From Battlefield To Bookshelf

You're invited to join me for a Q&A with memoirist Anne Watts

Dear Friend 

How are you today?

I’m in good spirits, even though it’s a little on the chilly side here in Cardiff.  However, the sun will be shining over on zoom this evening, when I’ll be speaking with Anne Watts - a remarkable woman whose life has been a testament to courage, resilience and the regenerative power of storytelling.

Anne’s journey began as a young nurse serving on the frontlines in wars such as Vietnam and Cambodia. In the midst of the unimaginable chaos and human suffering, she provided a radiant presence of calm, compassion and healing to the wounded and the dying in her care.  While caring for others’ traumas, Anne carried immense invisible wounds of her own that would stay with her for decades to come.

It wasn’t until years later, after her sister’s encouragement, that Anne began to process her experiences through the medium of memoir writing.  What emerged from her pen were raw, visceral accounts that gave searing voice to the anger and moral injury she had witnessed and endured.  With vulnerability, nuance and her witty sense of humour, Anne’s memoirs have etched a permanent image in my mind that I shall never ever forget.  

I met Anne in real life last Monday, when she attended one of my memoir writing retreats with Clover Stroud.  Even after a whole day of listening to her stories, I craved more and more.  Anne has an aura and presence about her that calms your soul, you feel safe in her company, as though she is your very own guardian angel. The world needs now is more women like Anne Watts. I highly recommend her gripping memoirs Always The Children and “A Nurse Abroad” published by Simon & Schuster. And she is in the middle of writing her third memoir.

Anne is living proof that our darkest most fractured moments have within them the potential for profound wisdom and light.  This is why I was keen to interview her as she fascinates me.  A wise, wonderful elder that I feel so grateful and humbled to be acquainted with.  I can think of no greater privilege than to welcome this legend of a woman, a healer and truth teller for an intimate virtual cuppa via zoom. 

If you’d care to join us at 7pm this evening, for what should be an extraordinary conversation. Anne will be sharing stories about fleeing North Wales as a teenager, becoming a midlife, fun times even in war zone countries, looking for positives in every single day, how she manages to find the time to write whilst caring for an elderly lady, and why she has never settled down. 

Here is the zoom link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89925640691

Until the time 

Take care and stay safe xx

My secret journaling nook by the marina

About me… I’m Tanya Lynch, a mother, a ridgeback owner and the founder of Ease Retreats.  I love what I do, collaborating with authors and creatives, hosting retreats in beautiful venues across the UK.  I’m also a therapeutic journaling coach and through my program Rage on a Page, I help midlife women channel their emotions into something more positive and creative in less than 60 days. Each Thursday I host an online journaling club called Journal with Ease and it’s free for paid subscribers to attend. If you have any questions about the benefits of therapeutic journaling, please reach out and connect. I’m usually on a beach walking the dogs, hosting retreats or hanging out here on Substack.