It’s a pleasure to be participating in author Jemi Fraser’s DANCING WITH DEMENTIA, Recognizing and Coping with the Early Stages of Dementia Blog Tour through MC Book Tours today.
The author is offering a tour-wide international giveaway of an Amazon Gift Card. More information on the giveaway is listed below.
But first Jemi took part in my little interview
Welcome, Jemi...
What was your hardest scene to write?
Because Dancing With Dementia is such a personal book, many of the scenes were difficult to write. Describing how this disease affected our Mom meant reliving so many sad and challenging incidents. The most difficult was probably reliving the moments we had to decide to accept a placement in a nursing home for her. And then having to tell her. So hard! Thankfully, many of the scenes were lighter and happier, so it was possible to balance the writing time.
What makes you run screaming?
So many things!! I’m more Hufflepuff than Gryffindor. As a Canadian, bears and moose in the forest might not send me running, but encountering a rattler while hiking would probably be the end of me as my screaming would scare the poor thing into biting me.
You’re about to be dropped in a remote spot for a three-week survival test. Where would you go? What three tools would you take?
My Northern Ontario woods are the best place to be in that kind of situation! I’d need a hatchet, a box of waterproof matches, and a pot. Although, if I got a bonus, I’d really like to bring my copy of Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet to help me out!
What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?
I am a total SF/fantasy geek. From LotR to HP to Fringe to Firefly to Star Trek to Star Wars to BSG to… A framed middle earth map decorates my den while BB8 & R2D2 keep watch on the adjacent shelf.
If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose?
I’d love to visit Scotland for a year. My parents emigrated from there to Canada before I was born. I’ve visited a couple of times, but I’d love to spend more time there and visit some of their favourite haunts with my extended family. I would have a blast placing my characters in the pubs and castles for some adventures. Nessie might even make an appearance.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Believe. Don’t let your fears limit you. Take those risks!
What does literary success look like to you?
For Dancing With Dementia, success to me would be knowing the book helped some families facing the first steps in the dance of dementia.
For my other writing, knowing my stories have entertained people and made their days a bit brighter would be awesome.
Tell us about the book you’re working on now.
My focus has switched from nonfiction to fiction (although there’s that public speaking project as well…). I’ve got a romantic suspense series coming up set in the fictional town of Bloo Moose, Vermont. The first book, Reaching For Normal, features a reluctant partnership of a former SEAL and an adventure writer trying to solve the mystery of a bizarre killing of a wolf.
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Dementia and Alzheimer’s touch the lives of millions around the world, but so much is still unknown.
As first-generation Canadians, we didn’t recognize the early warning signs. We didn’t know the differences between regular aging and the early stages of dementia. We’ve made mistakes but we’ve learned a lot.
DANCING WITH DEMENTIA will help you:
•Identify those early warning signs
•Use visuals to improve communication
•Choose your words wisely
•Redirect and reassure
•Stay calm and cope with your own emotions
•Consider nursing home options
•Improve caregiver self-care
We’ve learned to dance the early steps of this disease with our love and laughter intact. If you are looking for help recognizing early signposts along with practical ways to cope with early Dementia and Alzheimer’s, this book is for you.
Jemi lives in Northern Ontario, Canada where snow is always a topic of conversation and the autumn leaves make everything better.
DANCING WITH DEMENTIA buy links:
Amazon.com Amazon.ca Apple Books Barnes & Noble Kobo
Amazon.com Amazon.ca Apple Books Barnes & Noble Kobo
Add DANCING WITH DEMENTIA to your Goodreads shelf
For all things, Jemi, check out her website: https://jemifraser.com
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Thank you, Jemi!
Readers, do you have a question for our guest?
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Giveaway!
This tour-wide giveaway is for a $20 Amazon Gift Card. The giveaway is open internationally.
To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. If the widget doesn’t show up, just click HERE and you’ll be directed to the widget.
Thanks for stopping by and be sure to follow Jemi on her week-long tour HERE. You never know what you might find out. I hope dementia hasn’t touched your family or friends, but in case it has do you have any tips to share on dealing with this terrible disease?
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29 comments:
I read an ARC of Dancing with Dementia and it rocked me to the core. Some of it was so very familiar (though my mother's dementia was alcohol induced). It also fills me with shame. I wanted (desperately) to keep my mother safe, but her happiness was a much more minor issue for me. Which it shouldn't have been.
