Eliza Jane Goes ahead

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The Trouble with Titles

November 6th 2009
Titles are tricky. While 'Fusion' for novel one caused confusion by raising connotations of hydrogen bombs, foreign food, mixed musical origins, bubble gum or men's shavers, 'The Cosmopolites' seems to be leading to just as much misinterpretation. It appears, even, to be hard to pronounce. 'Fusion' was cleverly rescued by a friendly little African melting pot, which itself has been loved and hated, indicating the cultural fusion it was supposed to represent. Thank you Raphael of Trafford.
'The Cosmopolites' does the job intended. The main characters have travelled widely and, although they give allegiance to their native countries, they declare that they are 'citizens of the world' and therefore owe greater allegiance to global concerns. The suggestion is that I find a more accessible title to catch the eye of the browsers. I ask myself if that is what I want to do. One suggestion was 'The Enthusiasts' - but that has no international association. The characters could be enthusiastic about anything - like boiled eggs or gardening. I've thought of 'The Cosmopolitans' - but they were pretentious, sophisticated creatures of the 1920s. 'The Global Villagers' weren't around in the 1970s, 'The Globetrotters' are much too rich and frivolous, 'The Wanderers' suggests aimlessness, Beyond the Borders (not quite right), 'The Internationalists' (oh yes) but perhaps too political and business orientated. I'm afraid it's back to 'The Cosmopolites' - citizens of no particular country - well-meaning towards all - but, for practical reasons, loyal to the country they live in and for emotional reasons, tied to the countries of their birth. What more can I say?

Fusion - A Review

November 26th

Wow! It's a long time since I've read a book at one sitting. So here I am with cold feet, a full bladder and an empty stomach. So many resonances and memories jogged, from ‘Leaving on a Jet Plane' to a wet tent on Mt Kenya to remembering exactly where I was when Kelly Holmes won the 1500m and I had tears in my eyes. My head is buzzing. Can I just say, ‘Well Done and Congratulations and thank you so much for the book and the inscription.’
A funny day, yesterday. After the arrival of the postie about lunchtime I was plunged into the richness of the kaleidoscope of Africa and all Ella's turbulent emotions and adventures. I emerged hours later, blinking, as if woken from a dream.
So much of your thoughts and philosophy and optimism was buzzing around in my head that sleep was improbable. I prowled the bookshelves and eventually lit upon George MacKay Brown. It took an hour of his gentle island cadences and spare prose to settle me down.
Certainly the book doesn't fit neatly into any genre- rather it comes into the category of 'all things counter, original, spare, strange', and I like that. In fact I like everything about it. I had been prepared for a few flaws in a first novel, and there may well be, but nothing jumped out at me to interrupt the narrative. Your descriptions of Africa are compelling and accord with my first impressions of Kenya on an all too brief visit
in 1989.
So why, after a really enjoyable read, do I still have a lump in my throat this morning? Nostalgia for lost youth perhaps – a questioning as to what I have done in the cause of world harmony? Nothing negative perhaps, but is that enough? 'They also serve...'
I don't know.
I dislike bigots, zealots and extremists of all varieties but I have never really gone out of my way to confront them?
So, I suppose there is a wee bit of envy there in my admiration of your achievement, your courage and your unshakeable optimism. But, hey, if you're not optimistic what is the point of getting up in the morning?
You have made me think and that is the highest compliment I can give a book.
Now, off you go and finish the next one which I expect will take another day of my life.....

Buy Fusion

In defence of Trafford

October 2009

Although Trafford Oxford no longer exist and Trafford Vancouver have been taken over by Author Solutions, USA, they are still processing orders and providing support despite the changeover problems. Some of the vilification they have received in the media has been unfair. They provided a service asked for by certain authors, including myself. The product I received was of good quality and I always knew that the editing, proof-reading and marketing were up to me. Also, it was clear from the start that I would retain my copyright.
It did not take me too long to cover my costs - but the marketing is hard work.

You can visit Trafford, USA, via the Buy Fusion link or ring Toll free 001 888 232 4444

In Scotland, you can find Fusion at Waterstones Bookstore, St Giles Shopping Centre, Elgin.

July 16th 2009 (The morning after.)
Well done Year 7 now 8. You were brilliant. Your lively and enthusiastic performance of Fusion the play created a happy memory for everyone there. The money raised is going to a rescue centre for orphans in Nairobi who really really need it! Thank you for your hard work. I won't ever forget you.


JULY 2009
Fusion the play will be performed by Year 7 now 8 at Hendon School at 6:30pm on Wednesday 15th July. E mail elizajanegoesahead@googlemail.com for tickets and information.

