Beryl Shaw's Books

CANCER - A JOURNEY

AFTER CANCER - THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

Cancer is a nasty, sneaky, sometimes painful illness. To 'live a life' daily after diagnosis and treatment uses up a lot of energy, time, money, emotion.
Beryl Shaw helped herself through this experience by generating 2 books of poetry.
More self help books than your usual books of poetry really. They're about life, as we all strive to live it, alone or with others on the same journey.

'Cancer - A Journey' takes you through the first hand experience of what it's like to have cancer thrust upon you - and the endurance of 6 months of chemo therapy 'Worse than I could possibly have imagined'. The fellow travellers Beryl shared it with, her joy at the love that came from places she couldn't have imagined.

'After Cancer - the Journey Continues' exposes you to this woman's courageous struggle to be normal, to be productive, to accept the negative inclinations and enjoy the days when she was feeling really positive. Her coming through it to inspire others.

Follow Beryl Shaw's journey through the first year after her emergency cancer surgery. Experience the heights of emotion; laugh, cry, feel.

These 'life poems' inform those who have cancer, those who are through the experience, family and friends, as well as the professionals who need to know what their patients are going through - without the filter that the doctor/patient relationship sets up.

People say:

'A fantastic read!' 'Insights I've never had before!'

'I couldn't help following Beryl's journey of empowerment!'

"It was an absorbing and moving experience reading your poems. I am sure that others who find themselves in a similar situation will find them helpful in many ways. Transforming the experience of cancer into such accessible poetry is an achievement in itself."
Dorothy Reading, Director, Cancer Education Unit, The Cancer Council Victoria.

	'Cancer - A Journey''
	'After Cancer - the Journey Continues'

OUT HERE ON MY OWNThe Reflections of a Solo Parent

Beryl Shaw started writing this book eight years after separating from her husband, with her four school aged children - and the dog - in tow. She's also 'been there' as a young person and has had many experiences of loss in her life.

'Out Here On My Own' starts after the separation and takes you through the pains and the perils of divorce and its outfall.

Some chapter titles are:

'Loneliness is ----'

'Loneliness does ---'

'Going Round the Bend'

'Grief''

'On Hurting and Trusting'

'Sex and the Solo Parent'

Part 2 has the stories of six other solos, men and women, divorced, widowed, and single parents.

It also offers lots of information for Solo Parents on how to cope with the fears and uncertainties you and your children will go through together.

Beryl shows just how well you - and your children - can come through this experience as whole, emotionally healthy people, stronger and better for the experience.

This is a book of Hope, Help, and plenty of Humour Read Chapter 1

'OUT HERE ON MY OWN'

SO MUM & DAD SPLIT UP Coping When Parents Separate & Divorce

One Victorian school phoned and ordered an additional 14 copies of 'So Mum & Dad Split Up'. The school counsellor had found that every time she gave it to one of the students who'd come to her for help, this girl or boy would come back saying 'Oh Miss, this book's great. Can I lend it to my friend so-and-so? S/he's been through the same thing.' The friend would do the same. So the counsellor never had the book when she wanted it. Now she has it for everyone in need - and for her own reference.

Young people find this a great book to read for themselves.

With chapter titles such as 'Separating', 'Divorce', 'Dealing with both parents', 'Friends', 'Custody' and 'Working together', it can be read straight through, or browsed, picking what's of interest to you at the moment.

It's encouraging and has lots of beaut cartoons by Simon Kneebone full of 'black humour'.

Beryl went through the separation and divorce of her parents in her early teens. She gives straight advice and has also included excerpts from interviews with other people who've lived their stories of separation and divorce when they were (are) young.

First published by Penguin Books It's serious - and fun - and a big help. Read Chapter 1

'SO MUM & DAD SPLIT UP'

POWER TO THE CHILDREN Helping Children in the Solo Parent Family to a Brighter Future

In 'Power To The Children' Beryl hands on some of her 'insider information' about what children experience when their parents separate and divorce, when one parent dies, or if they're the son/daughter of a single parent.

The experience of an adult and a child under these circumstances is not the same. Children are so powerless and that's why they need special understanding.

Beryl's own experience in both situations, along with years of working with other solo parent families, have given her the raw material for this book.

In 5 parts it deals with:

Making the adjustment
What's Happening in the family
Parent and child - problems and resolutions
Moving on
Summing up and How to find help

You'll learn a lot more from the many interviews too.

For Parents, Grandparents, Teachers, other Professionals, Friends, Neighbours Read Chapter 1

'POWER TO THE CHILDREN'