Catherine Elizabeth Rose


cetrueman@btinternet.com

About My Writing  

I have been writing creatively since the age of seven, particularly poetry, some of which has been successful in competitions and appeared in various mixed anthologies (see below).

The first poems I had published were in the National Poetry Foundation's publication Pause. These were Churchyard Children in 1993 and She Shore in 1994.

I have since gone on to publish others and won or been commended in various competitions, including first prize in the 2005 Winchester Annual Writers' Conference Poetry competition: Reaching Out sponsored by Penguin Books for the poem 'Beyond the Sense of Road'.

As a child, I invented several children's storybook characters which I would love to develop as well as compiling my own anthology of poetry.

In January 2007 my first children's novel 'The Bone Cradle' was published which has been looked at by 20th Century Fox. The sequel Grey Amber has just been published and has been available since January 2010 on both Amazon UK and Amazon US as well as other bookselling websites. The first chapter of this novel won second prize at the 2007 Winchester Writers' Conference Writing for Children competition. I am planning to write the third and final book in the trilogy shortly.

Also on the back burner is a children's book based around the Great War, the first chapter of which was Highly Commended in the 2005 Winchester Annual Writers' Conference competition for the first chapter of a children's novel for over 12's sponsored by Little Tiger Press.

I have read some of my poetry: at my local library, at The Crypt in London's Islington (which does valuable work in supporting the homeless), with an open poetry group in Bedford and in 2006 at a charity function in the area where I now live.

I have also hosted creative writing workshops including a poetry workshop for children at my village school who subsequently did me the honour of naming one of their tables after me. I have been invited back several times to give talks and book signings at a local private girls school and this year I also visited a local school for children with dyslexia and other learning difficulties to do a workshops with three classes during Book Week.

Features include the Writers Promote page in Writers Forum magazine, several times in the local newspaper: The Biggleswade Chronicle, a snippet in The Sun, book reviews in the Beds on Sunday, The Advertiser newspaper and the Chronicle, a two page spread in Discover Bedfordshire magazine and a feature in The Comet newspaper.

  

Authors' Register:

About My Background  

I grew up a short distance from the old Wembley Stadium in the rich cultural diversity of North West London, an area that has changed a lot since I was a child. My profoundly deaf mother was a gifted artist and my much older late father worked for nearly half his life at the BBC as a radio engineer. I can still remember the excitement of being allowed to accompany him to work on the eighth floor at BH (Broadcasting House) during the school holidays and spotting all the famous DJ's and personalities in the BBC canteen. I have had a deep love of the English language for as long as I can remember. After leaving my high school in Neasden (now sadly demolished), I took a B.A. Honours Degree majoring in English Literature at Hatfield Polytechnic (now the University of Hertfordshire). I then decided I wanted to go into journalism and took an Honours Diploma with the London School of Journalism. I have since worked for three large publishing groups, my local newspaper and on a freelance basis, both writing and editing. I am currently part time Nostalgia Correspondent for my local newspaper and have just completed my first year of an M.A. in Creative Writing at Middlesex University. 

My Books

 

Pause

  
Genre: Poetry

 
 Poem - Churchyard Children

National Poetry Foundation

1993


 
  


 

Pause

  
Genre: Poetry

 
 Poem - She Shore

National Poetry Foundation

1994


 
  


 

Inspirations from Central England

  
Genre: Poetry

 
 Poem - Final Notes of a Boy (on Expedition to the Cairngorms)

Anchor Books 1995

HB ISBN 1-85930-300-5

SB ISBN 1-85930-305-6




 
  


 

The Stages of Life

  
Genre: Poetry

 
 Poem - Caesar

Anchor Books 1998

HB ISBN 1-86188-692-6

SB ISBN 1-86188-687-X






 
  


 

Inspirations from Central England 1999

  
Genre: Poetry

 
 Poem - Beyond Sense of Road

Anchor Books 1999

HB ISBN 1-85930-740-X

SB ISBN 1-85930-745-0
 
  


 

Mildew and Mandarins

  
Genre: Poetry

 
 Poem - The Snowman

Seafield Publishing 2002

ISBN 1874393079










 
  


 

Bright Voices

  
Genre: Poetry
Buy the Book

 
 Poem - The Playground

United Press 2003

ISBN 1-84436-064-4


 
  


