More copies of Life is But a Dream

The problems with the binding on my book have meant that stocks of perfect copies have been low. However I have heard today, that all being well, I should have some more copies available before Christmas. What a relief! And I will have the remaining copies by the middle of January.

I have been receiving emails and verbal feedback about my book on a daily basis since it was launched. I have been thrilled with the comments people have made- it seems it has struck a chord with many people reading it. some have said that I have been able to make a potentially difficult subject accessible; that the description of the effects of bereavement on different generations are captured well; that it has messages for anyone bereaved, not just those who have lost a child.

If anyone wants to send me more feedback, or has comments or wants to ask me a question please do get in touch.

I am amassing a list of ideas for promotion and marketing in the New YeAr, which feels very exciting.

Book Launch

The book launch event on 24th November went fantastically well.  The Oasis Centre began to fill up well in advance of the start time of 6 pm, and there was a buzz in the building as more than 50 people began to congregate.  I was feeling slightly apprehensive, and the nerves began to build as the time for the interview approached.  I was lucky that Heather (who had helped me with a lot of the editing) was around to steady my nerves!  Just one of the other wonderful things about the evening was that Helen (who lives and works in Argentina most of the year) was over in the UK and managed to get up to Boston Spa for the evening - Helen helped with some of the initial editing and gave some very helpful advice from her past experience as an editor.

The interview will be posted on the Oasis website next week, as well as on YouTube, so if you didn't manage to get to either event (as there is a Meet the Author event on 1st December) you will be able to watch it!

I will put more thoughts about the events onto here a little later....

On the countdown now

Well, I have boxes of books at home now ready to take to the launch next week.  All the preparations have been done that possibly can be done, all I have to do is turn up on the night and enjoy the evening!  Hmm, well that may be the case, but in reality I think I will be spending the six days and nights before 24th November agitating in case I have forgotten anything, worrying that there will be a snow blizzard and no one will be able to get there.  And more and more I am sure!  There is a level of confidence around me that everything is going to work perfectly, there will be no malfunctions of the video camera, etc etc.

I think my best approach is to go with the confidence......

Picking up the books on Wednesday had a certain poignancy for us, as it was the anniversary of the day Abi died in 1984.  I have written before about circles coming together and ends being tied up.  It felt very like that for us, having all those books in the car, the celebration of her life and what she meant to all of us.

well at least there is a cover printed...

Last Friday was exciting!  Before catching a train north to visit friends, I had a date with the printers to see the cover for my book coming off the press.  Naive me thought it would be a quick visit to okay the colour.  The whole process was far more complicated than I imagined.  The colour of the cover is different when printed from different computers, and changes (of course) when printed on paper or card....  The presses are vast machines and it's a  highly technical operation.  I was busy trying to compare the machine I saw in front of me with my printer at home.  The large plates full of ink compared with the small cartridges I use.....

The unexpected element was how emotional I felt as I saw the covers churning through and flying towards the end of the machine.  Picture after picture of Abi, looking very innocent with wisps of her blonde hair around her face.  its hard to put into words what it felt like, but it was something like her being around me again, having her input and influence again.  Hitting me in a different way that other people, very soon, are going to reading about her, about me, about my family.  Knowing more about us, us being more visible.

I had to leave the printers before the cover was as close to the colour as I wanted, so waited for emails during the day to reassure me that it was done.

It was a relief when that email finally arrived; now all I have to do is wait for the completed book.

nearly there!

All coming together now, second proofs back to the printers today, first book launch fully booked up, the second one is filling too.  Website is now up and running (though it has been a little temperamental, rather like me at times).

And today I received a note wishing me and my book well from Sarah Brown!  I contacted Sarah earlier this year and she has replied to me with her thoughts "I am sure that your reflections on grief will be helpful to others seeking to understand their own (grief) through the experience of others".  Sarah has written a short piece for an anthology entitled The Death of a Child.  Her good wishes meant a lot to me.

First set of proofs back to printers!

the first set of proofs have now gone back to Quacks the printers.  Having spent a good 8 hours last week going through, checking and amending it was a relief to actually deliver them this morning.  I feel up and down at the moment, sometimes full of excitement about the launch and getting the book out into the world, and other times anxious about all there is to do between now and 24th November.  Feels like a long time, but it will flash by and everything needs to be sorted.

It is so thrilling that the actual book launch event is pretty much full now and the event the following week (Meet the Author) is filling well too.  It all gives me a very warm glow!

the actual invitation

Life is But a Dream: a book written by Christine Neligan (non-Executive Director of the Oasis School of Human Relations) is being launched on Thursday 24th November at Oasis, Hall Mews, Boston Spa, near Wetherby from 6 to 8 pm.  A further event on Thursday 1^st December entitled Meet the Author is also planned at the same venue and time.

The evening will be a chance to hear the author being interviewed about her book by Sophie McCandlish (News Editor of Ripon Gazette) as well as being an opportunity to socialise with Chris’ family, friends and colleagues. 

Chris says: “My daughter Abi died in 1984.  She was the youngest of our four children and aged almost three when she died very suddenly.  My book explores the effect of losing Abi on our family.  I began writing the book as a way of remembering Abi, hoping it would be helpful for our family.  I then realised that perhaps it could be helpful for other people who were experiencing bereavement.  The book explores the impact on the whole family of the loss of Abi.  I believe it is a truthful and honest account of the isolation of bereavement, even for a close-knit family with a supportive network of friends and relatives.”

Chris intends the evening to be a further celebration of Abi’s life and the strong impression she made during her short life.  Coincidentally the evening is the anniversary of the celebration meeting we held after she died. 

RSVP as soon as possible as places are limited for both events: samantha@oasishumanrelations.org.uk

To find out more contact the Oasis School of Human Relations on 01937 541700 or email: chris.neligan@hotmail.com.

Read my blog at: http://neligansdream.blogspot.com