storyteller. writer.

I devoured stories as a child, filling my imagination with words and phrases until I was able to begin to craft my own. In science fiction and fantasy, I found endless universes and creatures, and the power of myth to explore the psyche. These are highlights of my current creative projects. In true multi-passionate form, I am writing tales from within 3 distinct universes:

  • steampunk where mysticism and palace intrigue run high in a time of uneasy peace,

  • a high fantasy setting where forgotten relics restore an ancient, angry god, and

  • the magical underbelly in London & New Orleans where the power-mad threaten life as we know it

This summer also gave rise to a new form of creation for me - creative essays inspired by memoir writing, and a new way to make sense of the limits and release within my subconscious.

 
 
Curls
memoir, creative non-fiction CJ Goodwin memoir, creative non-fiction CJ Goodwin

Curls

I got my hair styled when I was little, sometime near 4 or 5. It was a birthday treat, and I realise, a treat for my mother who sat nightly and dealt with my squirming and cries as she worked through two feet of curl.

I can recall how the stylist didn’t pull my hair as much as my mum, but what I remember most is the stylist telling me all about how wonderful and beautiful my curls were, which I already knew. And how she wished she had hair like this, and how in a few years I’d hate them and wish my hair was straight.

I was incensed. No, I replied with feeling, I love my hair. She and my mum shared a knowing glance and laugh between them.

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