 

National Poetry Anthology 2004

  
Genre: Poetry
Buy the Book

 
 Poem - The View from St Mary's

United Press 2004

ISBN 1-84436-040-7


 
  


 

Affectionately Yours

  
Genre: Poetry
Buy the Book

 
 Poem - Inside Love

United Press 2005

ISBN 1-84436-272-8


 
  


 

Runner

  
Genre: Fiction - Children's

 
 After enlisting while still underage, Charlie is posted with his regiment to Belgium and has to grow up fast when his nerves are tested to the limit at the front in Ypres both by his comrades and the conditions he finds there. But Charlie’s ability to run turns him from a potential liability into a valuable asset…..

This novel aims to paint a very realistic picture of what it was like to fight on the front line during the First World War, something which is now virtually out of living memory, and to show that the lads who fought together there, were not so different from us today.


 
 Read an Extract 


 

The Best of 2005 - The Annual Writers' Silver Jubilee Conference

  

 
 Anthology of the winners of The Writers' Silver Jubilee Conference 2005 including the re-edited 'Beyond the Sense of Road' (Poetry Competition - Reaching Out sponsored by Penguin Books).
 
  


 

Poetic Images

  
Genre: Poetry

 
 Anthology of the poems shortlisted for Poetry in Print's 2005 Children with Leukaemia Poetry competition and including the poem 'The Memory of Snow'.

This National Competition has raised nearly £2,000 for Children with Leukaemia.
 
  


 

Island Dreams

  
Genre: Poetry

 
 Anthology of the poems shortlisted for Poetry in Print's 2006 Children with Leukaemia Poetry competition and including the poem 'September'.


 
 Read an Extract 


 

The Bone Cradle

  
Genre: Fiction - Children's
Buy the Book

 
 This is my first novel published under my maiden name of C.E. Trueman and is now available to order on Amazon, WH Smith and Tesco websites as well as quite a few other sites (see www.bookbutler.com for more information). It is also available at the Bedford branch of Waterstones and at independent bookshops in Biggleswade and Chesham. It is also being used as a classroom text at two local schools. 20th Century Fox have recently shown an interest in the book and I have had some national and local news coverage.

The story centres around ten year old Matt Walker who lives with his mother, stepfather and older brother. When Matt and his friends accidentally stumble across a hidden house with an unusual occupant, Matt finds himself drawn into a mysterious adventure. The book explores preconceptions about good and evil, parenting and parental love. The theme is about coming to terms with loss.

I have now finished the sequel, Grey Amber.


 
 Read an Extract 


 

The New Poetry - In Love

  
Genre: Poetry
Buy the Book

 
 I have had two poems published in this mixed love poetry anthology after being selected from a competition run by Copeland Books. The poems are: Handmade in the Heart and The Rose. It is published in time for Valentine's Day 2009.
 
  


 

Grey Amber

  
Genre: Fiction - Children's
Buy the Book

 
 The sequel to The Bone Cradle, Grey Amber follows Matt as he embarks on a new adventure with latest pal Ollie to find some very special treasure, but who will they meet along the way?
 
  


 

Awards, Prizes and Commendations

 
  September 1974 - Third prize in the Brent Literary Short Story Competition. September 1980 - Runner up in the Impulse Poetry Competition judged by poet Brian Patten. September 2003 - shortlisted for United Press National Poetry Competition 2004 grand prize. May 2005 - First prize in the Annual Writers' Conference Poetry Competition 'Reaching Out' sponsored by Penguin Books. May 2005 - Highly Commended in the Annual Writers' Conference competition for the first chapter of an older children's novel (12 and over) for 'Runner' sponsored by Little Tiger Press. January 2006 - Shortlisted for Poetry In Print's grand prize for its Children with Leukaemia National Open Poetry Competition. January 2006 - Highly Commended in the Writers' Forum magazine poetry competition for 'After the Dinner Party.' March 2006 - 'Origami' published in Reach magazine. May 2006 - 'Carrion Crow' published in Reach magazine. September/October 2006 - 'Ammonite' published in Reach magazine. November 2006 - 'The Rose' published in Reach magazine. October 2007 - Second prize in the Writing for Children competition at the Winchester Writers' Conference (first chapter of Grey Amber).