About Hilary Elder:

Hilary was born, raised and lives in the Far North of England – though she has been to other places. She loves writing stories, poetry, articles, blog posts, sermons and postcards. She also loves reading, music (she plays viola and trombone, but not at the same time), being outdoors, food, knitting (mostly socks) and her family and friends. She writes for children and grownups; she’s not always sure which of these she is. Her work has been commissioned by Hexham Book Festival and published in TheLitPlatform, Crossing the Tees anthology (twice), The Caterpillar magazine, Tyger Tyger magazine, The Dirigible Balloon, Northern Gravy and Dreich. Her middle grade time-travel novel was shortlisted in the Northern Writers’ Awards Hachette Children’s Novel Award 2022. Her poem Learning English won third prize in the Borderlines Carlisle Poetry Competition 2022.

As well as writing, Hilary has worked in arts management, teaching and the church and she is currently training to be a teacher of English as a foreign language.

 

Of all the parties the trees throw –

And trees are party people – don’t you know?

The Fall Ball is the best.

 

First Beech arrives, spectacularly shimmering

In copper lamé, shining, glimmering,

Owning the russet carpet.

 

Then Sycamore, looking poker hot,

His tux embroidered polka-dot,

Winking at the stars.

 

Now Oak sweeps in, dressed to thrill,

All yellow and flame, flounce over frill,

Scintillating the moonlit glade.

 

Last to come is pine, swooshing her green gown,

Her fishtail sweeping down, down,

Gracing the company.

 

What? You’ve never seen trees dance?

It’s amazing, I’m telling you, fight for your chance

To witness the Fall Ball.