Using your novel as a weapon

A wee preview of the upcoming review by the ME Association describes The State of Me as 'a remarkable first novel... absolutely word perfect on neurological ME'. Am so happy as I was a little worried about getting the science right, there is so much of it, after all, and I was specifically trying to get across the thoughts which were predominant in the 80s/90s. Also, I didn't want to clutter the novel with clinical facts, that would have suffocated the story, and been immensely dull, that is why I used the 'stranger dialogue' technique. It was one thing to describe symptoms through Helens' voice - I was confident when she said things like 'even my hands feel ill' - but another to inform the reader of the complex, often highly emotive debate about the illness. It's also a great feeling to be on the MEA booklist - I used to thrust copies of Dr Charles Shepherd's Living with M.E into the hands of non-believers, back in those dark days, and now I hope others can use TSoM as their weapon.

An Australian review of TSoM

Greenwords' review of The State of Me.

And a photo of the book next to very beautiful cushions.

Thank you, my dear.