I always enjoyed writing from a young age. Though I was a late reader, my mother patiently and lovingly persisted to teach me the fundamentals of reading, with homemade flash cards, rhyming games on the trampoline, and reading to me at night. At the age of 7, I finally learnt to read and developed a love of all things literature ever since.I struggled at school but immersed myself in drama, English, and choir. In no way was I popular, and worked very hard to get to where I am, and had a father who encouraged me with lined unused notebooks from work, those old, hard, black covered books were like winning a lottery! I would proudly read my poetry to the class and my teacher would encourage me to keep writing. After leaving school, I worked in the field of disability assistance, tutoring in English, childcare, and was a support teacher’s aide at a school. My struggling has made me extremely understanding to other people’s needs and I wanted to further help others in my writing. I ran writing groups for both adults and children, and after forming bonds with youth, was inspired to write something to boost their self-esteem, to encourage them to always do their best, no matter what. This is what my father taught me, and I pass on to my children and to the ones I teach. Just Breathe, is a book that deals with real issues that preteens and teenager’s face in their every daily lives and gives heart-warming tools of how best to overcome trials faced. It touches on differences, friendship and conflict, and overall self-realisation.If what I write touches someone’s life in some way, and gives them strength to believe in their abilities, then that is the greatest reward I’ll ever receive.Barbara Utley.
