MAY AWARENESS 2025 - My A-Z of M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis)

 Bonjour, 

Well here I am again hoping that the month of May and my awareness raising will make some difference. 

This year I'm going to share one blog every week throughout May 2025.  Each blog will focus on one or more of my books that I have self published starting from 2013. I will be also sharing individual poems from each book. 

My first book that I self published was entitled 'My A-Z of M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis'. I was at that time fortunate to have help from a few people as it was a new and difficult challenge for me. Klara Wilson was one of my friends on Facebook. She helped me enormously. Her husband Rob Wilson also kindly agreed to design the cover of my book. Klara sadly lost her life in 2018. You can read about her in this blog 

I also had help and support from Jo Best who wrote a wonderful and very kind  foreword for my book. 

Here's an extract of what she wrote 

This special collection of poems will undoubtedly resonate with anyone facing the challenge of chronic illness and will also be accessible for friends, family, or anyone with a willingness to understand Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.). These poems represent what it can be like to live on a daily basis, year to year, often decade to decade with an illness like M.E. 

Ros writes from her own experiences and feelings as well as those of others expressed on social networking sites and other internet forums. 

With a professional background in education, a range of life experiences, insight, common sense, compassion, warmth and humour, Ros plays an important and highly valued role in providing help and support to others through this medium, whilst coping with her own challenges in battling this chronic illness. 

Ros's creative flair, complemented by the artwork of fellow sufferers, will be a book to treasure for its poetic artistry and in the hope that one day soon, thanks to IiME and their supporters, it may also have a place in the archives of medical history. 

I was amazed and extremely proud when my first book was published. You can see me holding a copy of my book. 

The first poem in my book, which became the title, was My A-Z of M.E. and was kindly illustrated by Bob Wilson. 

Other poems from my book have been illustrated by Julia Cottam and I will be sharing them during the first week.  

My friend Miranda Brewster who suffers from severe M.E. kindly made a video about my book. You can view it here

My book is available in paperback and kindle versions on Amazon throughout many countries around the world. For example here is a link to Amazon UK and Amazon USA

I have set up a page on Just Giving page for M.E. awareness during May 2025. And all proceeds from the sale of this book and my others I will donate to the charity INVEST IN ME RESEARCH. 

So please support me, all those who continue to suffer with M.E. as well as Invest in ME Research. Send a copy to a friend, a member of your family or even someone in the medical profession. 

Let's keep raising awareness of M.E. and make a difference. 

Thank you 

Au revoir 

The French Femme