The Launch of ‘Patchwork, A Life’ by Rose Boswell

In the Beginning . . .

Following the outbreak of war, my mother, Lucie, accompanied by an old trunk, sailed on The Slamat, the last ship evacuating refugees from Hong Kong to Australia. Decades later, in that trunk, amidst the myriad of documents, journals and mementos, I found a scrap of paper with my first composition, written in crimson pencil. It ended with, ‘I gave baby Jesus a rattle.’ Different and practical, that’s me.

 I wrote my first, somewhat politically naive poem about the Vietnam War protests at twelve years of age.

Hypocrisy

They march and shout
holding placards
MAKE LOVE NOT WAR
their ideals clear as glass
                             Law and Order steps in                             
the glass shatters

In my late teens studying English, French, and Psychology at University, I developed analysis, essay, and report writing skills. Still, there was no room for ‘I’, the subjective or emotional aspects of life — the enemy of academic writing. I poured down on paper and later tapped furiously on the typewriter, my rantings and ravings, thoughts and feelings trying to navigate my way through existential crises and the shock of political truths uncovered in university student politics.

Piles of journals stashed in my spare room’s cupboard give testimony to my ever-present need to empty myself onto the page, to gain insight, to express joy and achieve catharsis over the decades.

Lindy’s Life Writing Workshops

Move forward thirty-six years. After a postgraduate diploma, four children, another degree, selling one more house post-second divorce, I wanted to excavate and explore this lifetime of experiences. Meditation transformed my life. Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way helped with reflection and release. But I still needed to digest my big lifetime meal properly.

I discovered Lindy Warrell’s workshops once a fortnight, three hours on a Saturday with a group of women in an Aldinga Beach garden studio.

Cushioned by the courage of fellow women, we wrote and told stories of our lives. We became educated in showing, not telling, active language and the power of honesty. I became hooked. After almost two years, in 2011, I had written pages about my earliest childhood, entitled, ‘A Rough Beginning’ (later, ‘A Bush Beginning’ — notice the difference).

The flame within burned brightly. I can keep going.

What happened next? What fun to create chapter titles. I was fifty-seven, and the process was long. Life kept happening to me, around me.

On my days off work, I developed a new routine around work on the book. I initially wrote about significant life memories. Then I researched interesting political events. The resulting stories became chapters woven with cultural change, travel, spirituality, career and internet dating. My book has all of that. I inserted photos later.

Until the day I self-published in 2021, the book consumed 12 years of my life. In those years, I moved six times and bought and sold a unit. I engaged in four relationships, including a six-year and current three-year partnership. After leaving an eleven-year government job as a youth worker, I took three more jobs before retirement.

Editing

In 2016 I joined the Seasiders Writers’ Group, where I remained a member for about three years and enjoyed listening to fellow writers’ novel excerpts, poetry and life stories. I know my favourite genre. I met Steve — my life changed once more.

Critiquing by the Seasiders and Kensington and Norwood Writers’ groups improved my writing. I forged friendships and tried to ‘kill my darlings’. By the time I moved to Goolwa, where my son had bought a house for me to rent, my manuscript had stood at 90,000 words.

Early in 2021, now serious, I sent out a ‘save the date’ for the launch, then the invite.

The Trials of Self-Publishing

I visited Office Works in Victor Harbor and nervously sent a PDF to obtain a ring-bound copy of my book. Clutching it in my hands, I felt the thrill, a little like holding a newborn. My motivation grew stronger.

My son Heath’s skill and talent transformed my A4 document into a proper book, much like the transformation of Pinocchio into a real live boy.

Decisions confronted me. What size book? What about margins, copyright, dedications, acknowledgements? My son prepared the style guide for the entire process. Still more decisions — what font and size for titles, headings and text?

I tapped away daily, driven by a necessary obsession, to improve and finalise the document and fix the countless photos (I lost half my life down that rabbit hole — never use Word for photos!).

Now, what about the title? Should I use a verb with Patchwork? Like, Mending a Patchwork Life? Ah! Telling it still. A Patchwork Life? Too ordinary. Mmm, how about Patchwork, A Life?

A friend’s mum previously hand-stitched a quilt for me. What a way to honour her! I took many photos of the quilt. I need the section with a rose on it. Stretching the quilt out on the front steps in the midday sun, ensuring my shadow didn’t encroach, I took shots. Many friends then lent their skills. Several proofs of covers ensued.

Finally, a printed copy of the cover was in my hands. It was exhilarating! I had my private version of the book ready for the kids. Real names, actual events, no censorship. I printed off six copies. They can read and tell me if they want the public version altered. They never did!

Completion arrived after several proofs of the text later. Still, I felt compelled to recheck it, and again, and again, the 400-page document — punctuation and grammar. Terrified of mistakes, I pressed send — the absolute last pdf for the final print.

Promotion

Lindy recommended a contact to help with promotion and marketing. I emailed The Courier in Mt Barker and the Victor Harbor Times with the blurb for my book, bio and photo. I met Joseph after getting lost on Mt Barker Summit. I felt delighted with and acknowledged by his enthusiasm and positivity, especially when I saw the articles in both papers. Partner Steve bought six copies of The Courier.

The Launch

Many months in advance, I discovered a gem, Café Outside the Square — a not for profit humanitarian venture feeding the homeless daily in a leafy corner of Whitmore Square. We planned to house the launch in the light-filled Atrium with its high ceiling. They allowed us to eat and socialise in the whole venue, including the café with its arches, funky décor, and vine-covered verandah.

After much deliberation, I chose tasty hot and cold finger food and ordered large black forest and lemon torte cakes. Steve’s daughter, Cloudy, planned to sing at particular points – songs from my book and its heyday — the seventies. I typed up a schedule.

Reid Print announced the printing would take place on the Thursday before the Saturday 9^th launch date!! As the date drew near, I felt nervous. I picked my outfit — a long black skirt, ruby lace blouse and black sleeveless coat. In the past, I married, but this time I wrote a book. I celebrated my life. I was surviving and thriving at the pinnacle of my life.

On the Day

Friends helped with welcoming, sales, and recording the event. Sixty friends and family arrived from every patch of my life, including writers’ groups, Siddha Yoga and past partners over forty-six years. Laughter rang out, old friends connected and hugged. It filled me with joy to see their happy faces.

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Steve opened the formalities.

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He said, ‘Thank you for being here for what is a significant event. Significant because Rose’s book took 12 years to finish’ (laughter). ‘War and Peace’ took six years to finish (more hilarity).

Clapping and a few spontaneous tears followed particular readings. The songs, ‘Woodstock’, ‘All Things Must Pass’ and ‘Almost Cut my Hair’, were inserted strategically between readings and exposition.

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Let me End with the Book’s Blurb

Rose was born into the lucky generation — a time of relative material ease beyond the degrading poverty of the Great Depression and the atrocities of the last global war.

Following an atypical childhood, she came of age in the early seventies when social revolution and university culture profoundly shaped her life, propelling her into the counterculture, feminist activism and an Eastern spiritual quest.

Against the backdrop of new enlightenment, marriage breakdowns, four children, and an ongoing search for love Rose crafts a composite whole — a quilt stitched one patch at a time.

These pages reveal more than Rose’s past, for they illuminate the roller coaster ride of the Boomer generation, told with honesty and an engagingly heartfelt personal voice.

AUTHOR BIO

Patchwork – A Life is available for purchase by emailing Rose at roseannae53@gmail.com