I first started writing in 2016 just after my eldest daughter, Jasmine, was born. I began to write poems and rhymes about everyday life as a way of processing and expressing the tidal wave of emotions that I felt as a new mum.
Inspired by the books I was reading to Jasmine, I turned my hand to writing and illustrating children’s rhyming stories in 2017. The first of these, A New View of the Zoo was created after a visit to Berlin zoo. After much encouragement from friends and family, I self-published this book and it is now available to buy through most online book retailers.
I have since gone on to write and publish two more children’s stories. I wrote and illustrated Harry’s First Holiday following a trip to Dubrovnik with friends. The Potogold And The Broken Rainbow was written in collaboration with Georgie M. Beadman and illustrated by The Sibling Group at The Rainbows Hospice For Children And Young People. All proceeds from this book are donated to the hospice.
I take inspiration for my children’s books from my two little girls, Jasmine and Rosanna. The way in which they see the world with their vivid imaginations is just incredible. It makes me sad to think that they will lose this at some point.
More recently, I made the decision to publish the rhymes that I wrote around my feelings and experiences during the first two years as a mum. These now form the book No Dummy For Mummy: From Poppy Seed To Parrot. It took me a while to muster the courage to publish this book, as some of the rhymes were written at my most vulnerable moments. However, I was motivated by my belief that my words have the potential to help other parents.
The response I have received from “No Dummy For Mummy” has encouraged me to do more with my writing for the good of others. As such, I am now working on several new projects to help and support other groups of individuals. If you have an idea that you would like to chat to me about then please email info@sallyrwilkes.co.uk.
If you like my poems and would like something written specifically for you then I also offer a bespoke poem writing service through my business Rhymes To Remember. To find out more about this and to see what services I offer please visit www.rhymestoremember.co.uk.
