LOCAL best-selling author, Libby Page, will be fundraising for Frome Birth Talk at the launch event of her new novel, The Lifeline.
The Lifeline is the follow-up to Libby’s breakout debut, The Lido, which sold in over 30 territories and was optioned for film. This time the story takes place here in Somerset, drawing on Libby’s love of wild swimming and her experiences as a new mother. The novel includes inspiration from Libby’s own experiences of early parenthood, and the support she received from local mental health charity Frome Birth Talk.
“In The Lifeline, I revisit The Lido’s main character Kate, after she has had her first baby and moved to Somerset,” says Libby. “I am choosing to fundraise for Frome Birth Talk at my book launch because the themes in my novel are closely connected with the work the charity does to support new parents, and because it’s a cause to which I have a very personal connection.
“When my son was just a few weeks old, I reached out to Frome Birth Talk for counselling sessions. The support I received helped me realise how normal it is to find new motherhood difficult.”
Libby hopes that her new book might help to facilitate more open conversations about mental health in parenthood, and make people feel less alone.
“Without the support of Frome Birth Talk, I probably wouldn’t have written this book. A lot of the advice I received has ended up in The Lifeline, in the hope that it might help other new mothers as much as it helped me. The work Frome Birth Talk does to help new parents through the challenges of new parenthood and baby loss is of vital importance in our community.”
Frome Birth Talk’s director, Suzy Cristinacce, spoke of the organisation’s reaction to Libby’s launch event fundraiser. “We’re delighted that Libby has chosen the launch of her new novel as an opportunity to raise money for Frome Birth Talk, as well as raise awareness of many of the themes included in her book. It’s extremely common for pregnancy and early parenthood to bring difficult or complex emotions (as well as joyous ones), and our counselling service is vital in supporting families at challenging times.
“We have a fundraising target of £30,000 this year, and events like these are so important in letting people know about the real impact of our support.”
Frome Birth Talk offers free professional counselling to anyone in the Frome area who is pregnant, or who has had or lost a baby within the last two years.
It also runs a drop-in baby loss support group on the first Wednesday of the month (7-9pm, Frome Town Hall) and two parent support groups: Bump to Baby welcomes anyone who is pregnant or has a pre-mobile baby (Wednesdays, 10am-11.30am at Frome Community Hospital) and Frome Toddler Talk is open to parents, carers and pre-school aged children (Fridays, 10am – 11.30am at Trinity Church Hall).
Anyone can self-refer for counselling or get more information about the groups by emailing info@fromebirthtalk.org.uk.
The Lifeline will be available to buy from Winstone’s Hunting Raven in Frome and online from 25th April. If you’d like a signed and inscribed copy, you can order one through Hunting Raven at bit.ly/lifelinefrome. The book launch takes place at The Maker’s Yard on Wednesday 24th April 7-9pm. It is currently sold out – but check the Winstone’s Hunting Raven website for up-to-date information.
You can donate to Frome Birth Talk at localgiving.org/charity/fromebirthtal
