The Boy Between by Amanda Prowse

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I encourage you to SCROLL down to the Author Guest Post and the Question and Answer session with Amanda and Josiah to get to know them better!

Join us for this tour from Nov 2 to Nov 27, 2020!

Book Details:

Book Title: The Boy Between - A Mother and Son's Journey from a World Gone Grey by Amanda Prowse and Josiah Hartley
Category:  Adult Non-Fiction (18+), 286 pages
Genre:  Author Memoir, Family
Publisher:  Little A
Release date:  November 2020
Content Rating:  R: 1. Infrequent use of F word in context (estimated 10 times in book),  2. Mildly questions religious faith during a testing time, 3.  References to thoughts about suicide (not graphic)

"A candid, moving and inspirational book, I am blown away.” 
Jonny Benjamin MBE, award-winning mental health campaigner and author
of The Stranger on the Bridge

 

Book Description:
 

Josiah was nineteen with the world at his feet when things changed. Without warning, the new university student’s mental health deteriorated to the point that he planned his own death. His mother, bestselling author Amanda Prowse, found herself grappling for ways to help him, with no clear sense of where that could be found. This is the book they wish had been there for them during those dark times. Josiah’s situation is not unusual: the statistics on student mental health are terrifying. And he was not the only one suffering; his family was also hijacked by his illness, watching him struggle and fearing the day he might succeed in taking his life. In this book, Josiah and Amanda hope to give a voice to those who suffer, and to show them that help can be found. It is Josiah’s raw, at times bleak, sometimes humorous, but always honest account of what it is like to live with depression. It is Amanda’s heart-rending account of her pain at watching him suffer, speaking from the heart about a mother’s love for her child. For anyone with depression and anyone who loves someone with depression, Amanda and Josiah have a clear message—you are not alone, and there is hope.

 

Buy the Book:
Amazon.com
Amazon.com/Can ~ Amazon.com/UK ~ Amazon.com/AU
Add to Goodreads

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Q&A Session with Amanda Prowse & Josiah Hartley – “The Boy Between”

1. I’d like to know what you think about the connection between reading and writing. Do you think it’s possible to be a great writer if you are not a big reader?

    Amanda – I have met plenty of avid readers who do not have a desire to write, but I’ve never met a writer who is not also an avid reader. I think the love of books, of words and of storytelling is a common thread and can’t imagine a writer not reading at all. That said, I think it’s very different for fiction and non-fiction and when you are immersed in research or are writing academically. I would say that the key to get children and the younger generation interested in writing, indeed interested in the world! Is to immerse them in great books.

2. Many people want to write a book what’s the best piece of advice you can give them?

Amanda – Do it! Begin! Start anywhere – just pick up that notebook or laptop and get going. Don’t listen to that inner voice of self-sabotage that gives you a million reasons as to why you should not write. And remember you don’t have to start at the beginning; you might start with an image, a scene, a conversation, a smell, a feeling… get it down and let it grow in every direction. And before you know it you will have words on the page and you have begun. Write as often as you can. Practice your craft. Learn from feedback and find your authentic author voice, don’t worry about being the next… whoever – be the first YOU! (I think this is actually 7 pieces of advice, but that’s okay, right?) 

3. What book would you take to a desert island? 

Amanda - Only One? I’d better read slowly… That would have to be Thomas Hardy’s “Tess of The D’Urbervilles.” I read and re- read this book and I love it more each time. Someone once asked me, ‘Don’t you find it boring reading a book over and over?’ I explained that it’s no different to travelling to a familiar place, you might end up in the same spot every time, but there’s always something different to see en route! 

4. Was it painful or cathartic to recount some of the darkest moments of Josiah’s depression in your book The Boy Between?

Josiah – Both. There were certain aspects of my depression and descent in mental illness to the point where I planned and prepared to take my own life that I had not thought about in the longest time. It was painful to go back to those places, but actually looking back with the benefit of time, helped me see them from a new perspective and with greater understanding. And I am grateful for that. Writing the book felt a lot like therapy and I certainly felt lighter at the end of it.

5. What is your hope for this book?

    Josiah – my hope is that it might help just one person suffering with depression to know that they are not alone. One of its sneakiest tricks is that it can make you feel that no one else has ever suffered this way, but that’s simply not true. The sad reality is that multiple people in your street or your building will be going through the exact same thing. I hope that by reaching out, others might do the same and I hope that by speaking out, I can help move the narrative on depression forward and help smash the stigma.

