Dormy House’s Wellbeing Coordinator Pam Sharman has shared how her letters to her family influenced her to write several children’s books. As we celebrate World Storytelling Day, residents at Dormy House Care Home, in Sunningdale were delighter to hear Pam’s own story and celebrate her work.
Previously, Pam worked in Business Travel and travelled as part of her job. During her travels she used to write a letter to her nephews and nieces. The letters came from a wonderful character Pam created called Gerry Giraffe. The children did not know the letter had come from their aunt and always used to look forward to receiving a letter from him each year, explaining all the wonderful things he saw on his travels and snippets of culture from that region. It was a little travel journal entry.
From 2007, Pam ran her own business for a few years. One of her business associates whose daughter Pam had sent a letter to from Gerry Giraffe, recommended her to a professional illustrator. Pam set up a meeting with the illustrator to share her short stories and he offered to work with Pam to create the illustrations for the launch of her books.
Pam also had friends with a printing establishment in Wokingham, and so the project was developed. Pam became a self-publisher, and her letters were recreated into a book.
Pam travelled the UK to schools and libraries and Waterstones Bookstores to promote her book. The schools and libraries still have the books and recently her local library invited her back to do a story time.
Pam has published six books in total:
- Gerry Giraffe Goes to Paris
- Gerry Giraffe goes to Egypt
- Gerry Giraffe Goes to London
- Gerry Giraffe goes to Rome
- Gerry Giraffe goes to Longleat
- Gerry Giraffe meets the Loch Ness Monster
At Dormy House Care Home, the residents are thrilled to know a published author and enjoy hearing about the stories, with one of the carers feeling delighted when she found out her daughter’s much loved favourite books were written by Pam!
