We’re incredibly proud of our alumni continuing to reach for the sun and who, in doing so, have become hugely successful in a wide range of fields. From Old Dragons playing for England like Maia Bouchier (OD 2012), and making life-saving apps like Michael Dent (OD 2002), to our Junior Old Dragons making a difference, such as Anya Katanyutanon (OD 2021) who presented her research findings at the World Conference on Public Health (WCPH).
From childhood storybooks to self-publishing her own novel, the latest feature in our in our Diversity of Dragons series comes from Cordelia O’Regan (OD 1999) whose love of writing began in Ma Glockner’s English Classroom. Her journey from law and charity work to children’s fiction is a reminder that creative ambitions do not always follow a straight path and that encouragement, persistence and a well-timed lockdown can sometimes turn a quiet dream into a published book.
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My interest in storytelling really began in Ma Glockner’s English classes, early on in my time at the Dragon. With her infectious enthusiasm, she sparked a love of creative writing that has stayed with me ever since. During a recent attempt at a long-overdue spring clean, I rediscovered an old English workbook containing what must have been my earliest attempts at short stories. The less said about these, the better, except that Ma’s comments were unfailingly kind and encouraging at a time when the wrong word could easily have squashed a growing confidence and curiosity about writing.
After leaving the Dragon, creative writing took something of a back seat, both at secondary school and while studying Spanish at university. A year abroad teaching English in Córdoba, Andalucía, was a wonderful experience, but confirmed that teaching was very much not for me – I am still in awe of those with the energy and patience to be great teachers. Instead, I completed a law conversion course and went on to train as a solicitor at a commercial law firm in Westminster, qualifying into the firm’s Charities Department. Wanting to work more closely with charities, I moved into the charity legacy sector, working in-house at Leonard Cheshire Disability and later at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. But I continued to dabble in writing and quietly dreamt of writing a book. Unsurprisingly, I also rehomed a Battersea cat – it’s hard not to bring your work home, and every writer needs a cat.
My maternity leave in early 2020 coincided almost exactly with the first COVID-19 lockdown, and I finally began writing in earnest. Over the next few years, a children’s book took shape. Writing offered a way to explore fears and daydreams on the page, and an escape from the challenges of new parenthood in an uncertain world. I also found comfort in revisiting favourite children’s books and discovering new ones, all under the guise of “research”.
”The less said about these, the better, except that Ma’s comments were unfailingly kind and encouraging at a time when the wrong word could easily have squashed a growing confidence and curiosity about writing.”
When the first draft was complete, I explored the traditional publishing route, including contacting literary agents. Despite a few helpful meetings and near misses, I wasn’t successful but knowing that self-publishing was an option softened the disappointment. The more I learned about independent publishing, the more appealing it became. I loved having creative and practical control over the process, right down to the book’s design. It was new territory, but there is a wealth of guidance available for aspiring authors, and I am always happy to share what I’ve learnt.
I now work part-time as a freelance charity legacy consultant, whilst developing new writing projects for both children and adults. The first book was a long time coming, but seeing it “in the wild” for the first time, in my local library and bookshops, was wonderful. My daughter is now a Little Dragon herself, and it means a great deal to know she will be able to find my book on the OD bookshelf in her school library, in the same place where my love of stories first began.
Cordelia O’Regan (OD 1999)
Let us know what you’ve been up to since your Dragon Days, we’d love to share your story.
