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Though it occasionally smells of grass clippings I also share it with the lawnmower I wouldn't change it for anything. I am known as an outdoor writer and I run Wild Writing Workshops that help other writers to find the freedom and inspiration from the great outdoors. It's got a little stove and looks out over fields and woods. It's a slice of heaven in Devon. It's a home from home. It's warm, comfortable and above all, quiet. I have my fridge and some chocolate and fruit. Most importantly I can sit here all day and dream, undisturbed.

At least 25 of my stories have been written in this wonderful hideaway. With two young daughters I needed a separate space, but working from home also means I'm never far from family life, which is something that's very important to me.


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When the door to my studio is shut, my daughters know, "Shhh, Dad's working! My wife is also an artist and she has a work station beside mine, so sometimes the room has more of a shared studio feel about it, which is nice. I find this helps get my mind whirring, and ideas to flow.

Although it might look quite messy, it's actually quite well organised so I know where everything is! The shed is deliberately buried in green, with trees and vegetation climbing all around it. It could be anywhere. It might be anything. I've always been happiest in tents, especially when it rains.

Writers' writing sheds

Other days I go to a cafe to write, because it's helpful to be given hot drinks by a friendly person while writing. We review lots of new books every month, and here's where you can find the ones we liked best of all. It was a lovely surprise three days before Christmas. I like receiving the parcels as they make me feel happy. Search the site Search term is required. Home News and features Features October Writers' writing sheds.

Writers' writing sheds Published on: Abie Longstaff, author of Fairytale Hairdresser 'For me, writing in my hut provides a way to escape from reality. I'm an Alien 'I love to write in Nunhead Cemetery. Killer Tomatoes 'I treasure my shed. See where your favourite authors write and illustrate books Play. Gill Lewis, author of Gorilla Dawn Image 2 of Abie Longstaff, author of Fairytale Hairdresser Image 5 of Mimi Thebo, author of Dreaming the Bear Image 6 of Currently you have JavaScript disabled.

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  • The Magic Garden?

Expect family-friendly fun, floral-themed art, singing, sharing and lots of surprises. Highlights throughout the weekend: Seeds — create a seed to plant in our garden — what will your seed become? Outdoor summer games to enjoy: Look out for more updates as the weekend approaches. Dear Karin Thank you for your lovely feedback.

Have a great day! This is classified as a youth book, but I found it a charming and sweet story. The innocence of the children, and the sweet tender love a child has for another. Gene Stratton-Porter wrote this book with Lee Thayer. Sometimes the books of today of an edge that forgets the innocence of a child. Oct 08, Laura rated it it was ok. This book had some redeeming qualities like the ability to paint an exquisite mental picture that you wanted to jump into, and illustrated the power of love.

Let me know how you like it. It didn't seem to fit in with the book. Dec 12, Megan rated it liked it.

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The Magic Garden is a beautiful story, but quite strange in places Jul 28, Liza Verdon rated it it was amazing. Gene Stratton Porter never fails to make me laugh and cry. This book was really, really sweet. May 01, Mellie rated it really liked it. Such a lovely story! Enjoyed it a lot! This book is a lot darker than the title might suggest, but that's about par for the course with Stratton-Porter.

More interestingly is the way she uses themes that are still very much a part of books, specifically YA, today - much more hopeful, while still maintaining the basic cruelty of parts of the story. Jan 17, Ariel Greenwood rated it liked it. A leafy love story -just leafy! For forest girls with hungry hearts, this emotional rollercoaster through the green gardens of idealistic romance is worth a read for fans of Stratton Porter's 'Girl of the Limberlost'. Aug 26, Jean Bonilla rated it it was amazing. I have been sobbing my heart out over this beautiful book for over fifty years.

Jan 01, Bt rated it liked it Recommended to Bt by: It was about the lives of three lonely children and the effects of divorce and losing a parent.

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It was heart-wrenching but then so lovely and beautiful and joyful as the children learned to love and find happiness. I was with it every step of the way, and I was so emotionally absorbed. The point of view and language used to discuss the kids was powerful and realistic. Kids are hard to write. BUT then the kids started growing up, and the story lost its beautiful simplicity, and the relationships made less sense.

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Why didn't their fathers let them play together when they were little? Later, why did the fathers never tell them they'd kept in contact with each other? Can I really condone Amaryllis going on a long trip to Italy for the sole purpose of stalking John but never talking to him?!?! Conflict was almost nonexistent the biggest conflict was having to wait when you don't want to. People got almost everything they wanted, and life proceeded according to plan. And then the end was random and out of the blue! The incredible tragedy overshadowed most of the happiness I would've felt.

It was such a nice, optimistic book up to that point that the sudden tone shift to catastrophe and gloom was jarring - and not in a good way. I'll look for other books by this author, though, because the first part was so good. If the second half had been as good as the first, I would've given it 5 stars. Mar 05, Tom Helmick rated it it was amazing Shelves: This is now thought to be Gene Statton-Porter's last book and it is lovely, almost a child's allegory.

Jul 10, Rachel rated it liked it. I don't know why I haven't picked up on this sooner, but I as I was reading, "The Magic Garden", there was a statement made by the author that was quite disturbing and I realized as I thought of her other books, seems to be a theme. That is, the lack of a mother and no need for a mother. I have appreciated Porter's morals and character that she teaches in her books but am disturbed by this latest realization.

It may stem from her losing her mother at such a young age and being raised by her fath I don't know why I haven't picked up on this sooner, but I as I was reading, "The Magic Garden", there was a statement made by the author that was quite disturbing and I realized as I thought of her other books, seems to be a theme. It may stem from her losing her mother at such a young age and being raised by her father.

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Regardless, it is a theme I do not believe in and am disappointed. As for the story in this book, other than the huge flag of lack of a mother figure, the morals taught in this story are good. I've liked other books by Porter better but this one is still enjoyable for the most part. Not brilliant like some of her other works, but quick and entertaining. Mar 04, RaiRaiKen rated it really liked it. I'm still trying to Google whether my copy is a or a edition. I'm guessing my book is 79 or 89 years old now: I've been devouring 20th century books as of late, and they always surprise me and fail to disappoint.

I love seeing how different the past century was to this century. The Magic Garden is a sweet, short story I finished it within 2 to 3 hours about a young, wealthy girl--unloved and neglected--who runs It was pure luck when I found a Hutchinson edition of The Magic Garden. The Magic Garden is a sweet, short story I finished it within 2 to 3 hours about a young, wealthy girl--unloved and neglected--who runs away and meets an older boy; and both instantly finds love in each other.

There are childish kissing and hugging scenes, which make me uncomfortable and find strange; nonetheless, the part where both do their best to become good adults before meeting again can really pull your heartstrings!

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The book, though it is meant for children, is a recommended read. I love it to bits! Sep 26, Karen GoatKeeper rated it it was ok Shelves: This novel was written around and it shows. Amaryllis is smart, well educated but uses it only to make a house beautiful for her true love. He is also well educated and a virtuoso violinist and gets to go on tours and give concerts.

It gets very preachy with stiff conduct and moral codes. I did enjoy the first part of the book when Amaryllis was five, rich, abandoned by everyone and desperate to be part of a family who cares. The ending was typical of the time but very disapp This novel was written around and it shows.