Q: Why did I start writing?

A: I started writing just over a year ago when my Mum was dying of cancer, when I picked up my pen and a beautiful notebook and began to write the eulogy. I wrote solidly for 3 hours and it felt like riding a bike, a completely natural process which I had neglected for 33 years, since embarking on an all-consuming teaching career.

Spurred on by the same English teacher I had at 16, a wonderfully inspiring lady called Edith (Miss Hawley), who simply said “you have to keep writing”.

So I did.

I remembered the days in my childhood home writing songs, stories, poems as a wide eyed 7-year old and felt with every mark I made in that notebook, that I was rediscovering my true self once more. I wrote every day for 5 months, a daily routine which became almost a visceral need and was relentless in my pursuit to complete the book that was taking shape before my very eyes.

Q: What is your first book about?

A: It is non-fiction and a true life account of not just events I went through but many of us go through, honouring my parents and their history, my teaching career and my friends and family. It is brutally honest but eternally hopeful and is described as a ‘cup half-full’ book. 

 The inspiration behind the book initially was my parents and the grief I was processing at losing them both, so this resulted in the first few chapters. However, it soon evolved into memories and musings about my history as a child, teen, teacher, wife, mum, daughter and friend. I then knew that a memoir on mental health and wellbeing needed to be honest about other issues, such as eating disorders (where a family friend was honest in sharing her story of recovery) and menopause and work life balance.

Q: Did your teaching experience shape the book ?

In many ways I had shelved my passion for writing for all those years, as there was no time to write, unless it was planning or writing end of year reports! But obviously I tried to plan stimulating English lessons, with high quality texts and my book corner was always my pride and joy! 

There are a couple of chapters in the book which are specifically about some of my best memories in teaching, one recalling how we used to take our Y6s to the seaside as their leavers’ trip and the other about how as teachers we have to give children a clean slate. 

Some of my ex-pupils have read the book and given me some wonderful, heart-warming feedback. They know who they are! 

On leaving my teaching career, I also reflected on the best teachers I had when I was at school and as well as the wonderful Edith, my Art teacher was involved in the front cover design, which I think really draws the reader in. 

Q: Tell us about the front cover.

A: I knew my late Dad loved taking photos and there were many hundreds of these, but this old black and white photo of me, wide eyed, literally fell out of the loft as I was clearing the family home. 

I was shocked by it as it brought back memories of how extrovert, lively and joyful I was. This was bittersweet as it hit me how life had batterered her down a bit and I longed to feel like that 7 year old once more. 

It also grew to have a greater significance, as I only undertook an ADHD assessment at 50 and this led to me embracing this aspect of myself, which was always there. My quirkiness was right here in black and white screaming at me! 

I could not ignore her any longer!

This book is about her finding her voice again!

Q: What was the most challenging part of the whole writing process?

A: The content came flowing out me very quickly and felt very natural. The hardest part was completing a number of edits for the publisher, as I seemed to spot new mistakes each time. It felt a bit like I was marking my own work! It kind of put me off the book for a while, but since it came out in print and when doing the publicity, I have grown to love the book again.

Q: What was the most enjoyable part of the whole writing process?

A: The actual writing! It felt like it was ‘well overdue’! I did insist on using a blue rollerball, rather than the teacher kit of a black biro! It was as if I needed to embrace a new way of writing, more mindfully than the rushed way I was used to marking books!

The feeling of opening the box, full of copies of my book, was one I had dreamt of for years and it did not disappoint! I couldn’t stop looking at it and was so relieved to see it in front of me and start sharing it with others. 

The other highlight was my book launch! Held in Belper, with colleagues, friends, family and supporters, I was able to flesh out the book and the themes within it. I felt like a proper author – although I still struggle with elements of imposter syndrome.

Q: What do you plan on writing next? 

A: I intend to write a second book about mental health and wellbeing but it probably will be more generic than this one, and not feature my stories but will hopefully reach an even wider audience. I now love writing poetry so I would like to include some of this in the next book. 

I am also enjoying writing these blogs for Claire’s School Solutions and hope that they can help people consider and understand education from a range of perspectives and approaches. 

I would like to write a children’s book at some point, although I said I never would! But my writing group one week, involved me writing about Willy Wonka and I actually loved it and realised I do know what 7-11 year olds find funny! 

My next project will be on how ADHD is dealt with in the classroom. More on this below. 

Q: Why is awareness about ADHD so important for you? 

A: I had taught many many children with both diagnosed and undiagnosed ADHD over the years, but it was only about 4 years agom when I was approached by a parent of a Y6 girl I had taught, to complete her very detailed assessment questionnaire, that I saw myself in those answers before me. I embarked on an assessment with https://www.sanctumhealthcare.co.uk/ and was not at all surprised to find that I definitely was on the spectrum! A lot of people have reached out since my openness about this and I feel that many (women in particular) are misdiagnosed with depression or even bi-polar disorder or in school, not properly understood or their learning styles and mindset catered for. I would like to use my years in education and personal experience to write about this in a simple and relatable way. 

One person’s ADHD does not look like the next person’s and I still think that a late diagnosis for me, explained a lifetime of being misunderstood. 

Q: What is coming next in terms of promoting this book? 

A: I have recorded a podcast with a lovely journalist friend who works for ITV in Manchester, so that is in production.

I am attending the Buxton For Books Festival in June and also leading a talk on the Sunday about the book. 

I know I need to ‘let the book breathe and grow’ now but I am just a little passionate about spreading the word about the book. 

Blog written by Jo Gotheridge : 22/5/26

Photos taken by Andy Fairhurst.