The secret’s out. I’VE WRITTEN A BOOK!

Surprise! I’ve been working on this book for over a year: drafting, revising, editing, pulling my hair out, sending it to beta readers, working with editors and cover designers and proofreaders. And yet I haven’t spoken much about it online, aside from the occasional veiled tweet or Instagram caption. Perhaps because of the subject matter, I’ve needed to move through this process in my own private way.

And then when the global lockdown began, I took a definitive step back from blogging and posting on social media. Many of my heaviest grief moments mirror what’s been happening – a fear of stepping outside, a need for isolation, worries about uncertainty, too much time spent with your own thoughts. It’s been tough on everyone, in a myriad of different and unique ways.

I’ve had some internal struggle about whether it’s OK to publish a book in the midst of a pandemic, too. Particularly one about grief and loss – a topic that’s already pretty sad, but maybe more so during such a tense time.

But then again, I’m acutely aware of how many people’s grief has been amplified over the last months, be it fresh grief or years-old wounds opening up again. There’s been a rise in people messaging me with their own stories of loss, and I know, deep down, that personal stories of navigating grief are perhaps more necessary than ever now.

So during the last few months, while ‘isolation,’ ‘lockdown’ and ‘social distancing’ became mainstays in our vocabulary, I’ve been working frenziedly to get this book finished.

And now it’s here. My first ever book. I’m still a little bit in shock.

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Introducing ‘The Adult Orphan Club’ – a book about learning to grieve the loss of your parents

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What is ‘The Adult Orphan Club’ about? 

As the title may suggest, ‘The Adult Orphan Club’ is about what it’s like to become an orphan. Part memoir, part guide, the book takes you through the journey of grief. It combines practical advice with my own lived experiences about what to do before, during, and after the death of someone you love – along with all the emotional, mental and even physical overwhelm which kicks in, too.

Early Goodreads reviewers have said:

“It feels like Flora is gently but firmly taking you by the hand and leading you down the path she has already travelled, to show you that the journey will be hard beyond all else but you will survive.”

“Clearly-written and well-paced: a real guide to the worst of grief.”

“A vitally necessary book.”

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Is ‘The Adult Orphan Club’ an upsetting read? 

It’s hard to say. I’ve written honestly about the experience of my parents dying, the emotional responses I’ve had, the difficulties which grief can throw at you, and the realisations that grief has eventually allowed me to understand. While I wouldn’t say it’s an upsetting read exactly, I’ve tried to maintain a level of clarity, truthfulness and sensitivity throughout. And sometimes that may hit hard.

Basically, if you’ve read any of my grief articles before, this book is written in the same style.

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Who is the ideal reader of ‘The Adult Orphan Club’? 

I’ve written about the grief I know intimately, which stems from parental loss. But I think the experience of intense grieving is usually rooted in the same set of responses for all of us. We all go through the same overwhelm, confusion and sadness, even if the specifics of our grief are unique.

Many people have written to me over the years because they’ve been searching for stories which mirror theirs. These people have usually lost one or both of their parents. So while I’d say this book is written primarily with them in mind, I think anyone who’s suffered through grief will find parallels with their own experience. And I hope you’ll find comfort in it too.

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What made you write ‘The Adult Orphan Club’?

This is the book I needed to read when my parents died. It’s emotional and raw, and it digs really deep, but it’s necessary. The amount of unexpected trauma you struggle with during grief simply is not talked about – not enough, at least – and I really want that to change.

I’ve read many grief books with a psychological or therapeutic slant, and an absolute ton of grief memoirs. Although they’ve all been invaluable during my grief journey, I still felt that there was space for a book which combined personal experience with structured help – just without the psychoanalysis.

Plus I figured I’ve written enough blog articles about grief to warrant creating a much longer piece of writing!

But the biggest reason was because of the messages I still receive every week from those of you who’ve read those grief blogs. I tapped into something unexpected when I wrote about my parents dying before I turned thirty. I never expected that article to become the most-visited one on my site – but it opened my eyes to how many people needed a resource to help them feel less alone in grief.

Hopefully that’s what I’ve created with this book.

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How can I read ‘The Adult Orphan Club’?

The book was published on June 20th – which just so happens to be my mum’s birthday. It’s available both as an ebook and as a paperback on all platforms – just click the links below to buy your copy!

Order on Amazon UK

Order on Amazon US

Order on Kobo, iBooks, Google Play (and more!)

A little note about reviews:

If you’ve bought the book on any of the above platforms and enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review. It’s really helpful for allowing other readers to find my book – and it’s also a great way for me to prove to future publishers that I’m a good author to work with!

I’m also pretty active on Goodreads and would love a review there too – users can add ‘The Adult Orphan Club’ to their shelves here. 

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So, I’ve written a book.

I’m really excited, nervous and proud to be publishing ‘The Adult Orphan Club’. I’ve built this book out of the hundreds of conversations I’ve had with other grieving people, all of whom needed a resource to accompany their grief. I firmly believe that it does those conversations justice.

I also wish I could tell my mum and dad about it – but then again, I couldn’t have written it if they were still here. Life is funny like that. Still, publishing it on my mum’s birthday means I’ll be giving her a present for the first time in eleven years, which is pretty special too.

Now the only thing left is for you to read it.

I can’t wait to hear what you think!