Mental Health Foundation
There is no single definition of the concept of recovery for people with mental health problems, but the guiding principle of hope – the belief that it is possible for someone to regain a meaningful life, despite serious mental illness.
James Gerard
James Gerard, a mental health advocate, found healing through writing Haizean, inspired by his own struggles with depression and a powerful visit to Guernica. The novel became a personal outlet, exploring themes of trauma, identity, and hope.
Co-author John Sawkins, former English lecturer at the University of the Highlands and Islands, contributed insights into exile and belonging, drawing on historical parallels with modern issues.
"Why carpet the world when it is easier to buy a pair of slippers"
Sand Rabbits Rest and Be Thankful
The original “Sand Rabbits Rest and Be Thankful” military road was built by soldiers in 1753, though some sources state construction was completed in 1748. The name comes from a stone inscription left by the soldiers who built the road, marking a place where weary travelers could rest at the summit of the climb.
A male Sand Rabbit is called a buck and a female is called a doe. Their children are called kittens.
Hope Street Madness Defeated
“Mental ill health has finally come out of the umbrella of madness and can now be seen for what it really is; a perfectly normal part of life.” James Gerard McGinley – BA Journalism Hope Street is a new book that focuses on lived experiences, coping mechanisms, endurance, hope and recovery in the world of mental ill health. Hope Street takes readers on an inspiring global journey, giving an insight into different mental health environments. The book focuses on five individuals who have experienced mental ill health and are now in recovery. Most hold down full time jobs, are engaged in meaningful activities and are stronger as a result of their experiences. More and more people around the world are coming to live on Hope Street; hence taking the first steps towards recovery. The stories, contacts, and research in this book have shown that recovery is now possible. The writers involved in this book have bravely come forward to inspire others. Their message is simple: “There is always Hope.”
Haizean
“The bombing of Guernica, 80 years ago, inspired one of Picasso’s best-known works. Now, visitors to this iconic part of Spain’s Basque Country will discover a town devoted to peace and reconciliation. It is also about using art as a form of protest to encourage change and make people think objectively, rather than react irrationally.” James Gerard
The novel is about family, friendships, war, peace, history, hope, endurance and ultimately reconciliation. It is about stopping for a moment and seeing the world from another person’s point of view in different times, cultures, and environments. The first part of the book centres around two small, yet significant villages, Scotstoun, Glasgow and Guernica in the Basque region, northern Spain. Set before, during and after WW2, it should be noted that two of the main characters include a doctor and nurse at a time when there was no NHS. The second part of the book focuses- on a Peace Centre set up in a flat in Scotstoun called Haizean (Basque for in the wind), where students come from all over the world to share ideas.
Imagine living in enforced exile for nearly forty years of your life. Add to that the lack of any of your fellow-countrymen within a thousand miles. Asier was a doctor living in Guernica back in 1937 alongside his wife and two children when the German bombers arrived. He has to assume that his family have all perished. Arriving in Glasgow, thanks to the efforts of John Oswald, a Scottish journalist, Asier carries on his work as a doctor. Asier’s diaries afford some insight into his coming to terms with separation from his homeland, namely the Basque region in the North of Spain. But more than this, they chronicle key events leading up to, during and after World War II.
The Spotlight Network Interview
Haizean transports readers from the bombing of Guernica in 1937 to a Peace Centre in Glasgow, connecting the past with the present through the lives of unforgettable characters—a doctor forced into exile, a journalist determined to help, and students who come together to change the world.
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You can also purchase the books from these other online bookstore outlets.
