People have asked how I came to write Paying in Blood - not an obvious path for a former STEM girl and engineering graduate. Although still uncovering more pointers from my distant past, my experiences whilst volunteering in a women's prison probably had the greatest impact.
Leading a weekly bible group in the prison, I
saw how the participants connected with stories. Whether from the UK,
Zimbabwe or Iran, those in full health, with mental illness, addictions or physical disease, a strong faith or primarily wanting an afternoon away from the wing, all
related to the stories and characters, and wanted to talk about their own
experiences as a result. The same was true when prison officers joined the
group (accompanying young offenders), or even a male bishop on one
occasion. Everyone had a story to tell.
Even more noticeable was the effect when those
who had previously been imprisoned themselves, returned with outside groups. Their testimonies and stories carried more weight, knowing what it was like to be “dealt a poor hand” in life. One wrote his
autobiography which also had a profound effect on several.
Meeting one woman greatly
affected me. She lived in the same block of flats as one of my uncles in
Portsmouth. If my father had not found faith and prosperity, through a
church youth club and a dockyard apprenticeship scheme, could I
have been in her shoes?
Later when illness curtailed my activities, I was disappointed to no longer be able to visit the prison, but slowly began
to believe that I could tell stories myself, and learn to write – a big step
for someone who had chosen Physics O Level at school rather than English Language.
The different threads in my own life (e.g. prison, apprenticeship, defence/security, belonging to a faith community) combined in a new way to create the first story about Alexander Baxby - an ambitious young man from humble origins who is caught between conflicting loyalties. I took a couple of longer breaks between consultancy contracts – one by choice and the other when I broke my ankle – and was very grateful for support and encouragement from many others, including college tutors who helped me understand the history of the first independent Baptists and Mayflower Pilgrims, many of whom were imprisoned themselves for their beliefs.
Paying in Blood is free via Kindle Unlimited and to buy at www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CW6LKGK7
By Karen Haden (Instagram: @kjhaden, X/Twitter:@kjhaden, Blog: KarenHaden.blogspot.com)
