Taking stock

Several years on from the “tea house afternoon te”, Anne decided to take stock of her life as working musician, producing and delivering one woman shows to schools and communities across Australia.

“While the work is rewarding and enjoyable it is also hard work,” says Anne. “The energy levels required to deliver a great show are huge and when coupled with the carting of equipment as well as the constant traveling it all eventually begins to take a toll on the body.”

Writing a book was never high on Anne’s list of priorities even though she enjoyed spinning a good story for her nieces. Once the thought of slowing down a little was created the idea of writing a book came to the forefront of Anne’s mind again: not one for children but perhaps a light hearted look at tea and all the myths and mystery that go with it.

And so the journey into Curiosi-tea began – leading to the creation of a book which is a fascinating mixture of fact, poetry, superstition, politics, fun and just a little touch of sheer madness.

The journey commences

As a professional musician and ethnomusicologist Anne had lived and studied in several Asian countries, the most notable being Japan, where she undertook the study of the Shakahatchi (bamboo flute). While there she also became greatly interested in tea, the drinking of and the traditions, history, cultural significance and the host of names tea is know as and by.

Using this time of her life as part of the basis of the book, Anne started to search out words and research material that could be used in the book and so the first chapters were written. As the research was going along Anne found she was being drawn toward the more political aspects of the tea industry over the past 10 years or so.

Although the book was not meant to be serious, the plight of the modern day tea workers in India and other third world countries was starting to find its way into the chapters.

Anne started to become very concerned about the plight of these people and felt a part of the book needed to be able to draw attention to this situation to try and raise people’s consciousness about the need and plight of former tea growers and workers.

This is not to say the book is politically motivated just that there are various sections that are more focused on the other side of the tea industry.

Alter egos are born

One of the more interesting personal revelations to come out of writing the book was the creation of Anne’s alter ego Camellia Char, a very opinionated , one could almost say “snobbish”, lady  who has something to say  about just about everything in the book.

Camellia Char was born when Anne realized she was a little bit hesitant about coming out into the open and writing a book about anything really. Although Anne is in the book as AMN she prefers to remain “incognito” as far as the story telling is concerned.

And to conclude………..

Over the past two and a half years Anne’s love affair with tea has only increased to the stage of not being satisfied with writing a book about all things “tea”, she is in the process of setting several of the pieces in the book to “rap” music, is interested in creating a radio show and also producing an audio book on the subject.

There are more than 500 words involving “tea” within the covers of the book and more than 2,500 words in the English language that contain “tea” in them, which is more than enough to keep Anne Norman challenging the issues of tea for some time to come.

Curiosi-tea is available from the following outlets