Hot off the press
Thu 5th Jun 2008 by Ben Palmer.Publication day is here. This time a year ago I was discussing what would make a suitable title for my book with my agent, prior to submitting a 30,000 word proposal to a handful of publishing editors.
Twelve months and 60,000 words later, it is in stock, on the shelves and on sale. Tomorrow there's a 3,000 word extract in a national newspaper and on Saturday another is printing an interview I did with them a couple of weeks ago. I can barely believe it's true.
Last night I went out for an extremely nice dinner with friends, stopping at their house for glass of champagne.
'Look children, it's Ben's book,' Sally said.
'Wow. You're famous,' was her son's response, before climbing over the fence to play in the neighbour's garden.
It'd be easy to enjoy the 'fame' but that's not why I wrote Friday's Child.
I emailed some friends earlier, to remind them that they could buy a copy if they felt inclined, and got a response back from someone I met directly because of Jessica's death.
His email read, 'Would you believe this morning I have been out for our first scan at 12 weeks – thanks so much for raising awareness of childbed fever on behalf of this prospective Dad!'
The book is dedicated to Harry and Emily, but it is on the shelves and in the press for all prospective Mums and Dads. That's why I did it and I hope it saves lives.
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tags: baby book children parent pregnant press
Hi Ben
Congratulations....I've been looking forward to the luanch of this book since I first pre-ordered it in January.
I got it in the post 2 days ago and am half way through it....had to leave it aside a few times as it just broke my heart....I'm at the point where you are getting your legal investigation underway...I love this part because I'd imagine this is where you felt less helpless about events and went in search of the truth...which is just brilliant.
You have great friends and family thank God. The world needs people like you and them to bring such needless tragedies into the public domain. Everyone has to learn from this especially those that didn't heed the initial warning signs- not good enough!
Well done, I hope you sell lots and look forward to the press coverage..hope you don't run yourself into the ground over the coming months...I'd imagine you are probably used to coping with that by now though
What newspapers are the articles appearing in? I'm from across the water so to speak but could access them on line
Thinking of you and your family.
Caitriona
Hi Caitriona
Thank you so much. You are so right about searching for the truth, it was so important to me, for my children's sake. It wasn't an easy ride though, as you'll see.
Today's article is in the Daily Mail - see Extracted
Very best wishes.
Thought I would add a link to Amazon to buy this book.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1905264283?ie=UTF8&tag=jessistrust-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1905264283
Hi Ben
Well I have finished your book. I couldn't believe the outcome of the inquest but am relieved you got some justice in the end. What a thoroughly exhausting and harrowing experience you went through with all these investigations... but I completely understand how important it was for you and your family to pursue this as far as you did.
I really hope you are doing better yourself now psychologically and physically, you are obviously a very strong person but strong people need looking after too -lots!!
Congratulations again on your book, heartbreaking and devastating but courageous and thoroughly inspirational.
Take Care you and your family
P.S Did you have any contact with AIMS UK at all.(Association for Improvement in Maternity Services). It would be worth them having a link to your site and possibly featuring your story in their journal. They have a wide readership and membership base. http://www.aims.org.uk
Hi Caitriona, Thank you: for reading the book, and for being so kind and supportive. It has been a long road, but we are mending. The three of us are good at supporting each other, despite some of our young years! I haven't contacted AIMS as yet, but they're on my list!