Join me today in welcoming author and blogger Robbie Cheadle to the guest post stage. In this write-up, Robbie explains how her blog Robbie’s Inspiration came to be, as well as chatting about her new website Bake and Write. You may recall her guest post last year about the dangers of over-exercising. Welcome back, Robbie! Let’s give her our attention now:
Why do I blog?
As far back in my life as I can remember, I have always made up stories and, frequently, acted them out for others. I have always liked to share my thoughts and ideas and for others to share theirs in return.
I remember when I was in the first grade, organising my entire class into a game that involved each child running away from an elected witch or else being caught and eaten. As break time drew towards its end, the game grew more and more wild and exciting, as the witch did her best to catch as many children as possible.
The participants were so rowdy and boisterous that no-one heard the bell ring and none of us went to class. Naturally, as the ring leader, I got into trouble with the nuns and my Mother was told about my unladylike behaviour.
In the middle of the second grade, my best friend, Susan, and I had the bright idea of writing and producing plays for our class. The entire class would be cast and every child would have a role, of course, I have always been very inclusive.
Our teacher was very accommodating; she gave us time each Friday to perform the plays to the other Grade 2 classes. Susan’s mother was a teacher at our school which may have been an influencing factor. These were very happy days and all the children were very enthusiastic to be part of the plays and performances.
As I got older I carried on writing but it changed to a diary and poetry which I no longer shared. Teenagers and young women in their twenties don’t go about wearing their hearts and thoughts on their sleeves.
As an adult, I suddenly started writing poetry again after years of only writing non-fiction books in my capacity as a corporate financier and chartered accountant. Quite suddenly, one morning, I was watching my son, Michael, and my niece, Emily playing with fondant when a whole poem popped into my head, almost ready made.
This poem opened the sluice gates of my mind and poems started pouring into my head. I have always been fortunate, in that when I get an idea for a poem, the words just slot together and flow out of my fingers onto paper. I was enjoying sharing my poems with family and friends but there were so many that I felt I couldn’t keep inflicting them on my poor relatives. I needed a new audience. Preferably an audience who also liked reading and writing. I started my blog called Robbies Inspiration, a free wordpress blog.
The decision to start a blog to showcase my poetry and other writing coincided with the publication of Michael and my first book in the Sir Chocolate series. Our entry into the published world was fraught with mishaps and my learning curve was very steep.
I had to up my skills on design, colour, photography, font, text layout and book sizing. I also had to learn about social media, self-promotion, writing author posts, participating in flash fiction prompts, photograph prompts and poetry challenges. I had to find out what haikus, tankas and haibuns were and practice writing them [that was so much fun].
I learned about photograph and backgrounds, high shots, low shots and colour enhancement. I discovered the art of editing and learned about characterization, building a fantasy world, writing a series and so much more. A lot of what I needed to know was out there in the blogoshere. I gradually became more and more drawn into the world of blogging and sharing. I discovered that bloggers are the most amazing people ever, they share and they care. The teach you, give loads of free advice and even pick you up when you feel low. I have come to love blogging more and more and am very involved with my blogily [to coin the phrase of a well know blogger].
One thing I learned about posts very quickly was that photographs and picture are big draw cards. I also soon realised that free wordpress blogs have limited amounts of picture space.
Eighteen months into my blog I am already slightly over 40% into my picture space. I have learned some tricks like saving the picture, or better yet a picture collage, as a PowerPoint slide and then converting it to a jpeg. This reduces the size of the picture/s considerably.
I realise the importance of my blog to me as both a marketing tool, a learning tool and a meeting place for friends. That is why I decided to start another, paid blog so that I could use both, thereby reducing the picture content on Robbie’s Inspiration as I can blog on the new blog, Bake and Write, and post the link to my older blog. It is also a way of gradually transferring my existing friendships across to a more permanent home at Bake and Write.
I had Bake and Write professionally designed and I am delighted with the look and feel of it. The designer was able to do all sorts of things I would have struggled to do myself like include purchase links to my books and a live feed from Instagram. All my social media links are showcased and I can save my pictures directly to my Pinterest. I am sure some bloggers can do this themselves but I was finding it quite a struggle. The design of Bake and Write is also in line with my author business cards and author banner. <
About Michael and Robbie Cheadle
Robbie Cheadle was born in London in the United Kingdom. Her father died when she was three months old and her mother immigrated to South Africa with her tiny baby girl. Robbie has lived in Johannesburg, George and Cape Town in South Africa and attended fourteen different schools. This gave her lots of opportunities to meet new people and learn lots of social skills as she was frequently “the new girl”.
