Brontë Childhood Tales Inspire Yorkshire and Ghana Story Project
A unique literary collaboration has emerged from the Bradford City of Culture 2025, with authors from Yorkshire and Ghana creating a collection of short stories. The project, titled Wandering Imaginations, draws inspiration from the juvenilia of the Brontë siblings and their imaginary world of Angria.
Wandering Imaginations: A Transcontinental Collaboration
The Wandering Imaginations project connected two authors from Yorkshire and two from Ghana. The authors were Kristina Diprose and CM Govender from Bradford, and Akorfa Dawson and Peggy Kere Osman from Ghana. The writers participated in workshops held in both Accra and Haworth before showcasing their stories at the Brontë Parsonage.
Authors Share Their Experiences
Kristina Diprose, a self-proclaimed "Brontë fangirl," described her participation as "a dream come true." She expressed disbelief at being selected and the incredible experience of having her work displayed at the Brontë Parsonage, celebrating her literary heroines.
"I've read all the Brontë novels, so when I saw this project I couldn't believe it was a real opportunity. Even more so, when they actually picked me to be part of it," – Kristina Diprose.
Akorfa Dawson, known for her Afro-futuristic themes, described her second visit to Yorkshire as stepping into a vintage scene from a book or movie. She found walking into the Brontë Parsonage to be a heartwarming experience, feeling connected to the Brontë sisters.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome Through Brontë's Inspiration
CM Govender, from Manningham, shared that working with the Brontës' juvenilia helped her navigate feelings of imposter syndrome. She emphasized the inspiration drawn from a 10-year-old Charlotte Brontë's declaration of future publication, which was humbling and empowering.
"A 10-year-old Charlotte Brontë created one of these books and put her name on that page as a declaration that as an adult she was going to be published... that is so humbling to someone who struggles with imposter syndrome," - CM Govender.
For Peggy Kere Osman, the project marked her first foray into short story writing, having primarily written poetry. Inspired by studying Wuthering Heights, she felt a "pinch-me" moment being in the environment of the Brontë siblings. The open ending of her story fueled her passion to continue writing.
"It's a dream come true for me because I'm a Heathcliff fangirl. The story I wrote finished on a cliff hanger, so it has encouraged me to keep on writing. It's a fire beneath me to keep me going," – Peggy Kere Osman.
