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130 ink drawings
The illustrations bring ideas to life and create visual breaks in the text.
Book cover1 of 5
Use the arrows to look inside. Select the image to enlarge it.
The Book
How to Love
and Be Loved
How to Love and Be Loved: Tiny steps to connecting with love and life
Buy the bookThis book may suit you if you:
- find conventional self-help books too dense;
- feel overwhelmed by long sections of text;
- prefer illustrations, stories and practical activities; or
- want to build a collection of strategies that work specifically for you.
Audience
I wrote this book for anyone who feels they are struggling, rather than living and enjoying life. I wrote it for anyone who experiences overwhelm, or who struggles to focus and get started on courses. I intentionally made it inclusive and accessible for dyslexic people who struggle with the practicalities of reading books, for those with ADHD who need small chunks and visual learners who need more pictures than words.
Illustrated and interactive
A book to use, not just read
Activities, reflections and worksheets help you take part as you read. The chapters can be used independently, so you can move between sections and return to the methods that work best for you.
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Activities and reflections
Prompts and worksheets give you space to test ideas and make notes.
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Move between chapters
Use the sections you need rather than following one strict chronological route.
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Build your Life Manual
Identify the chapters and methods that help, then collect them for future reference.
Reader reviews
What readers are saying
A beautiful and accessible book full of simple practical tips to help lift mood and appreciate life. I found gratitudes, sky on your head, living without stress. I’ve already bought and gifted another copy. Definitely recommend.
Reader review
How to Love and Be Loved is to feeling good about yourself what Alan Carr's book was to stopping smoking.
Reader review
The author has found a way of giving you part of herself whilst encouraging you to grow, explore your own vulnerability and create your own journey in a safe space.
Reader review
A Love Letter
This is my love letter to anyone who is feeling below par, who could do with someone who cares, who'll check in with them and give them a hand back up.
Meet Indigo Violet
My best friend shared my sense of humour, but my best friend was no longer around and I couldn't remember the last time I laughed, danced freely, or even did some art. Then I was given a box of inks, I began doodling, and out of my ink box climbed Indigo Violet, the essence of my bestie. A free spirit with a mischievous sense of humour, Indigo Violet made me laugh. Laughter felt good and Indigo Violet encouraged it. So I indulged her. Indigo became my muse. “What would Indigo do?” I would wonder, and follow her lead. She led the way for each chapter of my book and insisted I create many illustrations.
Made to be used
What's inside
Illustrative stories, informative drawings, insightful quotes, fillable worksheets, scientific explanations, and final reflections. My favourite books are the ones that use stories to explain the point, so that's what I did. My favourite information has an evidence base to back it up, so my science explanations do. My non-bookish kids read only ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ format books, so I used that format, with 130 drawings. My retained learning comes from summaries at the end of chapters, so I created end summaries.
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Spaces to Journal and Join In
It's yours to mark up with oily thumbprints and highlighter pens. Its value will be decreed by the scribbles in the margins, the turned down corners, the sticky notes hanging out and the crinkled bit from where it got damp being read in the bath.
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Neurodiversity Friendly Design
If your eyes ever ache from trying to read, you'll find the creamy paper kinder. If rows of text trick you where the next line starts, you'll find the wide row spacing helps you track correctly. If you're easily overwhelmed or distracted, the short paragraphs and chunks will be manageable. If words lose their meaning when too many, then stories will talk to you better. If pictures mean more than words, I've included 130 for you.
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Your Life Manual
I show you how to write a Life Manual. A manual personalised just for you, full of tips and strategies that you can test and find what works for you. Techniques and habits to keep you well, keep you going, help you follow your dreams. A manual that once written you can refer to whenever you need some help to get back on track.
How to Love and Be Loved
Paperback, currently £12.99 on Amazon. Reader reviews are there too, if you want a second opinion before buying.
Buy the bookThis book is a supplementary wellbeing resource and is not a substitute for therapy, diagnosis, medical treatment or emergency support.
