in late February at this stage, but will confirm a date and purchasing information asap. Such is life! Apologies for those who were looking forward to being able to buy the book next week.
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The Ballad of the Bunny and Other Poems: The Diary of a Car Crash and Beyond received some extremely positive book reviews this week! “…a beautifully written diary of how our lives are suddenly changed after being injured in a crash…Whether you’re on your own recovery path or supporting someone through theirs, this poetry is a beacon of hope and resilience”. -S. Dawne McKay, Founder of the Crash Support Network. The Crash Support Network was born as a result of founder Dawne’s own horrific experience of road trauma and now offers much needed support, advice and resources to others affected…
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Had an excellent morning in Barwon Heads today! Fuelled by the sunshine, sea air and Nutella donuts, Don and I visited the Indie Author Book Fair at Barwon Heads Community Hall. The space was thoughtfully laid out, allowing each local writer room to promote their wares and to form connections with like-minded creatives. Apart from the obvious passion for their craft -tangible from the moment we stepped through the door- I was struck by how many of the authors I spoke with had started/ returned to writing as a result of trauma. An advocate for the potency of poetry for…