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ABOUT OUR BOOK
This is our true story:
"Alex is only three when on a father and son's weekend away, his Daddy suddenly suffers a massive heart attack. All on his own and hundreds of miles away from home, he manages to get help. But his beloved Daddy dies at the scene, inside the ambulance."
Keen to help him understand, his Mum tried to turn to books, only to find there wasn't one for pre school children. Not in Britain, not in the US, not in Germany. So she decided to write her own, based on the first conversations she'd had with Alex.
Written in his own words, "Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?" is his true story, written with the aim of helping other children who are thrown into the same cruel situation.
Completely honest, easy-to-understand, non-religious, and beautifully illustrated, "Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?" helps children understand death and gives carers the strength and confidence to find the right words at such a difficult time. You never think it's going to happen to you, but unfortunately we know many many other people who have to live with this painful reality every day, just like we do.
Senior Practitioner at Richmond's Hope Bereavement Project, Donna Hastings, says: "Elke has managed to capture the difficult task of explaining death to very young children in a way that they can understand for their age and stage of development. This book is written with compassion in an honest powerful way. A beautiful book that will undoubtedly help so many. I would highly recommend it."
HOW YOU CAN HELP
I am Elke, Alex is my son and we have written "Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?" together, with the help of our illustrator Anna Jarvis. We have had nothing but positive feedback from across the globe, as far as the US and Hong Kong - bereavement counsillors, other young widows, primary school teachers, nursery teacher and other people going through the bereavement process or knowing somebody who is going through the bereavement process, all keen to see this book on the shelves. So, sadly, the market is there and every penny you pledge will help us to complete production and to get this book up for sale.
I had actually saved up all the money to self-publish "Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?" myself. But earlier this year I was diagnosed with a relatively early, yet very aggressive Grade 3 breast cancer. My wonderful new partner has taken unpaid leave from his job to help me look after my small children while I am undergoing tiring chemotherapy. Our savings are now being used for day-to-day living expenses.
Your money will help pay for finishing the illustrations and cover the print costs for the initial print run of this soft back, full colour, standard sized 36 page full colour children's book.
Our estimated delivery date for "Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?" will be this autumn, fingers crossed, but we will keep you updated through our FB site on any developments.
We plan to sell on Amazon, bookshops and as many other places as possible. We want "Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?" to be easily accessible to anyone who finds themselves in a similar position we did three years ago.
So, here's your chance to grab a signed copy before anyone else does by pledging - the rewards are outlined on the right.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT STOP PLEDGING ONCE WE REACH THE TARGET
There is so much more I am hoping to be able to do IF we manage to raise enough money...
- A bigger print run
- Translation into German and other languages
- A hard back version
- Free books for bereavement charities like Richmond's Hope, who made THE single biggest difference to our lives at the time
This book is so needed - please help us make this a reality and help children understand death, and the fact that they are not alone in this painful position.
We are already thinking about our next project, a children's book titled "What Happened to Daddy's Body?" - a question which, sadly, comes about six months down the line.
Alex and Olivia HAVE GOT a Dad, but unfortunately he died. It is important to help children understand that it is okay to cry, to be sad, and to ask questions, but it is also okay to smile and be happy. They have a right to know, and it is our job to help them understand. This book will help.
