I have signed a contract to have my collection of essays, “The Swirl in my Burl”, published by Adelaide Books in New York. Feels pretty exciting. What is a burl?
A burl originates from a tree that is stressed. It may be caused by an injury, virus or fungus. The burl is formed coming out of the side of the tree when the grain of the tree has grown in a distorted or unusual manner. It is a round knotty growth that when polished is full of swirls and beauty. There is an entangled splendour underneath the bark and craftspeople say that it can take thirty years for the burl’s full beauty to emerge.
The swirl of my burl is my life stories, my children, my joy and pain. Through my writing I shine a light on that jumble of memory, fact and emotion, searching for truth. Like my stories and myself, the burl wood grain is twisted and interlocked, resistant to splitting. I look upon it with wonder as it teaches me to find strength in its misshapenness.
Miriam Edelson 