Blog Tour: Sue Lawson's Forget Me Not

Today I'm thrilled to have Sue Lawson write a guest post here at LittleElfMan's. You might know how much I love Sue's writing from my review of Pan's Whisper and the wonderful post for its blog tour. I'm not going to hog the stage too much, because this is all about Sue and her great new book, a historical fiction novel that follows one family's voyage on the Titanic. I asked Sue to write a particular guest blog and she responded brilliantly! Over to you, Sue!

Hi Michael, it’s lovely to visit your blog again. This is the very first stop on the Forget Me Not Tour and I'm very excited about all the stops I'll be making over the next two weeks!

I had a ball answering your questions about Pan’s Whisper.

Forget Me Not is different to Pan’s Whisper, in that Pan’s Whisper is a young adult novel and work of fiction while Forget Me Not is a junior fiction novel and based on an historical event – the sinking of the Titanic.

So, Sue, you’re packing for a journey to the other side of the world on the largest ocean liner in the world, and you’ll be starting a new life at your destination.

(Please tell me journey doesn’t end the same way as the Titanic’s journey ended!)

 Step us through your packing process…

 (Seriously? Didn’t I reveal enough of my issues during my last visit?)

… knowing you’ll never come back to your home again.  Let’s assume you’ve already packed a suitcase of all the clothing you’ll need…

(Phew!)

… now you need to pack up or sell the rest of your possessions. Keep in mind the ridiculous excess baggage charges these ships charge, so you can’t just say “I’ll take it all! Including my favourite reading chair.” Also, we’ll assume that you’ll actually reach your destination alive and with everything you’ve packed!

First of all, can we replace assume I make it alive with we know?  Thanks, I’ll be able to concentrate now…

Honestly, I don’t have many things I couldn’t live without. As long as I have my husband, daughter, friends and family close by, I’m a happy person. The hardest things for me to leave would be books, records and CDs. I have five bookshelves crammed full and hundreds of records – yes the ancient vinyl ones – and CDs. (Listening to Tim Freedman as I write this.)

A few of these will have to come.

Right, that first case is packed with my clothes, shoes and toiletries. Now to the other case lying on the floor in the spare bedroom (I’ve sold all my furniture already!) surrounded by stuff in piles. 

(You're very efficient to have sold all that already! I like your commitment!)

My  iPhone, iPod and iPad.

I’m a recent convert to istuff and though I love it, I still prefer to write on a PC. With these I can access Dropbox filled with my writing stuff I need, my music, which of course I’ve ripped, and eBooks to replace the books I’m leaving. And then there’s my photos…I’ll have to scan them, except for one album which I’ll fill with special photos. 

(be sure you take your photos to a place to scan them for you, it'd be far too time consuming to do it yourself!)

Turtle paper weight.

My grandfather (paternal), who I was particularly close to, was a jeweller. When I visited him at his shop, I’d play with a glass paperweight with a tiny turtle in it he had on his desk. When I lifted it the turtle’s legs shook. I have a horrible feeling it’s a preserved real terrapin. The paperweight now lives on my desk, and while the turtle freaks me out if I think too much about it, I love what the paperweight reminds me of.  I’d bring a few pieces of his work too.

Gran’s rings

My grandmother (maternal – I didn’t know my paternal grandmother) was a remarkable woman – brave, intelligent and dogged. There are so many things I wish I had asked her, especially about her husband who died during World War II. His story inspired my young adult novel ‘Finding Darcy’. Anyway, I have two rings of hers I would have to bring.

Wind In The Willows and other books…

My dad borrowed my Wind In The Willows when I was a kid and left me a note in it, so that has to come, along with my aunt’s tattered To Kill A Mockingbird, the first copy of The Hobbit I owned – also tattered –, A Wrinkle in Time, and …okay weight’s mounting up, I come back to books if I need to.

(I know what you mean... I've put a lot of effort into my book collection. I have over 100 signed books too - most dedicated to me - I don't know what I'd do if I had to only pick a handful to take with me!)

Zenyetta Mondatta

I couldn’t leave my Police, Kate Bush or David Bowie vinyl, all of which I bought too many years ago with babysitting money. And seeing as vinyl is flat, I’m sure I could squeeze in a few others as I know there’s treats lurking in the vinyl box that I couldn’t park with. CDs on the pile include the Whitlams, Midnight Oil, Johnny Clegg and Powderfinger. Everything else I’ll rip to iTunes.

(I have to say that I too have Kate Bush and David Bowie vinyl... How do you part with those fantastic picture discs? - But keep in mind that CDs that don't have anything special about them can be put onto your ipod.)

Painting

I have boxes of my daughter’s artwork. Somehow I haven’t been able to throw all of it out, much to her horror. I’d take my favourites – the kinder mother’s day painting, the family at the beach painting from school and the Mother’s Day card she made me in Grade 6. I still get teary when I read it. I’d also bring her ankle bracelet from when she was born.

(Don't forget to scan anything that you aren't taking!)

Little Ted

My dad gave me Little Ted for my first Christmas, so she’s only a month younger than me.  Little Ted counselled me through life’s challenges, fought off the monsters that invaded my sleep and never once judged me, no matter what I did. . She’s flat, worn and tragic looking, but she’s still around.

(That's great that you still have it! My partner's got 'Teddy' that was passed down through 3 generations, he doesn't squeak anymore, but he'd have to come if we were making this voyage.)

Do you know what? I still have room in my case! So…

Now now, you're not Mary Poppins, unfortunately!

Okay, I’ll leave the other stuff for another day!

Thanks Michael for having me back! Tomorrow I'm heading to Sheryl Gwyther's blog to talk about school visits. Be sure to drop on by!