I am confident that Jemi's book will help, and am sending oceans of goodwishes flowing her way. And towards anyone faced with this cruelest of illnesses.
My grandfather lost his memory, we think because he had lung cancer and was constantly low on oxygen. That caused him to be confused a lot and his episodes of forgetfulness would be suffer good days and bad days.
Hi Renee and Jemi - so interesting to read your interview with Jemi ... and how she's first generation Canadian - I hadn't thought of that making a difference to understanding life. I was just exceedingly grateful that my mother and her brother-in-law, whom I saw through to their ends, did not suffer from either of these illnesses. It must be so challenging to be a part of ... I have been associated with it - and any information people can gain from the read will be of a huge help - especially yours Jemi as it's a first-hand experience. Good luck ... it will certainly help many. All the best to you both in these days - Hilary
Hopefully you get that extended stay in Scotland. At least you've visited.
And very cool you're a geek!
Love that you have a map of middle-Earth in your den!
Jemi, it's always fun learning a bit of behind the scenes information about authors we enjoy. Scotland sounds like a great place to visit.
Yolanda, enjoyed your review of Jemi's book. Thanks for being a part of her tour.
No shame, Sue! We all cope as best we can in the circumstances - and dementia creates some incredibly difficult circumstances!
Thanks so much for your kind words!
Those good days are treasures, aren't they? That confusion is so hard to watch and help with!
Thanks Hilary! I hope the book does help. Dementia is such a difficult disease - I'm so glad you mom & her BIL didn't suffer from it.
I hope so too!
Being a geek is so much fun! :)
It's one of my favourite items!
It's been a lot of years since I've been to Scotland - hope I can get back there one day!
Thanks so much for hosting Dancing With Dementia, Renee! I'm so thankful for your support!
It was my pleasure. Your book opened my eyes to a lot of things, it was a great read. Thank you for sharing your family with us!
Hi, Hilary! Thanks for stopping by. There is a lot to learn in Jemi's book.
My pleasure Mason, it's easy to review a good book!
Dealing with dementia of any kind is heartbreaking. Two of my closest gal pals were the chief caretakers for their mothers, both of whom had Alzheimer's, and it was a long hard road. Writing a book about her family's experiences as a means of helping other families facing the same issues is a loving caring thing to do. Thank you, Jemi, for caring enough to do this.
And thank you, Yolanda, for telling us about the book. As might be expected, I succumbed to temptation and just pre-ordered it. (Not a shred of backbone when it comes to resisting a book!)
Dementia is such a cruel disease - and being a full-time caregiver isn't for the faint of heart. One of the most demanding jobs ever. Kudos to your friends. Thanks for your kind words -- and I'm glad your spine was weak today! :)
Hi Yolanda! Hi Jemi! Wonderfully informative interview sprinkled with fun. Jemi, congratulations on taking on this difficult project. Sometimes it's just so much easier to live in a fictional world. I'm certainly looking forward also to your upcoming romantic suspense series.
Thanks Denise! The romantic suspense is definitely a whole different type of book - and SO much fun to write!
Hi Yolanda,
Thanks for the interview with Jemi. I've learned things that I didn't know about her. Things like her being a SF/Fantasy reader. I like SF too, especially Star Trek. I am definitely a Trek fan.
Hi Jemi,
I can't say often enough how much I enjoyed reading your book. Lizzie and Phil grew on me. When Phil was no more, I cried. Thanks for a great book.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat Garcia
Pat - I'm a huge Star Trek fan!! Loving the new Picard series!
Thanks so much for your kind words! I really appreciate them!
Best wishes for the book, Jemi! I've seen dementia in my extended family so...aware of the challenges the family/caregivers face. One of the most heartbreaking things to have to cope with.
Hi, Renee!
Hi, Nila. Thanks for stopping in. I know you're as worried as the rest of us about the world and where we'll end up. But I love that you still tackled the A to Z!
Thank you, Pat. I too love Sci-Fi. I was introduced to Ray Bradbury at a very young age. he took me to places I never could have imagined otherwise. And Star Trek was on every afternoon after school. :)
You're too funny and a prolific reader, so don't blame me! LOL
I don't think a moose would send me running, but a bear, yeah, I'd be backing away cautiously and then running lol rattle snake I'd just get away and then good.
Love it! We had a few bears in our yard growing up, but those rattlers would freak me out!
Thanks Nila! Dementia is such a challenging disease - and indeed heartbreaking!
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