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Close-up little hand of child baby holding hand of mother, A newborn holds on to mom's, dad's finger, Love and relationship with infant, Care and support, Dreaming and protection

The Moment Every Parent Knows... At some point, every parent has stood in a doorway at night watching their child sleep and thought: 'Am I doing this right?' Not the Instagram version of parenting. Not the highlight reel. The real one. The messy, loud, exhausting, beautiful responsibility of shaping a human being while still trying to figure yourself out. Parenting isn’t a role you master. It’s a relationship you grow into. The Problem. Modern Parenting Is Louder Than Ever Today’s parents are navigating more noise than any generation before them. Advice floods every screen. Experts contradict each other. Social media turns ordinary family moments into silent competitions. And beneath it all runs a constant pressure to optimise childhood...the right school, the right activities, the right milestones, the right emotional vocabulary. The result? Many parents aren’t failing. They’re overloaded. Overthinking replaces instinct. Comparison replaces confidence. And in trying to do everything “correctly,” we risk missing the simple truth: children don’t need perfect parents. They need present ones. The Insight? Children Grow Through Connection, Not Perfection Research across child development consistently points to one stabilising factor: secure connection. Children thrive when they feel seen, safe, and emotionally anchored. Not because every decision is flawless, but because the relationship is reliable. They don’t measure parenting by curated routines. They measure it by everyday signals: Did you listen when I talked? Did you stay calm when I made a mistake? Did I feel safe coming to you?Connection isn’t built in grand gestures. It’s built in micro-moments: eye contact, shared laughter, repaired conflicts, predictable presence. Parenting is less about controlling outcomes and more about modelling resilience, empathy, and emotional repair.The Solution. Shift From Performance to Presence A powerful shift happens when parents stop asking: “Am I doing this right?” and start asking: “Am I showing up consistently?”Practical ways to anchor parenting in presence: *Create daily rituals: small predictable moments (bedtime talks, car conversations, shared meals) that signal stability. *Repair quickly after conflict: children learn emotional intelligence not from the absence of mistakes, but from witnessing reconciliation. *Name emotions openly: this normalises feelings and teaches regulation. *Protect attention: even 10 undistracted minutes can outweigh hours of half-presence. Consistency beats intensity. Children don’t need extraordinary parents. They need emotionally available ones. The Takeaway. Parenting Is a Long Conversation Parenting is not a test you pass or fail. It’s an evolving conversation between generations. You are not raising a perfect child. You are raising a future adult who will remember how it felt to grow beside you. And what children carry into adulthood isn’t a flawless childhood. It’s the memory of being loved in an environment where mistakes were survivable and connection was stronger than pressure. If parents focus less on performance and more on relationship, the rest tends to organise itself. Because at its core, parenting is not about control. It’s about trust.<figure id="figure-w0wtd8zxlml10g17o"><img id="w0wtd8zxlml10g17o" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/24Z9ulmP04RFL5h0k651ehXaMn1miZQw3JGCeefcaxjUfqhTs1QUxeGcR3vjHzfi.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure> Now that you're read the above, why not commit to a fuller understanding and pick up a copy of LJ Jones fabulous new book 'Become The Parent you Needed' which we're launching on Sunday coming...in Bangkok no less. An exotic location for an enthralling book. -Conor MacGiolla Bhuí, MSc ©January 2026.

The Moment Every Parent Knows...

