Book Launch !

I thought I would include a photo of Abi in this - just to make it come more alive.

Although the date for my book launch isn't until 24th November, some people already aren't able to attend because of prior commitments.  One of those happens to be one of my readers, so its disappointing.  I realised that perhaps I had better get the date out now to make sure as many people as possible can be there.  Every step is a little challenge - whilst some people know I've been writing a book, many people don't, many people don't even know about Abi.  So putting an invitation out is like an invitation not just to be at the book launch, not just to buy my book, but also to ask me (and the family) about Abi and find out more.  Its challenging for me, but even more so for the rest of the family.  But all I have had has been support - I suspect nearer the time there may be more concerns about potential difficulties.  


And the response to the invitation has been great, already people are definitely saying they are coming, or are disappointed they can't but would like to have a copy once its published. 


The process has been made easier by the response from the readers, whose comments will go on the back of the book - all three of them were encouraging and in many ways surprising to me in that they were so very positive.  


So Life is But a Dream - book launch at the Oasis School of Human Relations - Thursday 24th November 2011 at 6 pm!!

cover design

I realise that writing a book demands many different skills - the idea to come to fruition, the actual writing, the process of keeping on going over a long period of time (for me anyway), being able to have colleagues who will read and make helpful comments - the list could go on ad infinitum I guess.  The latest dilemma has been having the idea for the book cover.  the title of the book just came to me very easily - Life is But a Dream is the title of a children's song I used to sing to my children before they went to sleep.  The concept of the title too is something I have played with in my mind over the years.  Is this life I am living realty here and now or is this just a dream?  Would I like it to be a dream I can wake up from and things be different?

Because the book is about my daughter Abi who died when she was nearly three I wanted to have a photo of her on the cover.  I wanted it to be arresting enough that someone might pick up the book because of her photo and want to read it.  So the combination of the title and the photo are important.

I eventually found a photo I wanted to use, but because it was an old one from 1983 or 4 the quality isn't brilliant and it needed "photo-shopping".  so another skill for me to learn!!

then should there be a background watermark picture and what should that be??  Lots of thoughts - because we lived in Hull when she died I wondered about the Humber Bridge as a background - and a bridge being a metaphor for movement through the bereavement process....  But decided against that.  Other landmarks in Hull never seemed that appropriate either.

Abi's photo has now gone off to the designers along with some ideas for colours and Mandy will get back to me hopefully this week with some draft ideas.  Every single step is exciting, brings its own questions and challenges for me and makes the reality of what I have done that much clearer.