Friday 17th March: Gemma Cairney's "OPEN" Book Launch

Gemma Cairney loves to throw a party and so her official book launch was the biggest bash to date.  For the book's tour she has bought her very own 1990's double-decker bus painted yellow with the graphics from the title "Open".  This was parked up outside The University Women's Club venue for the night, which apparently caused mayhem in the streets of Mayfair to get there!  This is quite apt for the book's mission to make a big impression and cause waves in inspiring the country's next generation of readers.  It's time to avert eyes from screens and sift thru spectrum pages of self-help for teenagers.

It's a "Toolkit for how magic and messed up life can be".  Essentially its a tome from Gemma's own heart and life experience but with a 360 degree solid representation of insight from experts that she has brought on board.  During her time on the BBC radio programme "The Surgery" she realised the need for information to be readily available for young adults to find and trust.  And here it is!  The book is designed to either be a reference guide to look up particular subjects or a personalised diary to customise and make into a working manual.  It's for all genders and explains issues that effect everyone to either try for yourself or become prepared and equipped to support someone else.  The topics covered range across:  family, bullying, love & heartbreak, grief, anxiety & depression, eating disorders, OCD, self-harm, periods, sex & sexuality, racism & prejudice, politics, feminism, careers and .............. the Internet!  Although it is targeted at young adults I think it can relate to any age as it literally covers everything that the human condition encounters and offers strategies to solve.  The illustrations make it easily legible and light despite the serious issues it extends to feature.

In short, its really an essential read for any family.  Every household has a new generation to support and perhaps an older one to re-educate and re-connect.  And here-in lies one of the main subjects the book is built on = in that no family structure is the same.  Everyone has their own arrangement and this contextualises how each version is manageable.  Ive learnt alot and even alot about Gemma's own background which I didn't know already!  

What else do I need to say, you owe it to your loved ones and yourself to bring this into your life...................... find it here.

(Photos by me & Mitchell McGillvary)