Book Review: Duty of Care by Dr Dominic Pimenta Dr Dominic Pimenta’s 'Duty of Care' landed at a strange, raw moment: early September 2020, when the UK had lived through the shock of the first wave but hadn’t yet metabolised what it meant. We were still doing the emotional maths of “cases vs deaths”, still arguing about masks like they were a personality trait, and still hoping (quietly, superstitiously) that the worst of it had passed. The book was published by Welbeck on 3 September 2020, with royalties directed to the charity +HEROES, supporting healthcare workers. It's now six years on so let's take a step back in time. A crazy, topsy turvy time indeed.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-xfhsfc62wqmkvoapjq"><img id="xfhsfc62wqmkvoapjq" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/akpTWaSOVmnqkAepU9tmazhwRjQMAZZ4vawyVDsT04V8QjuXX0iEQBiUkj6ubexl.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/akpTWaSOVmnqkAepU9tmazhwRjQMAZZ4vawyVDsT04V8QjuXX0iEQBiUkj6ubexl.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>My initial reaction in reading the book was this isn’t a detached policy history of the pandemic. It’s a frontline memoir: a clinician’s-eye account of the UK’s early Covid period, told through lived experience rather than graphs. And I welcome this. Pimenta charts the speed at which normal medicine becomes crisis medicine; the psychological whiplash of walking into hospitals that feel increasingly like disaster zones, and the moral weight of decisions nobody wants to be qualified to make.&nbsp;As I'm currently back editing another book on Covid for a client, I feel the best way to read this book is as a contemporaneous document: a “this is what it felt like while it was happening” record and this matters, because crises get rewritten in hindsight. 'Duty of Care preserves' the confusion, the adrenaline, the dread, and the grim practicality of trying to keep people alive when the rules keep changing. Day by day. Hour by hour.&nbsp;Pimenta writes accessibly and urgently, with enough clinical specificity to feel real, but not so much that it turns into a boring textbook one feels compelled to read. The voice is humane and direct. The kind of narrative that tries to do justice to colleagues and patients rather than using them as mere scenery for a heroic arc. For me, that restraint is one of the book’s strengths: it’s not a victory lap; it’s a witness statement. We need these more and more in today's political climate.&nbsp;At its best, 'Duty of Care' captures the texture of early Covid: the sense that everything is simultaneously too fast (the spread, the admissions, the deaths) and too slow (the systems, the supplies, the decisions). One can feel the fatigue accumulating, the stress becoming baseline, and the way compassion becomes both fuel and liability. Who are the heroes and who are the villains? Ah, do we even know that for sure at the start of 2026?&nbsp;Plenty of pandemic books veer into either sainthood or cynicism and Pimenta largely (though not totally) avoids both. The courage here doesn’t come wrapped in swelling music; it comes with fear, frustration, gallows humour, and the dull ache of repeated loss. That emotional honesty is what makes the book useful and not just moving.There’s also a quiet thread of annoyance: not performative rage, but the kind that forms when frontline reality repeatedly collides with institutional inertia. It’s the anger of people who don’t have the luxury of debating whether a fire is “really that bad” while they’re carrying buckets of water to try to quench it.Now, a core question is, is it an accurate representation of Covid? If you mean, “Is this a fair representation of what it was like for many NHS staff in the early pandemic?” then from talking with colleagues in the UK, yes, in the sense that it’s grounded in first-wave clinical reality and written close to the events themselves (not years later with the balance and gift of a narrative polish). Accounts like this are inherently partial; one doctor, one set of hospitals, one trajectory but that’s not a flaw; it’s the point. As an editor who frequently edits memoirs, I'm all-too-well aware that memoirs don't have to prove the whole truth of something like a pandemic, but it can tell the truth of a lived slice of it.If you mean, “Does it accurately predict what Covid became?” It couldn’t, because nobody could. And that’s one of the book’s accidental achievements: it details for readers the early-pandemic mindset, when outcomes were uncertain, treatments were evolving, and the future still looked like fog.The State of Play Today in January 2026What’s happened since publication and how it changes the reading? Reading 'Duty of Care' now (in 2026) is like opening a time capsule from the “before we knew” era. Several major developments since 2020 radically changed the Covid story: Let me look at just a few of these for context.