Help me self-publish 'The Bendy Pencil': a raw, funny memoir of adventure and resilience and my fight to lift my head to look life in the eye.
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WHAT I'M DOING
Hi, I’m Emma. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 29 (which was over 12 years ago), and this is my second book. I’m self-publishing again, very deliberately. Why? Because I get total creative freedom. I tell this story in my own voice, exactly how I want. No filters. No compromises. No one messing with my commas.
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Here’s the deal:
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This book is a limited, time-based print run (blink and you’ll miss it!)
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There’s a 12-week pre-order window.
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During those 12 weeks, you can pre-order your copy.
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Once the window closes, the books are printed.
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Your copy is then sent straight to you.
Important stuff (read this bit):
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This special first edition of the book is only available during those 12 weeks.
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Pre-ordering is the only way to get a copy.
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By ordering early, you’re not just buying a book you’re helping make it exist. Actual magic.
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Thank you for being here and being part of this journey with me!
THE STORY
‘The Bendy Pencil’ unveils the autobiographical Hero’s Journey of Emma Lawton, a 34 year old Creative Director who at the start of this story has been living with Parkinson’s Disease for half a decade.
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Initially, we meet Emma as she continues to live a fun filled and relatively comfortable life with her long-term boyfriend, little apartment in London and a job where she’s almost part of the furniture (a few years on from Emma’s first book ‘Dropping The P Bomb.’)
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However, a craving for adventure that she can’t ignore propels Emma into a whirlwind of events when she impulsively responds to a vague call for participants in a television documentary. A response that sets a ball rolling that turns her life on it’s head both metaphorically and physically. Mysteriously, her neck muscles begin to weaken, presenting her with a daunting challenge: to navigate life's newfound excitement while struggling to lift her head high enough to embrace it fully.
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Refusing to resign herself to this uncertain future, "The Bendy Pencil" chronicles the five-year odyssey Emma and her family embark upon, marked by glimmers of hope amidst crushing setbacks. Their resolve unwavering as they pursue Emma's seemingly simple but desperate dream: to have the ability to look people in the eye again, something she values more than anything.
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With Emma's trademark blend of raw honesty and unexpected humour, the narrative delves into the weight of pivotal decisions, the anguish of heartbreaking disappointments, and ultimately, the triumph of resilience. As readers journey alongside her, they'll bear witness to the indomitable spirit of a woman determined to reshape her destiny, one courageous step at a time.