An illustrated children’s story book is helping to raise funds for a dementia charity.
First time author, Julie Bowmaker, will be signing copies of her Tales of Fantasy and Magic at Waterstones in Dumfries on Saturday.
She hopes people will come along and support her cause to raise money for Alzheimers Scotland and bring “a little sunshine” to dementia sufferers and their families.”
In 2012 Julie’s father, Graham French, died from a severe form of dementia.
Julie Told DGWGO “After his death, I wanted to do more than just give a donation,” she said. “I wanted to leave a lasting legacy for him.
“My father used to enjoy his trips out on the bus from the Gordon Street Day Centre in Dumfries so I hope the proceeds of the book will go towards spreading a little sunshine into the lives of people with dementia, their families and carers.”
Julie has been writing poetry and stories for over 15 years and the book is a collection of nine of her best rhyming tales featuring animals, fairies and dragons.
It has been illustrated by Langholm-based artist Margaret Walty, with a foreword from Reporting Scotland presenter Sally Magnusson.
“When I first decided to publish a book, I had no idea how to put it together and no understanding of how things worked in the publishing industry,” she said.
“I started by visiting Lesley Rogers, of the council’s business and enterprise team, who gave me a lot of useful advice.
“She put me on to Castle Douglas writer Mary Smith who single-handedly guided me through the publication process.
“I didn’t realise how huge a project it actually was. I found Margaret Walty who is a fantasy illustrator and she chose nine stories out of the 12 I submitted to her.
“Sally Magnusson wrote the foreword. She lost her mother to Alzheimers and, like everyone who I have met through the project, she has been very supportive.”
The book was launched last month at the Nail Factory in Dalbeattie and is selling well. Three pounds of the sale price of £5.25 will go to Alzheimers Scotland and the rest will be ploughed into a reprint after the initial print-run of 500 has been sold.
Julie will be at Waterstones in Dumfries on Saturday, 12th December, from 11am to 3pm, and hopes the public will come out and support her.
Copies of the book can also be purchased from www.freewebstore.org/tales-of-fantasy-and-magic.
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