&nbsp;1) Vaccines changed the risk landscape The UK began administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in December 2020 (famously with Margaret Keenan as the first recipient), and vaccination became the biggest single shift in outcomes and system pressure. (england.nhs.uk) That doesn’t make the book outdated. Rather, it makes it historically precise. It captures the period when prevention was mostly behavioural (and political), not biomedical. How quickly things changed, eh?&nbsp;2) “Living with Covid” became official policy By February 2022, the UK government’s “Living with COVID” strategy removed key legal requirements such as mandatory self-isolation for positive tests (in England), signalling a move from emergency footing to managed endemicity. (House of Commons Library). This reframes the book’s intensity: it reminds you that what later became “background risk” once felt like an incoming meteor.3) The global emergency phase ended but Covid didn’t In May 2023, the WHO Emergency Committee process moved Covid away from the “public health emergency of international concern” framing (the WHO statement marks that shift), even as the virus continued circulating and evolving. (World Health Organization) That distinction is important: Duty of Care is about the emergency phase, the period of acute uncertainty and system shock, rather than the long tail of ongoing transmission, repeat infections, and uneven impacts.4) Accountability and lessons-learned have become formalised The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has since produced major reports (and continues its work). Its findings have been blunt about early decision-making and preparedness, including criticism of delay and lost time in early 2020, and modelling suggesting a significantly lower death toll with earlier action. (UK Covid-19 Inquiry) This doesn’t “validate” every emotion in the book, but it does provide a wider structural frame for the kinds of frontline frustrations Pimenta describes: staff were often absorbing the consequences of systemic choices made far above them.The book’s limitations (worth knowing going in) It’s not a balanced policy debate. If you want a multi-angle account (care homes, education, economic policy, public health ethics, devolved governance), you’ll need other books alongside it. Further, its scope is early-pandemic heavy. Later phases; vaccines, variants, shifting public behaviour, long Covid policy fights etc are largely beyond its publication window, by definition. It’s also emotionally close to events. That’s a strength, but it can also mean you’re reading the heat of the moment rather than a cooled-down synthesis.<figure id="figure-ldyybr8c1mkvobl4n"><img id="ldyybr8c1mkvobl4n" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2173565714/photo/abstract-xec-variant-of-coronavirus.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=PxNSfY0TObYB0oR-MxeCPBcQAtXlUHT7KKRkwyDJh_E=" alt="Abstract XEC variant of coronavirus" title="Abstract XEC variant of coronavirus" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2173565714/photo/abstract-xec-variant-of-coronavirus.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=PxNSfY0TObYB0oR-MxeCPBcQAtXlUHT7KKRkwyDJh_E=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>'Duty of Care' works as a knowlegeable book because it refuses to let the early pandemic become an abstract historical montage. It brings you back to the frightened, exhausting, high-stakes reality of the NHS frontline when Covid was still new, still poorly understood, and still crashing through systems not designed for that scale of shock.As a representation of the first-wave experience, it’s compelling and credible not because it claims to be the whole story, but because it’s honest about the piece of the story it can tell. And in the “since then” context of vaccines, policy normalisation, and official inquiries, the book becomes even more valuable as a primary emotional and clinical record of the moment when our modern world tipped. And, it looks like we will be returning to such a world...©Niall MacGiolla Bhuí, PhD (January 2026).&nbsp;

