Valerie Valenti

I have been interested in writing since the age of seven. Ever since then, I have always had a story, poem, or song on the go. Motherhood has made it a bit harder to make the necessary time for my writing, but it is a core part of my being and I will never give it up. I have won a local poetry award, I have had a poem published in a national magazine, and I have entered poetry slams and poetry reading nights back in my days of singledom. Each and every time, the thrill for me comes when another person gains enjoyment from reading or hearing something which I have created from the strange recesses of my own mind. That thrill will never diminish for me, no matter how many times I experience it.
Born in Rochester, NY, I relocated to the UK in 2006 with my English husband. I miss my family and friends deeply, but I feel a strong affinity with this part of the world - it's rich history and culture. We now have two daughters, one born in 2008 and one born in December, 2010 - a mere twelve days before I lost my father to cancer. I try very hard to keep a positive attitude despite my own battles with depression and fibromyalgia. We must take joy in the little things this life has to offer, or else we can lose sight of the bigger picture in the clouds of our own negativity.