6. What is next for Josh? Another collaboration?

Josiah – I’ve certainly got the writing bug. I am currently working on my next non-fiction book, continuing my mental health journey and am also writing fiction, which is really exciting. I’m not sure about another collaboration with my mum - spending 8-10 hours a day with her was hard work

I really don't read many memoir's, but I did want to read this one. In The Boy Between, mother Amanda Prowse and her son Josiah Hartley share their story. And what a story it is. Josh's battle with depression took him down a deep dark path, with him almost taking his own life. But praise God he has a family who love and support him. A family who was there for him from the time he was found until now. As I was back and forth reading Mandy then Josh's story, my heart was breaking for them both. I have been suffering with depression for years but never at this level. I admire this mother and son for being willing to tell their story to the world through this book. Josh will never know the impact The Boy Between will have on those dealing with depression. And I want to thank him for being so brave that he wanted to write this book and what he faced during the darkest time of his life. I can only imagine the pain it was for them to bring back all of these horrific memories to write the book, it was all behind him when the book was written. And I know there will be many who will benefit from reading this. I will keep Amanda and Josh in my prayers, as well as those who read this book and go for help.

This book has made me more aware of the depression I face. And I plan to be more open with it. If you are going through depression or know someone who deals with this, I encourage you to to pick up a copy of The Boy Between, read Josh's story, and be brave enough to get help. You have to know there are people who love you and want to help you. Josh found this love from family and friends and so can you!

A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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A GUEST POST FOR

‘The Boy Between’ by Amanda Prowse and Josiah Hartley

A Mother’s Eye View of a Universal Problem

‘The Boy Between’ is the book I am proudest of, my first work of non-fiction, but also the book I hoped I would never have to write. I wish my son Josiah, did not, like so many young men, suffer with a debilitating depression that lead to him to try and take his own life while a student at university.

Even writing those words feels alien and jarring. That said, I know it’s the book I wanted to reach for when I struggled not only to find ways to help him, but also to understand what had turned my outgoing son with the whole world at his feet into a sleeping shell of himself. I didn’t know how to help him. I didn’t know what to say to him or where to find help. And even if I had known where to find help, I wouldn’t have known what to say: “My son is unraveling in front of me, help us! I fear I might lose him, help us!” And as Josh says, he might be a British boy, but sadly young male depression and suicide is a universal problem and for each young man like him suffering, there is a family like ours trying to make sense of it all. My heart goes out to each and every one of them.

We hope this book brings comfort to the millions of people all over the world suffering from depression and those who care for them. Ours has been a tough, lonely and devastating journey, but we can finally, finally see small glimmers of light at the end of the tunnel. And for that, I am eternally grateful.

 

Meet the Author:
 

Amanda Prowse is an award winning international bestselling author best known for her contemporary fiction novels. A radio broadcaster and TV presenter renowned for her empathetic and emotional books, she is known in the UK as the 'Queen of family drama'. Her books have sold over 8 million copies in dozens of languages around the world.

connect with the author:  website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

 

 

Meet the Author:
 

Josiah  (Josh) Hartley is the son of Amanda Prowse who has co-authored with his mother to tell the story of his journey through life so far. Born in the England, Josh was fortunate enough to attend one of the country's elite public schools from an early age and was awarded a place at one of the UK's top Universities where he planned to work towards a medical doctorate. But just at the moment when he should have been having the time of his life, he started feeling nagging tugs of self-doubt which spiralled into a depression during which time he planned his suicide. Luckily, his family intervened and after a roller coaster couple of years, he is alive and well and sharing his story to help other families who find themselves in the same position navigate their way through those difficult times.

 

Tour Schedule:
 

Nov 2 - Working Mommy Journal – book review / giveaway
Nov 2 - Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
Nov 2 - Splashes of Joy – book review / author interview / guest post / giveaway
Nov 3 – Literary Flits – book review / giveaway
Nov 3 - Asreadbydanielle  - book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 4 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 5 – meandmybooks – book review / guest post
Nov 6 – Olio By Marilyn - book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 6 - fundinmental - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 9 – Welcome To MLM Opinion's Reviews – book review
Nov 10 – Book Reviews – book spotlight / author interview
Nov 10 - The Momma Spot - book review
Nov 11 – Books and Zebras @jypsylynn – book review / giveaway
Nov 12 – RebeccaReviewedIt – book review / giveaway
Nov 13 – Fur Everywhere – book review
Nov 16 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Nov 17 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Nov 17 - Pick a Good Book - book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 18 – Rajiv's Reviews – book review
Nov 18 - My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews - book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 19 – Sefina Hawke's Books – book spotlight
Nov 20 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Nov 23 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 24 – Corinne Rodrigues – book review / giveaway
Nov 24 - Lisa-Queen of Random - book review / giveaway
Nov 25 – Library of Clean Reads – book review / giveaway
Nov 26 – My Fictional Oasis – book review / author interview
Nov 27 – Books for Books – book spotlight
 

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