Dad, You’ve Got Dementia turns one!
Kristen and Don Phillips
Photo credit: Anna Macfarlane
Highlights of the year — and tips for new writers
An interview with myself ; )
Q: Kristen, did you think DYGD would get published when you were writing it?
A: I started writing DYGD in 2020, during the pandemic in London. Dad had died in 2019 and writing was a way of expressing my grief. I had no way of knowing if the book would be published or not. My feeling was that if it didn’t happen it was worth writing it anyway.
But, to receive an email from Mary McCallum in May 2022, saying that The Cuba Press would like to publish DYGD, was a very special moment.
Q: What have been some highlights of the past year?
There have been many:
The (recorded) launch on 8 July at Te Hāhi Iriiri o Pito-one / Petone Baptist Church, which was so well attended.
87 copies being sold at the launch, which helped to take DYGD to third on Schrödinger’s Books’ 2023 bestseller list.
The YouTube interview with Te Matapihi Ki Te Ao Nui / Wellington City Libraries that explains so much about DYGD and why it was written.
The radio interview with Kathryn Ryan on Nine To Noon which I enjoyed, despite being nervous.
Reading from DYGD to people in the early stage of dementia at the Dementia Hawkes Bay day programmes.
Writing regular dementia book reviews for the New Zealand Dementia Foundation, which is a resource for people who want to read and learn about dementia.
Feedback from readers, who have said the book touched them and helped them.
Q: Any tips for new writers after one year?
A: I’ve got two tips:
1. Allow time to learn what it means to be a writer.
In 2023 I felt a bit ‘who me?’. One year on, I am much more comfortable with calling myself a writer; I can now approach booksellers about stocking DYGD and letting people I meet in the ‘Dementia World’ know I am available for events.
2. Pace yourself
There is always something you can be doing as a writer, e.g. reading, writing and promoting your work. I pace myself by setting realistic writing goals each week. I exchange my intentions with another writer, which has given me a much better idea of what is possible to achieve in a week.
