WOW! WHAT A NIGHT!
In the Mercure Hotel, on Wednesday 5th February, Ayr Writers’ Club was abuzz! Maria Cairnie – our 6th Guest Speaker of this 2024/25 season, a teacher, a drama specialist, a Communication Education Tutor, and a children’s author – described herself as having ‘three jobs’ and being ‘a busy lady’. Yet her passion as an experienced teacher (for over 30 years) for young children and as an author of children’s picture books shone through.
Having a mother who was one of eight children and a father who played guitar, Maria grew up amongst stories, lyricism, and music. A need to write daily and a passion for books began with a book that arrived in the post with the words ‘Par Avion’ stamped on the envelope.
Maria described her many written and picture books for children: her ‘first ever’ book from The Blitzy Boy series called Blitzy Boy’s Night on the Town, was illustrated in black and white to encourage the child’s imagination. It is about a dog feeling down, but who will ‘get down on the dance floor,’ with Maria’s message of, ‘Loneliness or feeling alone doesn’t need to be an option if you keep encouraging friendship, togetherness, support and shared experiences.’ This Blitzy book was performed to 1,000 pupils and had everyone on the dance floor.
Her second book, Blitzy Boy on Cattle Show Day is about home baking and ‘the dog with the waggiest tail.’ Maria’s third book, The Marveloso Mini Beast Maloo, is about a caterpillar and was inspired by Strictly Come Dancing. She explained, ‘In life, whilst you are looking for happiness – sometimes it’s all around you or is out there looking for you. Enjoy the journey along the way.’
Maria explained that teachers involve young children in play and, as a counterbalance to children using screens, try to develop connectedness. Caring, hope, empathy, and deep sadness, all feature in Maria’s picture books. With a love of poetry, rhythm, music, and theatre, everything she writes ‘has an intention’ – connecting with youngsters.
After a lively tea/coffee break and a good question and answer session, Maria spoke about her latest project – creating music and her first ever album. She then read and acted the words from her book Blitzy Boy’s Night on the Town, filling the room with rhyme, rhythm, humour, and song.
She concluded with this advice, ‘Find that niche that you’re good at, read your audience, and find the silly things.’
Thank you Maria, for an entertaining AWC night just bursting with joy!
Carrie Watts