Miriam McGuirk

February 2017

Biography - Author Miriam McGuirk

Miriam currently divides her time between Maidstone in the Garden of England, Kent, and the south west mountains of Turkey, where in a village that has remained unchanged for centuries, Miriam is following her heart and passion - writing in a peaceful, healing environment surrounded by pine trees.

Born in Dublin to Irish parents, her mother from Cork, father from Dublin – Miriam remembers the sweetness of her childhood summers spent at her grandmother’s house in the small, picturesque town of Kinsale, County Cork famous for its food, fish and sailing. Her grandmother was her mentor, encouraging and supportive. In Kinsale Miriam loved the freedom from the imposed restrictions of a convent education.

Growing up Miriam was sporty - playing netball, tennis, volleyball and she excelled at swimming and gymnastics. It was her dream to study Gymnastics (now called Sports Science) and in her small world Miriam’s love of the theatre and drama conjured up visions of having her name in lights, after all her icon was Marilyn Monroe!

Miriam knew she was different and was never going to go down the ‘normal route’ her parents or teachers hoped for. In 1976 Miriam moved to the UK with just a suitcase and a lot of hope.

She grafted, working long hours, which resulted in a successful career in the Restaurant, Hospitality and Service Industry. It was rare to find women at Management level back then but Miriam helped to break that mould.

Life became all about work, with little fun, social life or time to enjoy her passions of sport, health, wellbeing, nutrition and her love to be creative through writing, interior design and fashion.

Miriam, on returning for a while to Dublin, worked with two partners on an Irish lifestyle magazine in addition to her full time job. This ignited Miriam’s passion for the written word, an interest that was put on hold while she carved out a successful career back in London working again in hospitality followed by the Health and Fitness Industry until the mid-nineties.

Then Miriam’s life changed forever. Miriam’s husband, Chris Pollard explains how: “In 1997, just six months after we were married, Miriam collapsed at home shortly after returning from work. Her GP was called and our lives changed overnight.

‘You are grounded’ were the words her GP spoke - one of the few who at that time was able to diagnose full blown M.E (Myalgia Encephalopathy) and subsequently Fibromyalgia.

Chris continued: “She visited a well-known private clinic in London where - without her prior knowledge – she was given a drug for anti-depression.”

Little did she know the drug was a trial and she was a guinea pig. The drug gave her suicidal symptoms but she never told Chris until years later.

In late 2000, Miriam took a courageous step and threw all of her chemical drugs down the toilet. Nutrition, well-being and exercise has been a big part of her life for over twenty five years and she decided that going forward she would use only natural supplements to support her immune system and adjust her organic way of eating which has always been healthy”.

In August 2001 on meeting a Turkish friend who holidayed for many years in south west Turkey, Chris went to a travel agent and booked a holiday for Miriam and himself due to fly on September 13th – which proved to be just two days after the fateful event in New York.

For over four years Miriam was not mentally or physically strong enough to travel but never the less, on the evening of September 13th Miriam arrived at Gatwick - with an out of date passport! With the help of a taxi driver and a friend with keys to their house, they arranged for the correct passport to arrive in time. They boarded their flight at 9.00pm.

That two week holiday proved to be a first positive step in her recovery. Miriam’s energy slowly improved. Smiling, happy, more relaxed not so totally exhausted. She only rested for 3 or 4 hours every afternoon as opposed to resting and sleeping for up to17 hours out of every 24.

No doubt that 1st Trip was a breakthrough. To this day Miriam continues to pace and manage a strict daily routine that includes 3 hours of rest each afternoon.

In Turkey Chris had an epiphany moment ‘we could live here’ he realised.

In 2002, Miriam spent 6 weeks in Turkey with Chris joining her for the last two. On the last day they looked at a simple concrete and wooden house, built some 10 years earlier. It was 5oo meters from the beach in what seemed a calm and quiet location. It needed complete modernisation but they made the decision to buy the house.

At Christmas they visited staying in the main town at the only Hotel open at that time of the year. On that same visit they made the decision to live by the sea for 5 or 6 months of the year. In May 2003, Miriam and Chris took that step and set up a home from home in Turkey.

14 months later Miriam’s tranquil surroundings had changed. Builders had moved in next door and the constant noise caused Miriam great anxiety, sleepless nights and a major energy relapse. Something had to change. Thanks to Chris locating a small hotel 2,000 feet up a mountain Miriam sought refuge with a 10 day break in a nurturing, silent environment. Miriam felt she finally found her piece of paradise amongst the natural pine tree forest.

Three months later, Miriam and Chris moved to the mountains in a house Miriam renamed ‘Pink Pines’. The air and climate is ideal for people who live with ME and Fybromyalgia.

After writing poetry short stories and health articles, Miriam was inspired to become a full time writer.

Miriam explains: “Fifteen years ago I started writing poetry and loved the fact that it flowed so easily. I enjoyed the process. I could see the finished results quickly without it sapping my energy levels. That gave me the confidence to expand and develop my writing. We Irish are famous for our storytelling.”

Now Miriam lives a different life, one that works for her and she feels compelled to write each day – what a turnaround.

Miriam managed to complete her first book of short stories ‘Tales from Turkey’ published in November 2013, written under her pen name.

Since then her life has changed irrevocably. With renewed confidence and self-esteem Miriam is now writing under her own name.

‘Shattered Dreams and Scorpions at Midnight – a search for sanctuary’ was published on 4th June 2015 followed by her first pocket book ‘Shattered Dreams and Scorpions at Midnight – A Pocketful of Inspiration’ published in December 2015.

Miriam’s brand is growing and she is seen as a storyteller and sometimes commentator (Miriam is a regular contributor on BBC Radio and continues to develop her natural talent for public speaking).

Both of her latest book titles are being stocked in Waterstones and online with Amazon, iTunes and are available on Kindle.

Miriam’s new found confidence has also led to successful public speaking engagements and with her fiery Irish character, zest for life and passionate messages to tell, Miriam is a natural commentator.

People who have listened to Miriam speaking in public find her inspiring – giving proof that with courage, strength, love and support we can achieve what we set out to accomplish.

Miriam currently divides her time between Maidstone in the Garden of England, Kent, and the south west mountains of Turkey where, in a village that has remained unchanged for centuries, Miriam is writing in a peaceful, healing environment surrounded by pine trees with Chris who she has re-named her “Superhero”.

Follow Miriam via her Blogs, Media and Events Pages on www.miriammcguirk.com 

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