WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT KARAVAN PRESS IS THE SOUTH AFRICAN DISTRIBUTION PARTNER FOR GAIL GILBRIDE‘S MEMOIR, CAT THERAPY.
When Gail Gilbride is diagnosed with breast cancer, she experiences the full range of emotions. There’s disbelief, anger, confusion, fear, bargaining and, why, yes, indeed, of course she wants to talk to the manager! But then Gail settles on resolve. She’s ready to fight. Not only will she follow her doctor’s instructions and march with the big guns in the oncology centre, but she’ll also tip her helmet to her late mother’s inclination for alternative treatments. Gail is ready to give her body everything it might need to conquer the disease, recover and live a long life of joy. She nourishes it, meditates, exercises, rests, and explores parts of her consciousness she’s previously pushed to the far corner and ignored. Determined not to be a passenger, Gail hops behind the wheel and embarks on a journey like no other. What she doesn’t anticipate is that she’ll have a furry, ginger wingman for company.
Archie is the irredeemably part-feral tomcat who, when it suits him, moves in the same circles as Gail – and it suits him when he decides she needs the kind of therapy only he can give. In many ways, Gail and Archie are opposites. Where she’s amiable, he can be bellicose. Where Gail is gentle, Archie has claws. Where she is considerate, he is self-serving. And yet Archie brings to Gail camaraderie and healing in the dark hours when, alone, she cannot keep the dread at bay. He’s the remedy she didn’t know she needed.
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
Cat Therapy is an anthology of diary entries written by Gail during her cancer treatment, which coincided with the Coronavirus pandemic. Emotionally rich and shedding light on one of the most challenging experiences anyone might encounter, it’s beautifully written with honesty, humour, playfulness and enduring optimism. Gail’s voice is warm, strong and true, taking us deep into the heart of a woman compelled to examine everything that’s gone before and undertake a difficult new journey. It also tells the story of the cat who raised a paw and joined the mission. – PENNY HAW, author of The Invincible Miss Cust, The Wilderness Between Us and Nicko.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gail Gilbride was born in Pretoria. She is a middle child and despite playing with dinky cars in the dust, she developed a love for dolls, ballet and all things pink. These days she lives on the edge of the Hemel en Aarde valley with her human and furry family, where she swims in the sea, writes, gardens and dabbles in painting.
Gail holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rhodes University and a post-graduate teaching diploma from UCT. In a previous life she taught English, Sound Perception and Communication Skills. She also used to dance and mastering the Tango is still on her wish list.
Her novel Under the African Sun was published by Cactus Rain in 2016, and it was selected as a top ten finalist in the Author Academy Awards competition (USA).
Cat Therapy is her unplanned memoir.
Publication date: March 2023
ISBN:
978-0-6397-5037-8 (print)
978-0-6397-5038-5 (eBook)
