Languawitchery Wordcraft is me, Anya Hastwell.
I came into this world on a sunny spring day in the late nineteen-seventies (in a hospital, rather than in the shade of a Chekhovian cherry orchard).
Growing up in a small town in southeast UK with a forename that caused endless confusion for some – despite being a four-letter word – enhanced my sensitivity to the power of words from a very early age (scroll down for footnote).*
In my teens, I realised that you could get paid for writing them when I had my first feature article published (a piece called ‘Ghosts of Surrey’, if you’re curious – and £20 went much further back then!). And you might even meet your heroes if you interviewed them for your university’s student magazine.
I also accidently wrote the lyrics to a tune that, just a little over half a decade later, ended up in an indie film called Vampire Diary (2006; Rating: 18+).
All from a pen, a rickety old word processor, and certain words strung together in some sort of order.
These days, publishers, businesses and organisations, and private individuals from all over the world hire me to work on theirs.
These words go on to become published books, cunningly crafted communications, and much more.
When I’m not working, you might find me on a yoga mat, talking to a cat, or tour guiding for one of London’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ cemeteries.
You can also find me on LinkedIn.
Headshot image by Mark Caldwell.
* Pronounced [an-yah]. And it’s quite common in Europe. For further phonetic guidance, please add me on LinkedIn and click the speaker emoji next to my name.
See also: the character Anya Jenkins, former vengeance demon, in the cult TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.