Thank you all, from the bottom of our hearts, Elke & Alex. xxx
Special thanks goes to www.bobbywooproductions.org for producing the video: Bob, you're a star!; to www.jonsavagephotography.com for letting us use the press photos, to www.juliebee.co.uk for introducing us to www.bloomvc.com and taking some more fab photos and to www.richmondshope.org.uk for helping us through Martin's sudden death, and for all the help and support for this book. Thank you Donna & the Team! xxx
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We will be very grateful, and thank you personally via Facebook status update on our 'Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?' FB page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Is-Daddy-Coming-Back-in-a-Minute/355597154495520
19990 rewards, 19975 remainingAlex and Elke will send you a postcard to thank you in person. :o) xxx
9993 rewards, 9980 remainingAlex and Elke will send you a postcard to thank you in person & we will email you a pdf of the book. :o) xxx
9990 rewards, 9961 remainingWe will send you copy of 'Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?', fresh off the press, signed by Alex & Elke. :o) We will also include a postcard from Alex & Elke saying thank you. Please add GBP 2 for postage & packing if you live outside the UK. Thank you! xxx
1959 rewards, 1870 remainingWe will send you a copy of 'Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?', fresh off the press, signed by Alex & Elke plus we will draw a little doodle inside, especially for you. We will also include a postcard from Alex & Elke saying thank you. Please add GBP 2 for postage & packing if you live outside the UK. Thank you! xxx
1980 rewards, 1912 remainingWe will send you a copy of 'Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?', fresh off the press, signed by Alex & Elke, including a little doodle by us, especially for you, a pdf of the book on CD with a pretty cover, plus a postcard from Alex & Elke saying thank you. Please add GBP 5 for postage & packing if you live outside the UK. Thank you! xxx
1992 rewards, 1970 remainingWe will send you a limited edition print of page 24/25 ('Who will look after me if you die, Mummy?'), signed by Anna, Alex & Elke, plus a copy of 'Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?', fresh off the press, signed by Alex & Elke, including a little doodle by us, especially for you, a pdf of the book on CD with a pretty cover, plus a postcard from Alex & Elke saying thank you. Please add GBP 5 for postage & packing if you live outside the UK. Thank you! xxx
191 rewards, 171 remainingHave your special words (20 words max!) printed on the inside front cover - this could be a 'in memory of', or anything random really, like 'I love it when my man wraps me up in the lovely hot clothes straight from the tumble dryer' (but nothing rude please!) plus a limited edition print of page 24/25 ('Who will look after me if you die, Mummy?), signed by Anna, Alex & Elke, plus two (!) copies of 'Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?', fresh off the press, signed by Alex & Elke, including a little doodle from us, especially for you, a pdf of the book on CD with a pretty cover, plus a postcard from Alex & Elke saying thank you. xxx
5 rewards, 0 remainingChange the names in the book (text only!) to your own choice of names and receive a pdf on CD with a pretty CD cover - please note that this will be in pdf format only, and NOT a 'proper' printed version of the book. You will also receive a limited edition print of page 24/25 ('Who will look after me if you die, Mummy?), signed by Anna, Alex & Elke, plus four copies of 'Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?', fresh off the press, signed by Alex & Elke, including a little doodle from us, especially for you, plus a postcard from Alex & Elke saying thank you. xxx
5 rewards, 4 remainingLet www.oneshoop.com - I am a self-employed graphic designer - design you a leaflet, booklet, flyer or new stationery based on and using your existing company logo. This does NOT include print costs, copywriting or photography, which should be provided by yourself at a resolution suitable for print (ie 300 dpi at actual size). Receive all print ready artwork on CD. You will also receive a limited edition print of page 24/25 ('Who will look after me if you die, Mummy?), signed by Anna, Alex & Elke, plus five copies of 'Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?', fresh off the press, signed by Alex & Elke, including a little doodle from us, especially for you, a pdf of the book on CD with a pretty cover, plus a postcard from Alex & Elke saying thank you. xxx If you're not a business, but would like to pledge an amazing GBP 500, please contact me, and I could design your personal business cards, christmas cards, booklet for your loved one or similar, just ask & we will find something that suits. xxx
6 rewards, 2 remainingLet www.oneshoop.com - I am a self-employed graphic designer - design you a new corporate identity plus business cards, letterheads and compliments slips. This does NOT include print costs, copywriting or photography, which should be provided by yourself, if required, at a resolution suitable for print (ie 300 dpi at actual size). Receive all print ready artwork on CD. You will also receive a limited edition print of page 24/25 ('Who will look after me if you die, Mummy?), signed by Anna, Alex & Elke, plus five copies of 'Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?', fresh off the press, signed by Alex & Elke, including a little doodle from us, especially for you, a pdf of the book on CD with a pretty cover, plus a postcard from Alex & Elke saying thank you. xxx If you're not a business, but would like to pledge an amazing GBP 1000, please contact me, and I could design your personal christmas cards, wedding invitations, birthday party invitations or similar, just ask & we will find something that suits. xxx
3 rewards, 3 remaining
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