Meet Anny Scoones

By Jack Krayenhoff

Open one of Anny Scoones' books at random, and you might read something like the following sentence: "I felt a huge love for Matilda and Mabel for accepting this young male into their domain." Without looking at the context, would you have guessed that Mabel and Matilda were pigs? No, but it tells you two things right away: one, Anny is a bit quirky (something she acknowledges without difficulty, and which gives her writing a piquant flavour) and two, she loves animals. Especially injured and needy animals, as it turns out in the interview. Then, reading on in her book, you find she writes in a straightforward and unpretentious style that makes for easy and entertaining reading. If you don't know what to give to somebody for a present, make it an Anny Scoones book, and the recipient is sure to be pleased.

Most of her first books deal with Glamorgan Farm in North Saanich, which quickly developed into a refuge for needy animals. Since she moved to James Bay she has begun to write about Victoria, and James Bay in particular. One book, HOMETOWN, was illustrated by Robert Amos.

The Beacon sat down with Anny Scoones to find out a bit more about her, especially as she had been described as 'a character'.

Beacon: "Someone told me you were 'a character.' What is a character?"

AS: "You don't have to live up to expectations. It's relaxing. There's no tension or pressure. In my writing I don't try to follow someone else's style."

Beacon: "How did you discover you were a writer?"

AS: A friend of mine who is a poet said, "You should write some of these stories down." So I did, and I never quit. From an early age I wrote a lot. I still write letters, hand-written, snail mail, to my mother. Letter writing is a great way to learn to write."

Beacon: "What is it about your writing that makes it good?"

AS: I don't know. It's just natural. I just write. You have to have been through life a little, have had a few knocks. Then you have to just be yourself and be confident. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to be angry or tormented. When you are genuinely happy, then your channels open and your art comes out."

Beacon: "What do you aim for in your writing?"

AS: "I set out to entertain; I put a lot of humor into it. But I also hope people will take note of some of my observations."

Beacon: "To your credit, if you want to persuade people, you do it not by preaching but by your own attitudes and actions as you describe them, for instance in your love and respect for animals. Talk about that some more."

Anny: "As a child I was alone a lot, but we always had dogs and cats, so I learned early to love animal companions. As I grew older, my interest in animals became more compassionate. I came to feel it was necessary for me to help abandoned and unfortunate animals. The practical opportunity for that really opened up when I bought Glamorgan Farm in North Saanich. People brought me needy animals and I didn't have the heart not to take them in. And let me say I have never been hurt by an animal, but we have all been hurt by people."

Beacon: "And beside the care for animals, you did a lot to restore the farm buildings?"

AS: "I did. It's a wonderful farm, one of the oldest on the Island. Architecturally it is absolutely unique. When I got it, it was badly run down. I had a vision to restore it, and I did a lot during the ten years I lived there, but at the end I became exhausted and was unable to finish it. I had to leave and now I live in James Bay."

Beacon: "What do you think of James Bay?"

AS: "I love it. I love my house, I love Medana Street, I love the seashore. I walk an hour a day with my dog to Clover point (and on the way I pick up trash). James Bay has more character and ambience than the countryside. It's a funky, quirky and caring neighbourhood. There's the sea air, the history, the houses - everything that is good in the world."

Beacon: "Anything you would like to add by way of conclusion?"

AS: (Silent for a moment) "I'm not usually at a loss for words...but yes, you can say that James Bay has been so good to me, that I would like to do something back for the community. For instance, I could do readings from my own books, free of charge of course, for fundraisers, or just for entertainment." ascoones@shaw.ca