I am writing a book – I am almost, nearly, very close to finishing it. It’s called Say Hello. HarperCollins is my publisher. The book is a memoir – with anecdotes from my life to date, as well as thoughts and observations on ableism, media representation and beauty privilege. There’s advice to readers with and without ichthyosis, facial difference and disability. It encourages hope and disability pride. The book is called Say Hello because that’s what I want people to do, instead of ignoring me, looking shocked or scared, or making a rude comment about my face. If you enjoy my blog and articles, I think you’ll like my memoir.
There was no one in media or books who looked like me, or to tell me it’s ok to not want to change my appearance, and I didn’t know whether I’d find love – love with another or love for myself. I had to write that book. To be the person Little Carly needed. In Say Hello, I want to show parents who have a disabled child that there is no need to grieve a life lost – because their child is alive and can live a great life with love and support. I want to show readers how to be proud of their identity and their appearance, and love themselves even when the world has told them they have to hide. Representation matters. I hope this book is the start of more people with ichthyosis telling their own story – to shift the focus from the exploitative media we are seeing a lot of. Representation matters because shapes the way ichthyosis is seen, and lets people with ichthyosis see themselves. Disability literature must be disability-led.
Say Hello will be in stores in late January 2019. But you can pre-order it online now.
If you are in Australia and New Zealand, can pre-order Say Hello from Booktopia (paperback) and Apple Books (ebook). (These are affiliate links – I will receive a small amount from each sale.) It will be mailed to you and appear in your e-readers around 21 January.
International sales and audiobooks
Many people have asked me about an international release. At this stage, Say Hello just has an Australian and New Zealand release. I will talk with my agent and publisher about an international release – this depends on lots of factors including sales within Australia. But it’s great there is interest already!
International friends can order Say Hello at Dymocks and Boomerang Books, but there are some hefty postage fees. Again, if you pre-order these now, they’ll be posted in January 2019. There are no ebook options for international pre-order yet.
I also plan to record an audio book, though this might be sometime down the track.
I’ll keep you updated on the overseas and audiobook releases. Thanks for your patience.
Book tour and talks
I will be doing a book tour next year.
The details so far are:
Melbourne – The Wheeler Centre – 24 January 2019, 6.00 – 8.00 pm. Tickets
Sydney – Better Read than Dead Newtown – 6 February 2019, 6.30 – 8.30 pm. Tickets
Perth – Perth Festival schools program – 22 February 2019
Albury Wodonga – 7 March 2019, 6.00 pm, the Cube Wodonga. Tickets
Brisbane – The Avid Reader – 21 March 2019, 6.00 – 8.00 pm. Tickets
More details for each event and more dates will come.
Sign up to my socials to find out more, because I don’t blog a lot now – Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If you want to book me for a talk, get in touch. I am booked out for the remainder of 2018.
Thank you
Thank you to everyone who has read this blog and commissioned me to write or speak. Without you, there wouldn’t be a book. Thanks to Catherine Milne and Nicola Robinson and the team at HarperCollins, Jacinta DiMase and Danielle Binks at Jacinta DiMase Management, and to my family and friends for always believing in me.
Where can you order Say Hello again?
(These are affiliate links – I get a small percentage from each sale)
Paperback
eBook