Hello
everyone!
I’m really
pleased (and a little bit in shock still) to announce that my book, From ME to You, With Love is available
to buy on Amazon, both in paperback and for the Kindle!
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For anyone
who is thinking ‘what on earth is she talking about?’, getting on for a year
ago now I was out talking to a friend. I was telling her about how difficult it
is to manage with ME, not only your physical symptoms but the stigma and
disbelief you can be faced with, and how that can make every day so much more
of a battle. I can remember saying to her ‘it’s a shame that there isn’t
something that has LOADS of us telling the world how it is’. Then I thought
that maybe I could try and achieve that, create something where we told the
world just how devastating ME can be but also how, thanks to people like IiME there
is a real sense of positivity and determination within the ME world that one
day a cure or treatment will be found. That’s when the ‘Letters for Louise’
project started.
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| The book in paperback |
I asked my
friends initially to write a letter (anonymously if they wanted) addressed to
anyone who had showed them disbelief, a lack of respect, neglect,
misunderstanding… or the notorious ‘I don’t think you’re as ill as you say you
are, because you don’t look ill’. I planned on putting it all in Word, printing
it off and giving it to a few family members and friends, but then I thought ‘why
not make this bigger and raise money for IiME in the process’? So I decided to
make a book. I had no idea how to publish it, or if I would be able to publish
it at all- but I just decided to ask loads of people for letters and work out
the rest later on. I wrote a few letters too, and found it really therapeutic so
I hope that the whole process helped those who contributed.
As time went
on, the book started to take shape. Now, I had letters from people thanking
others who had been so brilliant towards them. I had letters from people who
were being so inspirational and crafting something amazing out of their
massively restricted lives. I had letters of love, anger, pain- all of which
were so raw and honest, and so heart-breaking. And so, as I began to put the
letters in order, proof-read and check them all over, tissues were regularly
added to the weekly shopping list!
Now I am so
proud to share what has been a very hard, emotional but brilliant journey. It’s
been really tough at times reading other people’s stories, especially when they
have made me reflect on my own experiences of having ME. But it’s been
inspirational and an honour to work with what I think are some of the bravest
people ever. I’ve made new friends and I want to thank EVERYONE for their
support, not only with writing letters but for giving me so much love and
encouragement too.
I’m 25 and I’ve
had ME since my late teens. I hate it. But this has just shown me that having
it doesn’t have to stop your life there and then. I mean, I’ve just published a
book… would I have ever thought of doing that if I didn’t have ME?!?!?
I’m over the
moon to be giving the profits from the book to Invest in ME. Them, and the ‘Let’s
Do It For ME’ lovelies are always so chirpy and upbeat despite being severely
affected. They’ve definitely taught me a thing or two about how to make the
best of a bad situation (as I’m sure that when I was severely affected I was an
absolute misery to be around!!!)
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Anyway, this
is DEFINITELY not the end of the ‘Letters for Louise’ project, just the
beginning. There may well even be a volume 2 at some point… although I need a
bit of a rest first J For now, I’m really looking forward to sharing and promoting
the book as widely as I can. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I’d
publish a book so now I am going to believe that I can take this as far as I
possibly can… and see if I can get some really high profile people to read it
and help us in our battle to be taken seriously. If you don’t try, you don’t
know!
The book is
available at:
and for the
Kindle http://www.amazon.co.uk/From-ME-You-With-Love-ebook/dp/B00K4EG70E/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1399226840&sr=8-1
(I hope they
are the links that raise a bit extra through EasyFundraising??) I’ve also bulk
ordered a load to sell in person at a few events that I’m involved in so if you
live in either Northampton or Taunton/ Wellington (Somerset), feel free to come
and say hello J
I hope you enjoy the book and thank you for all of your support!
Louise xxxx
