Hello, and welcome back to Promote Me Please. Today, we meet author Karen Tyrrell who talks about her new book,
Harry Helps Grandpa Remember.
Scroll down after the interview to read more about Karen's blog tour, more about the book, and to enter a giveaway.
Q.1. The first children's book I remember reading about short term memory loss was Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge. I thought then, and still think now; this is a horribly difficult subject to tackle because any recovery of memory is necessarily of very short duration.
How did you address this
problem in
A.1. As dementia can advance at different speeds for individuals, Harry is aimed at families where it’s
still possible to communicate with the affected member, and reassure children
to not be afraid of such behaviour and not to give up trying to interact and
communicate, and be more patient and open.
I showed the realism of dementia through my Grandpa’s character
depicting his emotional and behavioural state. At the same time I showed how we
can treat our loved-ones with respect, humour, compassion and a sense of hope.
Q.2. How did the idea of writing Harry Helps
Grandpa Remember come to you?
A.2. Harry Helps
Grandpa Remember is based on my experiences caring
for my dad with memory loss and my father-in-law with Alzheimer’s using coping
skills. Harry shows how Grandpa
improved his functionality and felt better about himself. These tried-and-true
practical coping skills and memory boosters are highlighted throughout the book. Strategies which improve well-being and
quality of life. My young nephews use these same strategies with their Grandpa when
they visit too.
Q.3. How did you settle on the
level for the book? It's the kind of subject that could slot in at any level
from picture book right up through YA.
A.3. I wanted to pitch at an age-level
reaching a wide cross section of the community. I chose a picture book to
deliver a visual and emotional message in partnership with the text. The
positive messages are as much for adults as they are for children. I’ve
included a teacher section on preventative brain health as well as tips on slowing
down the dementia process.
Q4. Did you choose your own illustrator and, if so, how did you go about
the selection process?
A.4. I chose my own illustrator, Aaron Pocock, who I worked with on another picture
book Bailey Beats
the Blah, coping skills to lift a child’s mood. I won a RADF
grant through Arts Queensland and Logan City Council. Aaron’s illustrations are
bright, bold, super appealing to kids with almost a 3D effect.
Q5. In your
opinion, how far should we go in realism in a difficult subject like this one?
I've noted that most literature for public consumption (that is, not
specifically for those families affected) soft-pedals the whole issue...
A.5. In Harry Helps
Grandpa Remember I show Grandpa’s emotional and behavioural state
before and after dementia developed as a well as the effect of coping strategies
have on his overall quality of life. Grandpa’s dementia symptoms are shown
realistically by his actions, emotions and words i.e. his grumpiness, forgetfulness and lethargy. Without
giving away the ending, there is an overwhelming message of the importance of
family relationships, love and hope.
Thank you Karen for your thoughtful replies to our questions. Promote Me Please wishes you well with your new title, and tips a metaphorical hat to you for tackling a difficult subject with grace and dignity.
Now read on for news on the other stops in the tour. Remember, you can catch up with earlier stops as well as the later ones.
Harry Helps Grandpa Remember Blog
Tour
WOOHOO! Harry
Helps Grandpa Remember is now on
Amazon world-wide as a print Book and as an eBook.
Harry is about the special love between a
little boy and his grandpa who was Alzheimer’s. Harry will do ANYTHING to help
his grandpa remember. A heart-warming story, full of humour and HOPE.
ISBN: 9780987274083
To celebrate, Harry will be visiting these
sites:
Harry Helps Grandpa Remember Blog HOPS
22 June: Harry
Helps Grandpa Remember Now on AMAZON
www.karentyrrell.com
23 June:
Spilling Ink Interview http://ali-stegert.com/
24 June: Buzz
Words Review http://diannedibates.blogspot.com.au/
25 June: Robyn
Opie Interview www.robynopie.blogspot.com
25 June: Jackie
Hosking Review www.jackiehoskingpio.wordpress.com
26 June: Blog on
Author Platform http://charmaineclancy.com/
29 June: Sally
Odgers interview http://promotemeplease.blogspot.com.au
30 June: Jill
Smith Review https://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com
30 June: June
Perkins Interview http://gumbootspearlz.org/
1 July Dimity Review http://dimswritestuff.blogspot.com.au/
Blog
Tour Book Giveaway
Please leave
a comment on any of the sites above for a chance to win a signed print copy or
5 eCopies of Harry Helps Grandpa
Remember. 6 Copies to be won. 6 Winners announced 3 July.Good luck