Book Review: Duty of Care by Dr Dominic Pimenta

Victorian book cover design, Lotos time in Japan, White lotos flowers on green background, 19th Century

Book Cover Design. Become The Parent You Needed<figure id="figure-rnysunkpygmk3vnq21"><img id="rnysunkpygmk3vnq21" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/24Z9ulmP04RFL5h0k651ehXaMn1miZQw3JGCeefcaxjUfqhTs1QUxeGcR3vjHzfi.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/24Z9ulmP04RFL5h0k651ehXaMn1miZQw3JGCeefcaxjUfqhTs1QUxeGcR3vjHzfi.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>In publishing, good cover design isn’t about decoration. It’s about translation. A cover must translate a complex emotional promise into a single, silent moment of recognition. If the reader feels understood before they’ve read a word, the design has done its job. I believe this cover largely succeeds because it understands that principle and resists the urge to shout. There is simply too much noise in the modern world.&nbsp;Colour as Emotional Contract Ah, what to do about the colours...The muted sage-green palette immediately communicates calm, safety, and emotional steadiness and this is not accidental. In parenting and trauma-informed publishing, colour is not aesthetic garnish; it is a psychological contract with the reader. Just like the author when she is working with her clients using contracts and clear messaging.&nbsp;Green signals regulation, balance, and restoration. Combined with the subtle textile-like texture, the design feels human, tactile, and grounded, never slick or performative. Importantly, it avoids the sterile blues of clinical psychology and the hyper-warm pastels often used to soften difficult subject matter. I think this choice respects the reader’s intelligence and emotional depth.Typography That Knows When to Lead and When to Step Back The serif typography does heavy lifting here, signalling authority, maturity, and longevity. This is a book that wants to live on shelves for years, not trend for a season. The title’s scale is confident without being aggressive, and the spacing allows it to breathe; something many self-help covers forget in their race to be noticed.The italicised subtitle introduces a gentler voice, reinforcing the book’s emotional intention. The typographic hierarchy is clear and disciplined with no visual ego, no confusion about what matters most.Layout That Signals Emotional Intelligence The front cover’s restraint is one of its strongest assets. There is no clutter, no visual anxiety. In a genre dealing with generational trauma and emotional repair, this matters more than most designers realise. Calm design is not passive; it is intentional.The spine deserves particular praise. Clean, legible, and well-balanced, it performs exactly as it should in physical retail. I still think this is one of the most overlooked realities in modern book design.On the back cover, the copy is well spaced and readable, and the author photograph strikes the right balance between professional and approachable. In therapist-led titles, trust is everything. This image builds it quietly.Genre Signalling Without Stereotype This cover knows exactly who it is for and, just as importantly, who it is not for. It clearly positions itself within parenting, emotional healing, and trauma-informed work without drifting into influencer culture or pop-psychology shortcuts. It does not promise quick fixes. It does not aestheticise pain. It invites reflection rather than consumption.That is a commercial risk and a long-term strength. But we'll go with it.&nbsp;The edition badge is functional and clear.&nbsp;The Bigger Picture: Design That Respects the Reader The design already does the hardest thing well: it respects the emotional intelligence of its audience.&nbsp;Good book covers don’t shout for attention. Great ones create trust.This cover is already speaking in a calm, steady voice. As does the author, LJ Jones. Good job and kudos to our design team on this one; LJ, Niall and Dorothy.-Conor MacGiolla Bhuí, MSc. January 2026 ©&nbsp;*LJ's book will be available for purchase from February 1st 2026.&nbsp;