May 2009
A wonderful group of Year 7 pupils (and some of their teachers) at Hendon School have been helping me to put together a performance adapted from the novel 'Fusion'. They are very special. Watch this space!

March 2009:
Follow the links:
Read about our Kenyan trip in 'Kenya Revisited' - an article written for the Rotary Club of Golders Green magazine.
Thank you for the warm welcome Rotary Club of Nairobi.
See new pictures of Gloria Hagberg and her daughter Paula.

Hi there wide world!

Welcome to my website which is the result of yet another scary leap into the unknown territory of the internet. Another Luddite (that's me, Alexia) bites the dust and another technowally graduates from, 'How do you switch this flaming thing on?' to 'Isn't technology wonderful?' After "Fusion" "The Cosmopolites" and "The Not Quite English Teacher" are in the pipeline. Watch this space.
By the way, if any of you acquaintances, friends, family, colleagues or ex students think you recognise yourselves, it isn't you!

Some of the profits from the sale of 'Fusion will go to the Pestalozzi Scholarship Fund .

international village for students from developing countries

I am pleased to say that the Pestalozzi organisation are delighted to be associated with 'Fusion'.I cannot think of a more appropriate and worthwhile cause to support. Find out more about them from their website www.pestalozzi.org.uk or click on the link above.

They have sent us the following brief statement:

'Pestalozzi scholarships change lives. We are unique in selecting students from the developing world who are:
* from an extremely disadvantaged background
* academically exceptional and showing the
potential to succeed
* already giving community service
and CRUCIALLY
* fully committed to devoting their education and
expertise to those who need it most.
The gift of an education means that more young people can finally begin to break the cycles of poverty that have held their countries back for so long.'

A GOOD READ

Find out what happens to feisty, funny, red-haired Ella when she tackles the wee bullies and big bullies in remote 1950s and 60s Scotland and when she flies off to Africa, all alone, leaving her family behind. Can she find the answers to these big questions she's always asked herself - like 'Why am I the only one in the family with flaming red hair?' or 'Is it a good idea for people to migrate all over the world and squash each others' cultures?' Will she make a new life in Africa or somewhere else or will she go home to the safety and comfort of her old community in Scotland? What dangers will she come across and will she find romance?
Find out how she always seems to come across different kinds of bullies - and how she hates them.
Can she sort out the bullies? Can anyone do that?

See the SYNOPSIS under 'Learn more about the book.'

Who is 'Fusion' aimed at?

*ALL OF YOU LOVELY PEOPLE who have read this far and want to make the world a better place and care about what happens to humankind in the future.

* The young people I have had the privilege of working with, the vast majority of whom are full of youthful optimism and a remarkable intolerance of intolerance. These young people I came across were in Scotland, Africa and cosmopolitan London but I'm sure their like can be found across the pond and all over the world.

* Some of the other people who work or have worked with these youngsters.The most important of these people is Gloria Hagberg, who is very modest about how much she did to help around 5000 young Kenyans on their way to USA as scholarship university students. One of these students was Barack Hussein Obama Senior.

* Barack Obama and his followers including Oprah Winfrey. They will understand the significance of his success being more than a triumph for fusion. It would be justice.

* To those more discerning readers who are expecting either an easy read or a more highbrow read, I offer no apology. The book will probably satisfy neither group.
I don't pretend to have any answers. I merely tried to express some hope for the future for all of us.
However, I do hope I have stirred up a bit of controversy.

What do you think?

I hope 'Fusion' lifts the spirits of all you readers who live in a multicultural society and get as much of a kick out of it as Ella and her family and friends do.

Or, like the community Ella left behind in remote 1960s Balnahuig in Caithness,(unlike today's), are you scared of all this migration and cultural integration?

AFTER YOU'VE READ THE BOOK:-

Join the debate: 'Migration is the best thing that can happen to the Global Village.'
e mail your thoughts via the link below.

Join the debate: click here

The other point of view

Thank you to the gentleman with right wing views who is currently blaming me, or the likes of me, for all the ills in the modern world.
He is doing his best to crush the dreams and ideals displayed by Ella in 'Fusion'.
I might not be as hopelessly (or should I say hopefully) naive as Ella, as I have said before, but I am strong enough to stick up for her viewpoint and can clearly see that some of the views expressed by this person have no place in an inclusive and optimistic society which provides hope for the new generation.
In his world, which isn't Ella's world, fear, pessimism and divisiveness would continue without respite.