Friday 25 September 2015

The Z Files ~ Val Poore ~ Taurus

Welcome to The Z Files, in which writers/bloggers show how the characteristics of their star sign influence their work; contributors have been invited to treat the subject as seriously, cynically or lightly as they like.  Links to other posts can be found at the end of this one :)

Val escapes via Taurus Bull when her barge gets into trouble!

I waved a red rag and she rushed towards my blog ~ here is a cheerful Taurus, and one of the nicest people I've met in cyberspace, the fabulous Val Poore!  I first got to know Val after I read her accounts of life on board barge, Watery Ways and Harbour Ways, and her magical book about life in South Africa (you got it - African Ways!).  You can read my reviews of all three HERE, all Amazon links included. 


Let us moor up here for a while, Val, so you may tell us about being a Taurean writer...

"Taurus the bull. That's quite something to live up to, or rather live with, for as the sign suggests, Taureans are known for being stubborn, intractable and when they've got their heads down and horns out, totally un-extractable too. I am one of these, and a fairly typical example. I seem to have all the 'difficult' characteristics that Taureans are known for to some extent, but I like to think I'm not too impossible or unforgiving...well, at least my sense of humour is in pretty good shape, so I hope that redeems me a bit!"


"That said, being a Taurean can be very useful as a writer. Because of our natural persistence, we bulls tend to be pretty determined to finish what we've started. So, once the first page of a book is down, you can be pretty sure the Taurean will make it to the last one. I've managed to complete and publish five books and have nearly finished the sixth, and that tenacity - or bullish doggedness (metaphorical animal mix intended) to make it to 'The End' has really helped. It's also helped in providing the material for my writing in that life has thrown a few lemons at me and landed me in some curious places - on a remote farm in Africa and a barge in Rotterdam to name two. The Taurean trait of being practical and coping really saved me in these situations, and of course gave me the stories to fill the three memoirs I've written. That and a well developed sense of the absurd, which I think is quite a Taurean characteristic too."


"Apart from this, bulls like fine, artistic things in life and good quality too. In writing, this translates to an obsession with getting it right. I'm not saying I always do, or that I'm fault free - far from it, and it can drive me nuts - but I proofread and edit to the point where I end up dreaming of catastrophic disasters involving missing commas, and having - horror of horrors - semi-colon nightmares. But don't worry, I won't bore you with the details...dreams know no boundaries when it comes to either reality or tedium.

All told, though, I'm glad the astrological gods saw fit to plonk me on earth in May. I rather think that if I didn't have these bullish traits, life might have steered (sorry, couldn't resist that one) another, less exciting or creatively rewarding course for me."

~ Val in the 1960s?? ~

Ah, you are more Taurean than I thought, Val!  I think it must be quite a good sign to be - and I do like bulls, you tend to know where you are with them, it has to be said ~ hell, I married one!  If you have any interest at all in somewhat less than conventional lifestyles, you'll love Val's 'Ways' books, she's a smashing writer, and she writes the odd bit of fiction, too!  You can also follow her on Twitter  and look at her 'Rivergirl' blog.

Now, some famous Taurean scribes for Val.....

I couldn't resist this one: Jerome K Jerome, author of one of my favourite books ever... Three Men in a Boat

.... and another of my favourite authors ever, and a jolly nice Taurus chap, John Boyne.  A real 'we are not worthy' ~ if you haven't read him, do!

......my sister Julia bumped into him on a train and he was happy to have his photo taken with her!
 
Coming next: Another luscious Leo! 

Previous Posts:
Aquarius and Capricorn: Nicky Black
Aquarius: Lynda Renham
Sagittarius: Katrina Mountfort,
Cancer: Mark Barry
Virgo: Barb Taub
Pisces: Sacha Black
Scorpio: Jenny Twist
 

18 comments:

  1. Oh you are just fab, TT! I was so excited about reading this and seeing what you made of it, I even checked in the middle of the night to see if it was up! I love the Jerome K Jerome match. So proud to be in the same space as him and lucky Julia! To meet John Boyne! And yes, I really am a full-on Taurean, except I like to think I left some of that self absorption behind with my adolescence :) Thank you!! As you know, I love these Z Files!!! Xxx

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    1. Ha ha, that's what I do when I have a piece on someone's blog!!! I nearly put it on last night so I could add the link to all the other posts in readiness, but decided to get up early instead! Glad you like it xx

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  2. Another brilliant Z File! I think we all need to adopt Val's Taurean trait of being determined to finish what we started ;-)

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    1. You, a Gemini, finishing everything you start??? Impossible!

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    2. Haha, Shelley, it's stronger than myself. I just missed being Gemini by three days, but there's no doubt about my bullish tendencies :) I have some wonderful Gemini friends, though, so you are a fun and special lot! Thanks!!

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  3. Nightmares about semicolons - ha, I hear ya, girlfriend! Lovely to find out more about you, Val.

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    1. You too, dear Julia! I have so enjoyed these posts and loved the first one with you. A fabulous concept by TT to find out more about our fellows in the writing field!

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  4. What an interesting piece on one of my favourite writers and a lovely person, Val, who I think of as a real friend. You can tell how nice she is from her books, that's what makes the characters so attractive and likeable. What's more I am a Taurus and it's nice to read the positives, as opposed to the negatives (stubborn, tenacious in the face of logic etc). Proud to be a fellow Taurus!

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    1. Bless you, Geoff. The negatives are really just the other end of scale of the positives, aren't they? I've really had to learn not to be too stubborn about holding on to my position when logic tells me I'm just wrong…tough stuff, that!

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  5. Oh having the trait of finishing what you start is an excellent one to have and knowing nothing about this stuff I'm loving seeing the different personalities and how people think they apply to them - excellent stuff! Keep it coming and it's lovely to read more about you Val :-)

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    1. Thank you too, Georgia! I've also loved reading about everyone else. Even if you're not into star signs, it's a great idea and so interesting to read more about our Twitter and blogging friends here. Big thumbs up to TT!

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  6. Val, I have often attracted Taureans as close friends. I can definitely see your determination after reading your Ways books. It is clear that you see things through to completion. But, you have one added asset that I don't remember my Taureans friends having and that is your wonderful sense of humor. It truly lightens things as you take life in stride and add that angelic touch! Lynn

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    1. Ah, Lynn, thank you! I was born with a very sensitive funny bone. It doesn't take more than a slight tap on it to make me laugh. It can be a disadvantage at times as I often find things funny that I shouldn't! :)

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  7. Knowing Ms P as well as I do, I can testify to the fact that she is all of the above and more on the positive side of Taurus.. and stubb... er I mean determined ;-) very very determined.

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    1. Haw haw, Jo. You know me too well. Big *wink* :)

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