Sylvia Farley - writes and performs as Amelia May Kingston Born 16.12.1942 (And living proof that it is never too late to have a happy childhood!)

QUALIFICATIONS INCLUDE:

B. A. (Psych) Hons, recognized by British Psychological Association. M.B.I.M, Full Corporate Member of British Institute of Management, Member of International Society for Mental Health On-Line.

R.H.S., C.D.H. and various other Horticultural, Floristry and Beekeeping qualifications. (I love learning!)

Also As.Lib. Assoc of Librarians, Information Technology etc.   Currently studying for City and Guilds Webmaster.

PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE:

"Gardening in the tropics" published by Crown agency. 1975

Seminal lecture, York University "Correlations in visual and emotional distancing" 1981

Assoc. of Mormon Counsellors and Psychotherapists Regular keynote features on sociology and psychotherapy. 1993- 96

Association of Alternative Practitioners "Neurological foundations of multiple personalities."1997

Regular features in I.O.W. M.S. Newsletter.2000-02

Articles in Ensign 1989-95.  

Also in Sailing and Horticultural magazines 1977-98

Wrote and recorded "Thoughts for the Day" for Isle of Wight Radio, 1997.

Various prizes and awards for poetry, short stories and articles 1995-2000.

Write and perform poetry and short stories as Amelia May Kingston for "Tell You a Tale"

Many other articles, short stories and poems published in various newspapers and magazines, currently contributing regularly to IP Eye, MS Newsletter and "Nurturing Potential".

STILL HOPING! (I have my failures too, and they are often blessings in disguise):-

Novella "Psychanthrop" accepted for publication by New Worlds 1964 - but magazine folded with issue in which it should have appeared. Novel "The Start of the Rains" accepted for publication by Macmillan, 1984 but later returned without comment due to change in personnel. "You're not Lucky, You Deserve It" accepted for publication by Aspen Publishers, 1998, later rejected as too concerned with emotion and spirituality! "Hosts of Angels" 2000 renamed "Butterflies" submitted to American Environmental Group who were keen to see it published but I learned only recently they expect me to find my own publisher as their funds are tied up in a Government "Slapp" suite.

I have had books rejected by Mills and Boon as "too realistic" and by other publishers as "too idealistic", "too cynical" "too ordinary" and "too fantastic" My main crime is to fail to fit into a specific genre - but I have fun.

Back to the drawing board....... where two more novels are under weigh...   I feel strongly about their message, but not at all sure if I dare....

PERSONAL HISTORY

Started working life as horticulturist. Research on light intensity in Arctic. Later purchasing, information technology, management and then landscaping in Africa.

Retrained as psychologist after spinal injury to become executive officer for national charity promoting employment of disabled people. Later still, counselling on loss issues and self-esteem.

(Also did bed, breakfast and evening meals for lorry drivers and sang on club circuit whilst raising three lovely children.)

Life has never been dull.... Finally retired on health grounds in 1989 as I have had remitting/relapsing MS since I was 14 years old. Continued as voluntary supervisor of trainee counsellors for Southampton University and other licensing bodies. Now I keep active in my local community promoting enabling issues, counselling voluntarily and fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis Society.

In 2001 this included a 750 mile Caribbean sailing challenge round Windward Isles, and North Sea and Scilly Isles laps of Round Britain catamaran relay. Great fun - like Lord Nelson I am usually seasick and I am also as blind as a bat!    Channel Isles with MS Challenge in June 2002.   Ambition - to take part in Spit Bergen Challenge. Also help with wild-flower project and act as chairman to local PC User Group and Computability for disabled people.

I live alone with my black cat.

For fun I entertain my family and friends, paint, write, sing, arrange flowers, sculpt, garden, swim, take gentle walks on beach and in forest, listen to talking books, play with my computer, do word puzzles and make mosaics. I have an active social life with a local Singles group and have just resumed an occasional spot singing Jazz with a very tolerant band at Ryde Castle Hotel.

Competent but rusty in several languages including French, Swedish and Finnish and learning Portuguese ready to visit my daughter who is currently working in Lisbon.

Life is still never dull.....