Robbie is a qualified Chartered Accountant and specialises in corporate finance with a specific interest in listed entities and stock markets. Robbie has written a number of publications on listing equities and debt instruments in Africa and foreign direct investment into Africa.
Robbie is married to Terence Cheadle and they have two lovely boys, Gregory and Michael. Michael (aged 11) is the co-author of the Sir Chocolate series of books and attends school in Johannesburg. Gregory (aged 14) is an avid reader and assists Robbie and Michael with filming and editing their YouTube videos and editing their books. Robbie is also the author of the new Silly Willy series the first of which, Silly Willy goes to Cape Town, is now available.
Connect with Robbie Cheadle on social media at Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.
Robbie and Michael Cheadle’s books
Sir Chocolate books are currently available in hard copy and as eBooks, with A5 format for children 6-9 years and square format for younger kids aged 2-5 years. Find them at Amazonor TSL Publications.
Sir Chocolate and the strawberry cream berries story and cookbook
Sir Chocolate and Lady Sweet live in Chocolate land where you can eat absolutely everything. Join them on a fantastic adventure to find the amazing strawberry cream berry and learn how to make some of their scrumptious recipes at the same time.
Robbie nice to see you on Christy’s blog. We could know more about you. Keep inspiring us all.
Thank you so much for visiting me here, Sumith, and for your lovely comment.
You are welcome Robbie.
It’s lovely learning more about Robbie. Thanks for sharing your blogging journey with us! Great post❣️
Christy, it’s lovely to see Robbie on your blog! Robbie, what a wonderful childhood and your love of stories shines through with your games and plays! It’s interesting how you came to blog and why you created new website. Also I learned a new word which has me smiling – blogily! Happy Baking, creating, writing, blogging!!
Thank you, Annika. I am pleased you enjoyed this post. I had a lovely childhood. it was very free and we had lots of fun even if we didn’t have a lot of things like the kids do nowadays.
Such an inspiring post, Robbie and Christy!
Robbie, I love love seeing your amazing creations. Your talent is absolutely incredible.
Thanks so much for sharing this with us. Cheers to you both! :)
Thank you, Natalie, you are very kind. I feel just like that when I read your poetry. Happy Friday.
I learned more about Robbie, and am even more impressed (which says a lot, because Robbie has already impressed me so much with her blogging and baking and publishing). It’s a thrill to see Robbie here on your page, Christie. Robbie says is so well – this blogging community is just a miraculous gathering of incredible giving, intelligent, caring people. And blogging is no easy feat, but we learn so much with the encouragement of our blogging friends. Like Robbie, no way would I believe that in five years I’d figure out how to put together a WP site, publish, create photos for my blogs, etc etc etc. Robbie – you explain it much better! I’ll go over to your new site now. xoxox
Thank you for reading and commenting, Pam, and for visiting Bake and Write. We are very fortunate to be a part of this amazing writing community. Have a wonderful weekend.
Robbie, so nice to see you here on Christy’s blog. It was lovely learning more about you. Your creativity seems to have begun quite early in your life. And I’m with you on what a great community blogging friends are. <3
Lovely post Robbie. I love how from such an early age you discovered your creative side, and from there it has just progressed to something passionate and amazing. :-)
Thank you, Lynne. That is a lovely thing to say.
Thank you for sharing, Stevie. I am pleased you enjoyed this post.
You’re welcome.
Thank you, Billy Ray.
Thank you for sharing, Billy Ray. Much appreciated.
I’ve just done a site for a client and for some people it’s easier to get someone else to do the design. But, I hope you grow in that aspect as well. It’s all part of the learning curve. Glad to be a part of your blogging family.
Thank you, Tandy. It was a big time thing for me. I thought it would be quicker and easier to have someone else design it for me. I actually don’t think that was really the case in the end as I still had to provide all the material but it has been a great learning experience.
Enjoyed learning more about you, Robbie! :)
Thank you, Bette. I feel I am very fortunate to have discover this amazing world of bloggers.