What This Book Cover Gets Right About Emotional Truth

red-haired ceramic artist working at her desk in the studio

<h3>Understanding the Importance of Creativity</h3>Creativity is not just for artists and writers; it's a vital skill that can enhance every aspect of your life. From problem-solving at work to finding unique solutions at home, creativity helps you see the world differently and tackle challenges head-on. Embracing this skill can lead to personal growth and increased satisfaction.Cultivating creativity requires intentionality. It's about making space in your life to explore new ideas and perspectives. By dedicating time and effort, you'll find that creativity becomes a natural part of your daily routine.<figure id="figure-7pgeu06h5nmjmq8nto"><img id="7pgeu06h5nmjmq8nto" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2bOlqtoBF0bcrvOizyQHCZ9JJ0sb2DCc7I5vp58ymGBjX9GZZozdHz68kKzNpCTb.jpeg" alt="creative workspace" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/2bOlqtoBF0bcrvOizyQHCZ9JJ0sb2DCc7I5vp58ymGBjX9GZZozdHz68kKzNpCTb.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h3>Creating a Creative Environment</h3><h3>Designating a Space</h3>One of the first steps to fostering creativity is to carve out a designated space for it. This doesn’t have to be a large area; even a small corner can be transformed into a creative haven. Fill this space with items that inspire you, whether it's art supplies, books, or a comfy chair for reflection.<h3>Eliminating Distractions</h3>To truly immerse yourself in creative activities, it's essential to minimize distractions. Consider setting boundaries with technology by turning off notifications or scheduling specific times to unplug. This will allow your mind to wander freely and explore new ideas without interruption.<figure id="figure-aycsg27zkmjmq8uet"><img id="aycsg27zkmjmq8uet" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/32iDthmLQ4Fbsl6zubOnpOBZ4BzVgv5mTwRly5bEvH4nh5Q8QO0eRA195dRk6ezK.jpeg" alt="cozy creative space" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/32iDthmLQ4Fbsl6zubOnpOBZ4BzVgv5mTwRly5bEvH4nh5Q8QO0eRA195dRk6ezK.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h3>Incorporating Creativity into Daily Life</h3><h3>Setting Aside Time</h3>Integrate creativity into your daily routine by setting aside dedicated time. Whether it’s 15 minutes or an hour, consistency is key. Use this time to explore activities that stimulate your mind, such as journaling, sketching, or meditating.<h3>Engaging in New Experiences</h3>Creativity thrives on new experiences. Challenge yourself to try something different, like taking a class, visiting a museum, or exploring nature. These activities can provide fresh perspectives and inspire new ideas.<figure id="figure-yhycmwnzmmjmq90gc"><img id="yhycmwnzmmjmq90gc" src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/3bPYLb6B8L2Pvl8KPT13hFewacc8ruLNKRObok33GRnhJEvm2F1LjFEoLLuXxRac.jpeg" alt="person exploring nature" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/getty/3bPYLb6B8L2Pvl8KPT13hFewacc8ruLNKRObok33GRnhJEvm2F1LjFEoLLuXxRac.jpeg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></figure><h3>Embracing the Creative Process</h3><h3>Allowing for Mistakes</h3>Part of cultivating creativity is embracing the process, including the mistakes. Understand that not every idea will be a masterpiece, and that’s perfectly okay. Mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow, leading to more refined and innovative ideas.<h3>Collaborating with Others</h3>Collaboration can be a powerful catalyst for creativity. Engage with others who share your interests, whether through workshops, online communities, or informal meet-ups. Sharing ideas and receiving feedback can spark inspiration and lead to new creative avenues.By consciously integrating creativity into your life, you open the door to endless possibilities. Remember, creativity is a journey, not a destination, so enjoy the process and let your imagination thrive.

Cultivating Creativity: Carving Out Space in Your Daily Life

Maple leaf in hand against the background of the lake and mountains. Quebec, Canada.

