Local author writes children's poetry to raise hospice funds

A local author has penned a bespoke treasury of poems to help raise funds for Willow Wood Hospice, which she describes as “a very special place”. 

‘Into the Willow Wood’ by Johanne Lee is a variety of poems aimed at children aged 7 to 11, that she hopes adults will enjoy reading too. 

The book covers a wide range of subjects from self-belief and faith, to fairytale and nature. 

Johanne, who lives in Glossop but is originally from Droylsden, has always had a keen interest in reading and writing poems since her childhood. 

It was only during the Covid pandemic that the mother-of-three, who also recently became a grandma, decided to combine her poems together into published books and join poetry groups. 

“Poetry has become a daily practice for me,” the 56-year-old told us. “I love poetry and found a way with the picture books to raise awareness in early years settings of things like conservation and kindness.” 

‘Into the Willow Wood’ will be the 11th book of Johanne’s collection – which has helped to raise important subjects in children’s minds, as well as awareness and funds for both local and national charities. 

“The concerning thing to me is how much charity is needed,” said Johanne, who is a former dance teacher, hairdresser and teaching assistant. 

“Willow Wood Hospice is a place I’ve known about for a long time. I know so many people who have been in the Hospice and I’ve always wanted to support it in some way. It has helped so many people over the years. 

“Local charities like Willow Wood are amazing and they are so imaginative in the ways they raise funds – which never stops and it’s never easy. 

“I wanted to put my words and poems to good use. I genuinely wanted to do something with purpose and I want to raise as much money as possible for Willow Wood.”

Fittingly, a poem dedicated to the Hospice called ‘Into the Willow Wood’ features in the book.  

The butterfly on the book’s front cover is also a symbol to make the book more unique to the Hospice. 

“I know Willow Wood releases butterflies every year and a friend of mine goes to the event,” she said. “I knew it was something associated closely with the Hospice and I wanted it to feature prominently on the cover.” 

The book, which will be around 50 pages, has been a couple of years in the making. 

“I write poetry every single day and some things are to a prompt and some things are specific,” Johanne told us. 

“With these poems, I realised they are very different – some are almost fable, which I loved as a child. They are poems that all of a sudden I realised were this book, so I’ve probably been writing them over the last two years and I’ve realised this was the place for them.” 

‘Into the Willow Wood’ will be released on 12th April. It will be available to buy at the Hospice reception, Dark Peak Books & Gifts in Glossop and through online retailers such as Amazon and Waterstones. It will also be accessible as a hardback and, in the future, as an eBook. 

On the release day, Johanne will be holding a book launch at the Masonic Lodge on Henry Street in Glossop – which will be a free ticketed event. 

She said: “It’s going to be a celebration of the book and people will be able to get hold of a copy. I will also sign copies and read some poems aloud too.”