Books

The Little Book of Loss and Grief You Can Read While You Cry is a 50 page book where I have taken all the research and theories on loss and grief, as well as my own extensive experience in the field, and broken this down into simple words, powerful messages and beautiful illustrations that people can return to again and again.  The book could be given as a gift instead of flowers, sit on a coffee table in a GP surgery or be used by therapists, teachers  or parents to help talk through the emotions and impact of loss and grief.  The aim of the book is to both educate and comfort people in times of loss and grief.

Society’s current beliefs about loss and grief are isolating and damaging.  In my work,  I all too often hear people across the lifespan wonder if they are “okay” or what they are experiencing is  “normal”  following a loss.  During this crisis,  people are often too sad and overwhelmed to read books filled with text, or websites with pages of testimonies and words. This is what prompted me to write a very simple text which can be read in less than 15 minutes, cover to cover, and is easy to return to during times of grief.

Written as an adult picture book, this publication is appropriate for people of all ages and literacy levels.  Parents could use it to prompt conversations with their children, or therapists could ask clients to discuss the page they feel is most relevant to them.  The book has multiple purposes.

Often people assume we only grieve when there is a death but the reality is that grief impacts every part of our lives.  Any sort of change has the potential to be a loss event and bring grief.  Moving house, relationship breakdown, health issues and financial strain will all bring about challenges and change which is often experienced as loss and grief. People often wonder why they feel so overwhelmed and sad without realising they are grieving. These events hurt.  No matter who you are, how old you are, or your financial status – everyone will suffer grief during their life course and this little book aims to normalise what you are experiencing.

I am therefore embarking on a mission to write a series of self-help books that will offer reassurance quickly and in a way that is easy and accessible to people of all ages and literacy levels.

WHERE TO BUY THE BOOK?

The Little Book of Loss and Grief You Can Read While You Cry was launched on the 3rd of April, 2014 to a crowd of 100 people at the Mary Ryan Bookstore, Milton.  You can order the book directly from me via my blog, online through several bookstore sites,  or find it on the shelves of your local bookstore – if it is not there ask them to order it in!  It does not cost anything extra.

REVIEWS – Little Book of Loss and Grief You Can Read While You Cry

‘Every page in this book is important and will have value for someone who is grieving. Using her experience, Liz emphasises that there is no “right way” to grieve; I can imagine this resource being a huge comfort to many people, one page at a time’

Dr Steve Philpot
Intensive Care Specialist
The Alfred Hospital

‘This book is a beautiful and valuable resource for people experiencing grief. The simple yet profound messages are relevant for all ages and are delivered in a meaningful and gentle way with the overall message being ‘it is ok’. A little masterpiece and a must read for anyone seeking guidance in times of difficulty. A GEM.’

Kylie Hooper

‘Wonderful book that normalises grief and loss and tells us it’s okay to FEEL everything that comes with grief, and for as long as it takes … Easy to read which is a beautiful gift for such a difficult and painful topic. Anyone who reads this is going to find out that grieving is normal, may last a lifetime, will have ups and downs, and looks different for every single person, but that life is still ours to enjoy in between the hard times’

Jodi Sariman, Social Worker