We’ve been working with Cork based author, Cathy Fitzgibbon, for several years now and wanted to give readers a peek into the thinking behind her fabulous book, ‘Eat With The Seasons’. Here’s a ShadowScript Sessions Q&amp;A with Cathy moderated by our founder, Conor.<figure id="figure-loxih5numbmi4g25na"><img id="loxih5numbmi4g25na" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1e8OinFDFB0rLFGc7An3NthCBGdDQxXnR3JRXOrpJBsSkejMuRnnUpm1CznxrRKm.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure>&nbsp; Q: What’s the question you wish readers would ask about your work, but never do?I wish someone would ask, “What surprised you most about yourself while writing this book?” Writing it revealed how much I take the everyday for granted - sunlight, seasons, quiet moments, uninterrupted mealtimes and how noticing those details can completely change how we experience life.Q: What was the first idea, image, or line that kicked this book into motion?It began with a bowl of warm soup in winter. Steam rising, the scent of root vegetables and a sense that food could anchor us to the present moment.Q: If your book had a soundtrack, what three songs would have to be on it?Fields of Gold by Sting - for its warmth and harvest calm.Bloom by The Paper Kites - because it feels like growth and renewal.Colours of the Wind by Judy Kuhn - for grounding flow and mindful self-reflection.Q: What rule of writing do you break on purpose?The book is also a journal so I left space throughout for readers to self-reflect and discover their own eating patterns, habits and behaviours, guiding them towards understanding, acceptance and self-love.Q: What’s the most unexpected place your writing has taken you—geographically, emotionally, or otherwise?Emotionally, it took me back to my parents’ kitchen. It became a reflection of the people who nourished me before I knew what mindful eating was.Q: What’s the strangest bit of research you’ve ever had to do for your book?The strangest research I did was asking different farmers how they decide when to bring certain produce to the market. Everyone had their own answer, some checked the weather, some just ‘knew.’ Those short conversations taught me a lot about how seasonal eating actually works from a farm to table perspective.Q: What part of the writing process do you secretly look forward to, even if you pretend you don’t?Editing. The quiet, meditative pruning of words. It’s like preparing a meal by chopping, stirring, tasting and refining.Q: What non-writing habit improves your writing the most?Spending time in nature. Observing the changing patterns of the seasons reminds me that good writing, like the natural world, has rhythm and pause.Q: What’s the biggest misconception about mindful eating?That it’s a diet. It’s not - it’s a relationship. It’s about listening, not restricting. My book tries to shift that conversation.Q: Which tiny detail in the book means the most to you personally; something readers might easily miss?The dedication to my parents. It’s a small line at the front, easy for readers to overlook, but it carries everything: gratitude, love and the foundation of who I am.Q: What non-writing habit most improves your writing?Walking outdoors keeps my mind sharp and my observations grounded. It’s research without realising it!Q: What nearly made the final draft but didn’t, and why?I nearly included a chapter about foraging, because it’s such an interesting way to connect with the seasons. But the more I wrote, the more I realised it would send readers down a whole different path. It felt too specialised for this book, so I cut it and kept the focus on seasonal eating.Q: Which author (living or dead) would completely understand your work and why does that amuse you?Thich Nhat Hanh would completely understand my work. His writing on mindfulness captures exactly what I’m trying to share. While his wisdom is profound and serene, my book is full of very practical tools for real‑life moments.Q: If your book were a place readers could physically visit, what should they pack?If my book were a place, it would be a bustling farmers market at the height of the season. Readers should pack a sturdy tote bag, a notebook for jotting down inspiration and an appetite for tasting - because every page is about noticing, enjoying and savoring what’s fresh and in season.Q: What’s the single bravest decision you made while writing this book?The bravest decision I made was focusing on practical tools rather than just theory. It would have been easier to write a book full of ideas about mindfulness, but I wanted readers to walk away with simple, actionable ways to eat more consciously every day.Q; What’s the biggest misconception people have about your genre and how does your work challenge it?The biggest misconception about mindful eating is that it’s just about eating less or following strict rules. In reality, it’s about awareness, enjoyment and connection to your food.Q: If your future self, ten years from now, sent you a note about your writing, what would it say?Keep noticing. Keep slowing down. Keep finding the extraordinary in ordinary moments.&nbsp;*©ShadowScript Team, November 2025.&nbsp; *Find Cathy’s book online and in selected bookstores around Ireland.

ShadowScript Sessions: 'Eat With The Seasons'

