My name's Jennifer Ruth Keeling, I'm 17.

I was born and still live in Surrey not far from London. I am the youngest of four children, 2 girls and 2 boys. I have always loved writing and being creative, I wrote my first story aged 5 and have been writing ever since.

It was only when my life was turned upside down three years ago with my Dad's diagnosis of cancer that writing became my escape. I did it so I could pretend to be someone else and get away from all the difficulties surrounding me, it was a brilliant way to de-stress. My dad eventually died February 28 (07) and I intend to keep writing although he is no longer ill. I have often noticed that the best writers or actors etc have had a tough time earlier on in their life, maybe I could be one of them too.

I was originally 'just another writer' on Helium. Although, I hasten to add, nobody is 'just another writer' on here. But, I digressed, I now have a specific role to fill. I am site steward for Teen Views, co-steward with Eric Lies (see my writer's list). If you have any questions or anything, then contact me (or Eric) and we will help the best we can.

My passion is ...

writing, music, the arts... everything

I know too much about ...

too little

My parents always told me ...

Mum: I want never gets. Dad: If you flutter those eyelashes, you can have anything...

My childhood ambition ...

to publish a novel, (that hasn't changed much).

Why I write ...

because I have Compulsive Writer's Disorder...

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Reading Emma by Jane Austen, watching the adaptation of Charles Dickens' Our Mutual Friend, listening to Andrea Boccelli!

My best moment ...

is yet to come...

My inspiration ...

everything.

Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Life without Daddy

13 of 38

For Daddy,

How cruel it was of you
To leave me on my own

You took a part of me away
And the world's not the same as it was
before.

Colours aren't quite so rich,
Music is now only mediocre,
The once-beautiful painting is no longer art,
Just a few splashes of dull colour.
The once-amazing feat of architecture is now,
Just a building, same as any other.

How cruel it was of you
To take the colour out of my world

But slowly, so slowly,
The mists are beginning to clear

I can now see shapes and patterns
in a simple forest view.
I have found the pinks and blues
in t...

More..