EXETER LIVES
“Writing has just about kept me sane” a nurse, I realised that I could return to my earlier passion for writing and do this from home, thus being more present and flexible for family life. It took a huge leap of faith and selfpersuasion to get it back out of the drawer, but I’m thrilled I did. What do you hope children will take away from the book?
TRIONA HARRIS
Triona is an NHS nurse, mother of three – and now author – living in Woodbury. Here she chats about the inspiration for her debut book The Tomluc Tree Tell us about your book...
The Tomluc Tree (a children’s book aimed at under sevenyear-olds) is a tale of a boy who wants to bring nature back to his surrounding area, so he seeks the help of those around him to make this a reality. It is a story of positivity and patience, teamwork, and never giving up on the environment. What does the word Tomluc mean?
The tree is a made up tree, but can represent any plant. I had fun with Sarah Miles, the very talented illustrator, trying to decide what it would look like. Our twin boys are called Thomas and Lucas and Tomluc is simply a combination of their names. Your children were the inspiration for the book…
From an early age all three children enjoyed being outdoors
and playing in nature. Living in Devon, we are lucky to be surrounded by stunning country side, beaches, moors and forests on our doorstep. When the twins were little, I’d often drive around with them and once they were asleep, I’d park up at beauty spots (or occasionally a supermarket car park!) and most of The Tomluc Tree was written then, taking inspiration not only from what I could see out of the car window, but from the uplifting sense of wellbeing that open spaces and nature gave me as a sleep deprived new mum! Your book was in a drawer for five years, what made you pick it up and continue?
Having twins with autism made me re-evalute where I was going career wise, particularly as their additional needs have meant that my husband and I have had to be more available at home. Thinking beyond my role as
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My aim with the book is to draw children’s attention to several things close to my heart, namely the importance of plants and nature, working together, and asking for help. Connecting with nature can provide a great source of education, mental and physical fitness, as well as fun. Did you always want to be a writer?
Yes! I have always loved writing. As soon as I learnt to read and write as a child, I used to submit most of my schoolwork in rhyming couplets. Even my science homework! You’ll be glad to know that my nursing reports don’t follow the same format! My first degree, before I went on to do my nurse training, was in creative writing. You’re a nurse, you’re husband is a GP – do your jobs in healthcare impact your writing in any way?
The theme of being compassionate and encouraging people to seek help when necessary is vital to any role within healthcare as is the importance of team work, communication and consideration for our future generations, and all of these things are reflected in The Tomluc Tree, but in a more accessible and understanding way for young children.
Can you give us a glimpse into your life in the last year?
Working as a doctor and nurse during a global pandemic has
certainly been interesting for both of us and has come with its own challenges. Parenting three kids is demanding at any time, but chuck in a few national lockdowns with home-schooling and some additional stress of children with special needs, and we’ve definitely had our hands full! I think writing, as a creative escapism, has actually just about kept me sane. As we slowly re-emerge from Covid, is life getting back to normal for you?
A new normal maybe. With regards to work, it feels pretty normal to be covered in PPE these days, and it is good to be seeing fewer very poorly Covidrelated people coming through the hospitals now. I have been a part of the vaccine roll out in Devon, which has been a remarkable thing to be part of, but mass vaccination still feels a step away from normalcy. In terms of family life, the simplicity of lockdown life seemed easier for our children and they have been very content being at home, growing things and going on dogs walks on the local commons and beaches. You’ve got another book in the pipeline too…
Painting Rainbows is about a rainbow-obsessed little girl whose mission it is to bring more colour and joy into peoples’ lives. It is currently being illustrated by a local artist and we are hoping it will be out by the end of this year. n The Tomluc Tree
is available at local stockists including Squid and the Kid, Darts Farm, St Bridget’s Nurseries, Dartmoor Zoo and also Waterstones: www.waterstones.com
