"I want to be here" is the first book I have ever created. Self-published in June 2021, it chronicles my journey with my mental health through the medium of poetry, photography and collage. 

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The idea came to me in March 2021. I had some very bad months with my mental health at the beginning of the year and I found myself at a crossroads - I could either do what I always did and keep going until I completely fell apart. Or I could ask for help. For the first time in my life, I asked for help before things got worse. This was a turning point for me and the idea for "I want to be here" came just a few days after I asked for help. 

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From that very first thought, I knew what I wanted it to be, what I wanted it to look like and that I wanted to give 10% of all proceeds to Derbyshire Mind. Over the next three months I created all the artwork for it, put it together on InDesign and got it printed by the excellent ExWhyZed Printing. 

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When it arrived with me in June 2021 I was ecstatic. It was exactly as I had imagined it. I set up my Etsy and got to work recording videos and taking photos, ready for its launch on the 24th June 2021. 

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It is the first piece of my creative work I have ever sold and I remain extremely proud of it. 

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To purchase a copy, please click the button below: