Author encourages readers to Join Her In The Break

British-born Montserratian, Thelma Gage, publishes her first book

NEW BOOK: Thelma Gage

WORDSMITH THELMA Gage has published her first book and is encouraging everyone to pick up a copy and Join Her in the Break which is the title of her new work.

She was raised on the Caribbean island of Montserrat from the age of 5 where she received her education and trained as a nurse before her return to the UK in the 1980s. She grew up in a Christian home where she was expected to be a positive role model for her younger siblings.

“Our father was a local preacher and he led the family in worship every morning and evening.

“Having been introduced to books from an early age, I had a voracious appetite for reading.”

Thelma Gage

“We learned to start the day with God and as the eldest child it would be normal to take a lead in reading passages from the Morning Watch – a book of inspirational thoughts with a spiritual meaning, while also assisting in the running of the home.

“My parents also had high expectations for me to do well in school.”

Thelma attributes her love for reading and writing to her late father, John (aka George) Gage, to whom she also dedicates the book alongside her mother, Sarah Gage.

“My interest in words in written form comes from my dad. He was particular about reading with expression and the use of grammatically correct language.

“Those who knew my dad well, would understand my description of him as a ‘walking lexicon’ whose use of big words would then expand my own vocabulary by osmosis.”

Classes

Thelma did so well academically that she was allowed to skip classes in primary school.

“For me, the work was not challenging enough, so I often became bored and restless – getting into trouble, which did not go unnoticed by the class teacher.

“So the decision was made to put me into a higher class. This happened on two occasions, making me the youngest child in the school-leaving class – imagine being a 10-year-old in a class of 15-year-olds!

“On occasions, I was also encouraged to share my learning at the front of the class while the teacher was busy marking work, or I would be sent to teach a junior class.”

In secondary school, her reports would read ‘Thelma is a good student, but she needs to stop talking in class.’

“Of course, my dad, who my brother described as “dishing out discipline like another religion”, would give his signature response with the help of the strap, even though my grades were still high.

“That was how much importance he placed on good behaviour.  Again, this moulding was his way of also letting my siblings know what was expected of them.”

Spiritual nature

There was never a shortage of books to read during her childhood which ranged from adventure stories, to detective novels, alongside books of a more spiritual nature.

“Having been introduced to books from an early age, I had a voracious appetite for reading, which to this day cannot be tamed.

“I started secondary school at age 11 and fell in love with the public library that was within walking distance of the school.

“As we had no TV at home, I borrowed the maximum five books per day and spent my evenings reading. 

“Yes, I had homework from school, which I did during break times, so I had as much time as possible with my story books.

“By age 13, I had read all the books in the children’s section of the library, with a particular interest in adventure and detective novels.

“Perhaps this led to my interest in forensics, the law and journalism, but in the end, I decided to train as a nurse as I also loved caring for people.”

Thelma went on to qualify as a nurse, midwife and health visitor. She returned to Montserrat after earning her diploma in Health Services Management.

Lone hospital

There she was the operational manager of the island’s lone hospital up to the time of the volcanic crisis in 1995 when she facilitated the evacuation of the hospital to the ‘safe zone’.­­

She returned to the UK in the late 1990s and continued with postgraduate studies in management and education which allowed her to support health visiting students and newly qualified practitioners. She currently works in the area of safeguarding children. She divides her week between work and caring for her disabled mother.

Travelling is Thelma’s way of having fun and she has had many exciting holidays to various parts of the world – even taking her wheelchair-bound mother with her.

She also has a range of other interests including the piano, crochet, knitting and puzzles.

Her newly published book – Join Me in the Break – is a compilation of short readings which focus on some of her personal life experiences alongside the everyday experiences of others and how they can be viewed in a more positive light.

Search

Thelma works on the premise that ‘there is nothing new under the sun’, so following a news item, she may ask, ‘Has something like this happened in the Bible?’ – which would then begin a search for the necessary evidence.

This work is intended to offer readers some hope through a spiritual perspective during the current time of crisis with its enforced break and large dose of despair.

“In the same way that workers are given a tea break where they can sit down and reflect on issues around them or engage with others on life, I hope to create the same effect with this book.

“Through the sharing of ordinary, every day experiences with which the reader can relate, it is hoped that a connection would be made between the mundane and the spiritual so that we all realize that there is a higher purpose to our lives.”

To attend the free Join Me in the Break Webinar event on May 9 (4:30pm), please book your place here: https://joinmeinthebreak.com/events

For more information on Join Me in the Break or to purchase the book, then please visit the official website here: https://joinmeinthebreak.com/

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