"When My Blood Became Ink, Words Began to Flow"

In December 2020, long-time Associate and outdoor learning guru Juliet Robertson was unexpectedly diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

Despite various rounds of chemotherapy, in early 2023 she was given a terminal diagnosis.

During her journey, she took to writing poetry as way of exploring what was happening to her and to those close to her.

Her honest, touching and often humorous poems have now been compiled in a new book published by the Independent Thinking Press called Blood Lines.

As one reviewer described it:

“Blood Lines is a handbook for living and dying well, delivered with grace, fortitude and humour”.

Here, for National Poetry Day 2025, Julie was joined by some of her Independent Thinking Associate colleagues and friends in a special reading of her poem, 'Two Futures'.

Juliet Robertson in her garden in Scotland in 2024

You can read more about Juliet's ongoing journey on the CaringBridge website here and how, amazingly, 'Juliet has outlived the original prognosis of a few months. No-one is sure how or why this has happened.'

We are delighted to have worked closely with Juliet to publish her poetry and Blood Lines is due out in June this year.

You can pre-order copies with 20% discount and free UK p+p with the code 'ITL20'.

While you're there, check out Juliet's other best-selling books, Dirty Teaching (still our favourite title for an education book!) and Messy Maths.

Again, use the code 'ITL20' for the discounts and free UK postage.

They are both perfect introductions for what to do – and what not to do – when it comes to taking your teaching and learning out of the classroom written by someone who really knows - the amazing Juliet Robertson.[ITL]