The Bookery was delighted to welcome author and freelance writer Lucy Brazier for our most recent author event. We had hoped that Lucy was to be joined in conversation by her good friend, novelist, TV scriptwriter and journalist Veronica Henry but she (understandably) had to withdraw due to her son having an operation on his ankle that afternoon. We all, of course, wish him a speedy recovery. Stepping in at late notice to replace Veronica was our very own Bookshop Manager Carl East who guided the conversation with Lucy through the evening discussing her new book The Honesty Box. In introducing the book to us, Lucy started with the revelation that when she started writing the book she had intended it be a cookery book, but that as with her real interest in trying to set up a village honesty box in the Dorset village near Lyme Regis where she was living with her family every time she started to write something it did not feel real with other things that were happening her life.  Lucy described how she felt compelled to talk about the issues that were dominating their lives and went on to talk about her husband Steve’s ADHD and autism openly and engagingly throughout the evening with several entertaining anecdotes. Although Lucy had felt reluctant to bring humour into such a serious subject, she talked how important humour and laughter had been in helping the family get through things.

The Honesty Box carries us through the year of discovery, denial, medication, and salvation that Lucy, Steve, their children and even their Golden Retriever went through following Steve’s diagnosis of ADHD and autism. The chapters of the book represent each of the months of that year and although we are provided with many intimate, heart-wrenching and emotional moments Lucy described how she was careful not to identify the year or any of the other characters within the book. Perhaps surprisingly given the success of the book Lucy told us that she felt that none of the villagers knew about the book. In responding to Carl exploring Lucy’s enjoyment of nature and her urban past we felt the pull of the bright lights, action, billboards that that Lucy sometimes feels but how in creating each of the chapters reflecting the month of the year had helped Lucy come to really appreciate the nature around her.  Lucy selected a passage from the beginning of the April chapter to read which vividly described the impact of the medication that was having on Steve’s appetite, the development of a tick and how tough their financial situation had become which she illustrated by describing their car as being one pothole away from condemnation!

We learnt how important writing the book had been so important, helping Steve to also understand how Lucy felt and was a good way to share information. Lucy described the striking moment when Steve said that she could have been even more honest in the book and how listening to each other had become so helpful. It was interesting to hear how the book had also helped other family members understand Steve’s diagnosis which was a theme that several members of the audience also went on to talk abut with Lucy.  We wrapped up the evening with questions from the audience during which Lucy described how important she felt it was to get information and how having knowledge really helped her understand the compulsions and behaviours that at times so frustrated her.  This was illustrated by the realisation that Steve does not perceive time in the same way as she does and how by sharing the information it helped her realise that Steve could not control it but that it should not be used as an excuse. We were all delighted to know that despite all the heart ache and challenges that the book had been so important in keeping Steve and Lucy together.

Lucy then chatted extensively with those who had joined us for the evening signing and dedicating copies of The Honesty Box to family members – we have signed copies of The Honesty Box HERE or from visiting the bookshop.

Lucy Brazier is a freelance writer, specialising in food, lifestyle and memoir. Following a longstanding career in talent management, she left London and moved to Dorset fourteen years ago to work with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and the team at River Cottage as a writer and course tutor.  Her earlier work includes Christmas at River Cottage.

We thank all our customers who joined us and to both Lucy and Carl for providing such an open, honest, moving and at times funny discussion.