Thank you for sharing, Michael. Happy Wednesday.
Thank you for sharing, Charles.
You’re welcome
Thanks for sharing your blogging journey with us, Robbie. I agree with your comments about bloggers. It’s a great community. ♥
Thank you, Olga, it definitely is. Thank you for reading and commenting.
It’s so interesting to read about Robbie’s creative start in life and it all makes sense how it unfolds and adds up and all comes together with her blog and her joint-venture books with Michael. Blogs are great places to learn and grow as artists and to gain support and friendships. Lovely guest post. Thanks for hosting, Christie. :-)
Thank you for your lovely comment, Diana. It is funny how we may head in one direction and then swerve off in a totally different direction only to come full circle back to our passion in the end. I fully agree with you about blogging. I love all the people I have met and the interesting posts, stories and advice they all share.
Enjoyed this post. Robbie is so creative, it’s a pleasure to follow her blog!
Loved learning more about Robbie and where her love of storytelling has originated! I am grateful she enjoys it so as I enjoy her blogging and storytelling! Cheers!!
A delightful guest post! I so enjoyed reading Robbie’s story, especially her childhood. Thank you.
Thank you, Jennie. I was a very lucky girl and had a wonderful childhood with three lovely sisters and great parents too.
You are welcome, Robbie. A great childhood makes all the difference, doesn’t it?
What a great interview! I’ve been following Robbie for about 4 months now and I still learn fantastic new things about her all the time!!
I had to laugh over the game you organized and played in first grade, Robbie. That must have been fun. I remember writing plays in junior high several friends and I would act out.
Nice to see you out and about in the blogosphere!
Thank you, Mae. I am thrilled to know that someone else also made up plays and involved their friends. I have very good memories of this.
Lovely to get to know a little more about Robbie. As always there’s always something that one can take away from Robbie’s writing. Thanks Robbie for sharing the challenges and the learning. It helps so much. Thanks Christie for doing the interview. Hugs.
Hi Smitha, I am so happy if you took something useful away from this post. The blogger community is so supportive and helpful I find. I am glad if I can do the same for others from time to time.
Rest assured Robbie. You always do.
Great post.
Thank you, Craig.
Hi Christy. Lovely to see Robbie here. She definitely is inspiring. Hugs to you both.
Thank you, Teagan. I think we all inspire each other.
Bonjour ou bonsoir mon amie
Je viens te faire le cadeau des plus précieux
Celui du temps
De rêver à de nouvelles idées
De réfléchir aux anciennes
Peu importe le temps que nous passons ensemble sur nos blogs
Tu découvriras toujours de nouvelles dimensions
Au travers du miroir et de ce lien celui de notre l’amitié
L’amitié c’est aimer pour ce qu’elle est moi je le pense
Non pour ce qu’elle fait
En se sentant aimé
On est capable de grandes choses, de s’accrocher , de réussir
Belle journée ou soirée et belle semaine
Bisous Bernard
Robbie is a great writer and inspiring blogger! Great interview!!
Thank you, Ritu. I wonder who I go blogily from [smile].
Lol! 😍
Lovely feature, Christy, and so nice to learn more about Robbie. Seems many of us bloggers share a similar history ❤
Lovely to see you here, Tina. Hugs.
What an inspirational read. Thank you for sharing. I’ll be sure to follow both blogs!
Thank you for reading and commenting, Barclay.
Wonderful post! I do remember the last guest post! Thank you!
Sending <3
Thank you, Resa. I am glad you enjoyed this.
Great Post! I have now found myself a new blog to follow! :)
Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed this post.
Truly an awesome post very inspiring to me . It really took me back to my old teenage years writing and keep in my thought inside my little book of journal.
Thank you, Anthony. I am pleased you enjoyed this post.
What a great post! I loved seeing a different side of Robbie and learning a few new fun facts. I can’t wait to sample one of the books this summer and share with my nephews and nieces. Thanks, Christy!
Thank you, Jay. I am glad you enjoyed this post. If you do decide to read one of my books with your nephews and nieces, I hope you will enjoy it.
I definitely will be. It’s on my list to download/buy as soon as I get back from vacation on June 2nd. I am not accepting any book review requests until after June so I can read some fellow bloggers and friends books that month!