Media Release – Tuesday 18 February 2020

PEE INTO THIS JAR FOR ME, PLEASE

Shona Daubé faces the challenges of living with a chronic illness with humour. Her latest book, Pee into this jar for me please gives a light–hearted glimpse into the world of hospitals, and being a patient there.

Five years ago, Shona was diagnosed with MS. As a nurse, Shona was familiar with the challenging aspects of this disease and other chronic health conditions.

“I am determined to face any challenges in my life with humour. I have decided to laugh my way through”, she says. “After numerous hospitalisations, and having worked within the hospital system myself, I had the idea of putting together a short humorous account of what we might call a ‘Hospital Vacation’, with all its ups and downs, including the invitation to pee into a jar.”

Shona’s two previous books, written along similar lines, have found an eager readership among people affected by chronic illness, and their families. They’ve been encouraged and felt supported by Shona’s writing.

A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Neurologist, was a light–hearted look at living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The book also raised money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Does My Bum Look Big with this Stick? is a collection of humorous advice about ways of coping with the adverse events people with all types of chronic health conditions experience. Over 1,100 copies were sold or given away, mostly to people with Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.

“I hope this new book will give people faced with being admitted to hospital a smile and some reassurance”, Shona says.

Pee into this jar for me, please will be launched at 3pm on Sunday 23rd February at the Southern Cross Hotel, 39 Abel Smith Street, Wellington. There will also a book signing on midday Wednesday 26 April at Toi Wairarapa – Heart of Arts, High Street, in Carterton where Shona lives. The book costs $12 and proceeds will help fund additional free copies to be distributed by acute and chronic illness services.

Pee into this jar for me, please will be on sale in Carterton at Toi Wairarapa – Heart of Arts, and through the Pink Cottage Publishing website.

For Interviews – Shona Daube, shonadaube@gmail.com, Mobile +64 27 361 2182

For Photos and more information about the book – www.pinkcottagepublishing.co.nz

Media Release – Tuesday 29 May 2018

DOES MY BUM LOOK BIG WITH THIS STICK?

Shona Daubé faces the challenges of living with a chronic illness with humour. Her latest book, Does My Bum Look Big with this Stick? provides light–hearted advice on how to cope with the everyday mishaps people with chronic illnesses like her experience.

Four years ago, Shona was diagnosed with MS. As a nurse, she was familiar with the challenging aspects of MS and other chronic health conditions. “I am determined to face any challenges in my life with humour. I have decided to laugh my way through”, she says.

“I had the idea of putting together a brief and entertaining account of dealing with the awkward and sometimes embarrassing situations when my body has fallen short of my expectations. How do you deal with wetting yourself in public, excessive sweating and unexpected vomiting?

“I hope this small book might give those who live every day with a chronic and debilitating illness or disability a smile as well as a sense that they’re not alone in their experience. It will also help people who aren’t dealing with these trials understand what’s going on.”

Does My Bum Look Big with this Stick? follows Shona’s first book A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Neurologist, a light–hearted look at living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Does My Bum Look Big with this Stick? will be launched in both Wellington (Southern Cross Bar, 39 Abel Smith Street, Sunday 1 July at 3pm) and Carterton (Toi Wairarapa – Heart of Arts, High Street, Tuesday 3 July at 5pm).

From July 1 the book will be available for $10 from Toi Wairarapa – Heart of Arts and the Pink Cottage Publishing website. Proceeds will help fund additional free copies to be distributed by chronic illness or disability field workers.

For more information contact Shona Daubé: shonadaube@gmail.com or 027 361 2182 or visit:

www.pinkcottagepublishing.co.nz

 

Media Release – Tuesday 22 November 2016

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE NEUROLOGIST MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS BOOK LAUNCH FUNDRAISER

Shona Daubé faces the challenges of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) with humour and by writing a book - A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Neurologist, a light-hearted take on living with MS. Shona wishes to increase understanding of living with MS and raise funds for the Wellington MS Society.

A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Neurologist launches with an open invitation book launch at 1pm on Sunday 11 December at Wellington’s Southern Cross Hotel. Proceeds from book sales will be donated to help fund the Wellington MS Society’s field workers.

Two years ago Shona was diagnosed with MS. As a nurse, Shona was familiar with and feared the chronic, painful, and challenging aspects of MS. Shona discusses the background of her book, “To help face my fears, I viewed my new health challenges as funny stories. I turned these stories into amusing emails for my friends. I hoped the emails would help my friends understand what it’s like living with MS. I then thought it might be a good idea to gather these stories together in a book as a way of increasing understanding of MS as well as raising funds for the MS Society.”

Soon after diagnosis, at a workshop run by the Wellington MS Society Shona was introduced to Melbourne based Dr George Jelinek’s groundbreaking work in overcoming MS. Jelinek embraces traditional medicine as well as other approaches. He has developed a rigourously researched overcoming MS (OMS) recovery programme which promotes diet and lifestyle management. Jelinek’s programme has improved the health and lives of people with MS.

Shona comments on Jelinek’s programme, “Jelinek’s overcoming MS recovery programme - particularly diet, exercise and meditation, has significantly alleviated my MS condition and improved my overall well being. I want more people with MS to know about Jelinek’s work - there’s good information about the programme on the overcoming MS website.”

Shona lives in Carterton. From 12 December 2016, A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Neurologist will be on sale in Carterton at Toi Wairarapa – Heart of Arts, in Masterton at Hedley’s bookstore and through the Pink Cottage Publishing website.

A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Neurologist is written by Shona Daubé and published by Pink Cottage Publishing.  The book price is $20. Proceeds from book sales will help fund Wellington Multiple Sclerosis Society’s field workers.