Manuscript formatted for IngramSpark Hardback 6x9 - Copy

"Faded Belonging: A Life in Verse" by Maria Hawthorne, is a compelling poetry collection. Our attention is immediately drawn to the central theme of belonging and its fading nature. The subtitle, "A Life in Verse," hints at a deeply personal and reflective journey through poetry. This book is a thoughtful exploration of personal history, identity, and the human experience, told through the evocative power of poetry. The book features a dedication to the author's parents and ancestors, acknowledging their influence. A section about the author reveals Maria's extensive background in education, with a career in teaching and working as an Education Officer and University Lecturer. Tracing her family tree and her roots in rural Ireland inspired this poetry collection. Maria had for many years been a folk singer/songwriter and she eventually turned to poetry to tell her life story. Some of the poems in the book are also available as songs. "Faded Belonging" delves into themes of family, conflict, and new beginnings, presenting these through reflections and experiences. The poems are deeply personal, exploring themes of family history. The collection touches on her childhood, marked by a combination of Irish immigrant background and coal mining community. poems such as "What's in a Name? When the Midwife Came," "A Tot for a Tot," "Christmas Blaze" and "Looking Up to Dad" offer glimpses into her relationships and personal history. A section on "Struggles, Clashes and Conflict" focuses on the social issues and political contexts that shaped the life of the author and her ancestors. "Newcastle, New Life, New Belonging," details the experiences and emotions of a young woman moving away from home, and finding herself in the far north of England 50 years later. The book culminates in a poignant exploration of themes of loss, memory, and finding one's place, as hinted at in the title poem "Faded Belonging".