Christie Watson

Christie trained as a paediatric nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and worked as a nurse, educator and senior sister, for over ten years before joining UEA for her MA in Creative Writing, where she won the Malcolm Bradbury Bursary. Christie lives in South London with her Nigerian Muslim partner, and their large dual heritage, multi-faith family.

Everything changed after Mama found Father lying on top of another woman. Mama, my fourteen-year-old brother Ezikiel, and I were forced to leave our Lagos apartment, which had air-conditioning so effective we had to wear woollen jumpers, and move to Warri to my grandfather Alhaji's compound, which had no electricity at all.

Alhaji ruled the compound and made us into Muslims. But really, Grandma ruled the world. Alhaji took a second wife, Celestine, a Professional Town Mourner who loved to wear Lycra. Grandma, a Birth Attendant, had much to say about that. But by then I was her apprentice, and I knew there were worse things than Lycra.

Ezikiel changed suddenly after he was shot while picking snails. Surviving a bullet made him think he was invincible. He joined the Freedom Fighters of the Izon Nation, threw his asthma inhaler into the river, and said that his bracelet would protect him. I did not see how. It was only made of string.

Things really fell apart when Mama met Dan, a white oil worker. Dan was our new Father. He was so white he was see-through. Dan was kidnapped from the compound on their wedding day, with tragic consequences for all of us...

Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away is the story of twelve-year-old Blessing, as told to her own daughter, of how some families can survive anything, almost. It will be published by Quercus in 2011.