We're working with London based author, Jack Waddington on his debut book, 'I'm On A Journey To See You Sam' scheduled for release in Spring 2026. Here's a ShadowScript Sessions Q&amp;A with Jack moderated by our founder, Conor...<figure id="figure-7z7nvzt9vcmhxqgwtm"><img id="7z7nvzt9vcmhxqgwtm" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/29aKxoVFroCpdTs8erSLipkmcFx2ZYhugCjoX8ILwRiB2uyyk6moJYrnMHWcciAh.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 selected" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/29aKxoVFroCpdTs8erSLipkmcFx2ZYhugCjoX8ILwRiB2uyyk6moJYrnMHWcciAh.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Q What’s the question you wish readers would ask about your work, but never do?A What's it like addressing the dead?Q What was the first idea, image, or line that kicked this novel into motion?A I think I had always wanted to write about my brother, but with him alive it seemed bizarre to do so. On the night he died, I was on a train from London to Hampshire knowing that he had died and there was nothing I could do. I needed to talk to him. So I wrote to him on my notes app. 'I’m on a journey to see you, Sam' was my first message.Q &nbsp;If your book had a soundtrack, what three tracks would absolutely have to be on it, and why?A That's the perfect but most cruel question of all! How can you narrow it down to just three? As it's Sam's book, I guess I'd have to choose the last song he listened to on his Spotify: 'Rewind' by Paulo Nutini. It’s fitting because we’d do anything to rewind time. Then I'm picking some of my soppy songs - sorry, Sam. Something like 'Pictures of You' by The Cure. Pictures and memories are all I have left, and they bring my bro back to life for a moment. Then we'll go with something like 'Listen to the Lion' by Van the man Morrison – because I had to dig deep and listen to the king of the jungle inside me to roar these words out.Q What rule of writing do you break on purpose and what do you get out of breaking it?A I spell words incorrectly because why the hell not! I like playing around with words, making up new ones, like the bossman, Salman Rushdie.Q What’s the most unexpected place your writing has taken you; geographically, emotionally, or otherwise?A Tesco express! Never thought I'd be writing a book whilst getting a meal deal in a supermarket.Q Which character (or idea) in your book argued with you the most while you were writing? Who won?A My own guilt, which always wins.Q What’s the strangest bit of research you’ve ever had to do for your book?A Not research for the book exactly, but I do remember writing about how I'd googled: 'how to have a wedding when you're an introvert'.&nbsp;Q What part of the writing process do you secretly look forward to, even if you pretend you don’t?A Has to be the editing. I'm a perfectionist. I love tweaking things and calming the chaos.Q When did you realise the story was no longer yours alone—that it belonged to readers too?A When people in the MD community said they needed to read this.Q What’s a belief about storytelling that you’ve completely changed your mind about in the last five years?A That you don't have to be articulate. I'm crap at articulating myself in person. But when writing to Sam there's no pressure.Q Which tiny detail in the book means the most to you personally; something readers might easily miss?A When Sam comes alive for a second. When he replies to me.Q What non-writing activity most improves your writing, even if it makes no logical sense?A Long, aimless walks. I need one write now, actually.Q If you could have one reader reaction in perpetuity; laughter, tears, outrage, scribbling in the margins...what would it be?A I'd love to have people scribbling in the margins. Or dog-earring the pages like there's no tomorrow.&nbsp;Q What nearly made the final draft but didn’t, and why?A All of Sam's lists! The editor made a bold decision and it helps the book read better - so thanks!&nbsp; Q Which author (living or dead) would completely understand your work and why does that amuse you?A Tough one! I guess someone who knows grief, and how it can be brutal and mundane. Someone like Isabelle Allende – one of my favs. I'm sure she'd get it. She gets a lot.Q If your book were a place readers could physically visit, what should they pack?A A sense of humour.&nbsp;Q What’s the single bravest decision you made while writing this book?A Spilling my beans. All of them.Q What’s the biggest misconception people have about your genre and how does your work challenge it?A That they're not just reading a grief book, and they shouldn't expect an answer. Truth is you never recover.Q If your future self, ten years from now, sent you a note about your writing, what do you think it would say?A Keep letting it out, Jackyboy, no matter what the others think.©Conor MacGiolla Bhuí, MSc November 2025.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-9as7mlnvbcmhxqiarp" class=""><img id="9as7mlnvbcmhxqiarp" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/17e1WmiirtT4GzPRSIKhJmBMn1A7yE2F7aAWDEnT1kGaNdj2vRJg8mPBVTzf8cYv.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 selected" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/17e1WmiirtT4GzPRSIKhJmBMn1A7yE2F7aAWDEnT1kGaNdj2vRJg8mPBVTzf8cYv.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-mce-selected="1"></figure>*Original art by Jack Waddington ©