About Me

What I’m From

I’m from shyness and watching,

from standing as still as possible,

in the vain hope that the butterfly

would land on my outstretched hand.

I’m from swinging as high as I could,

’til the chains went slack and the seat would jerk

and my heart would leap right out into the sky.

I’m from blackberry stained fingers

in the Three-Cornered-Copse.

I’m from home-grown garden peas

with a crunch and rainbows

without beginning or end.

I’m from reading under the covers,

feverishly trying to finish the book

by torchlight.

I’m from walking my paper-round,

autumn’s fragrance in my senses.

I’m from daisy chains and buttercups,

and standing in pouring rain,

drops bouncing on the pavement,

watching lightning far out to sea

and thunder crashing

over our heads.

I’m from geography field trips

and love at first sight.

I’m from scrawling my name

on park benches

and climbing fallen trees in eighty-seven,

and singing and giggling of love

and feeling free…

I’m from dreaming of a future

that would never be.

I’m from finding myself…

I’m from long flowing skirts

and Dr Martens, swishing

and clumping down the street.

I’m from red telephone boxes,

a church step and friendships.

I’m from wild racing, stereo blasting,

exhilarating, dark lanes and headlights.

Halloween and a spark

on Devil’s Dyke.

I’m from walking barefoot

in the winter’s sand,

crying in the rain, losing a promise,

but winning a battle.

I’m from diaries and keepsakes,

photographs and memories…

Parents listening in the small morning hours

  when all I wanted was to talk…

of love, loss, and life.

I’m from leaving past loves behind,

forming an eternal partnership…

and a broken heart loving

like it has never loved before.

I’m from delight, anticipation,

from that first nudge

in a swelling tummy,

acknowledging an unborn miracle.

From intense pain, then newborn softness

and a completely new kind of love.

I’m from kissing wispy, soft baby’s hair,

and from growing children,

frustrations, heartache, and sacrifice,

giggles, cuddles, and mischief.

I’m from losing myself…

I’m from rescued cats and devoted dogs

and beautiful, dopey brown eyes.

I’m from ocean walks and sunsets,

and tides catching us out as they turn.

I’m from kicking through leaves,

golden, red, russet, and brown,

 and splashing through puddles,

letting the joy of life infuse me.

I’m from breaking down and lifting up.

I’m from hopes and dreams

and rediscovering myself…

I’m from rainbows and dragons,

putting words on paper

and creating worlds of my own.

I’m from adventures and excitement,

passion and spirit,

love and laughter,

and freedom.

© Lisa Shambrook

(originally written in 1996 and added to in 2012)

I began weaving intricate stories inside my imagination from a young age, but these days my words find themselves bursting forth in the forms of flash fiction, short stories and novels.

I’m a sensory writer and I delve into sensitive subjects that will lift your spirit and steal your heart, and I conjure worlds of fantasy and post-apocalypse which will ignite your imagination.

I was born and raised in vibrant Brighton, England, and living by the ocean heavily influenced my lyrical and emotional writing. I work with the senses, description, and colour, and my readers will easily visualise the narrative. I’m a wife and mother, and I draw inspiration from my chaotic family, my memory, and imagination. After I had my first of three children we moved to Carmarthen, West Wales, a market town also rich in legend and lore.

I’m also highly creative and own an Etsy shop, Amaranth Alchemy,  where I breathe new life into old pages and create bookpage gifts and art from old, worn, torn and abandoned books.

I love family time, walking our excitable German Shepherd, the forest, beaches, photography, art and last, but not least, writing.

Find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Or there’s always Pinterest, Flickr and Goodreads, and discover my books on Amazon. You’ll also find everything about me and much, much more at my Website…take a look…

© Lisa Shambrook