Press Release: October 2004 - publication of “Thank God for Life”

The Author

Carol Mote

The Presenter

Diane Louise Jordan

The Minister

Barrie Tabraham

Barrie W Tabraham

TV Presenter praises new author for the ultimate guide to great funerals.

"...this groundbreaking book is outstanding."

The TV Presenter Diane Louise Jordan has personally endorsed a new book that promises to turn the tables on the taboo over the last big celebration we organise for our loved ones. "This book will serve not only as a practical tool-kit but as an inspiration and launch-pad for a more open, honest and individual expression of how we plan our last great celebration - the celebration of our lives!"

Diane Louise muses on her nephew's desire for a funeral in which tributes are given over a sound system or a missionary's wishes of being laid to rest in her best clothes, shown off in a glass coffin and concludes that Thank God for Life is a book that is well overdue.

"I began to see the potential for exploring new ways of significantly acknowledging a life, as well as harnessing the more traditional approach."

A passionate desire for people to feel able to acknowledge and release their feelings, which can often be very complex, during a funeral is the true start of the grieving process suggests the author, Carol Mote. Carol left her senior role in Investment Banking in London to write the book setting up a publishing house to ensure its distribution.

"Many people struggle to talk about death, this book is aimed at being informative, inspirational, straightforward and practical, complementing the work provided by Funeral Directors and Ministers rather than replacing it. Helping people to channel their grief in a positive way."

Reverend Barrie W Tabraham warmly commends the book which he considers should be read widely:

"there is a great deal of practical guidance of the kind that is rarely found in books, such as organising the funeral and seeing to the multitude of tasks that are involved for the next of kin. The second part of the book is particularly useful in that it gives ten complete orders of service for readers to use as a resource. They will be of enormous help and, I believe, inspiration. Yet what makes Thank God for Life so valuable is the way in which Carol tackles the often difficult, underlying issues such as talking with children about death and dealing with one's own feelings of loss."

Editors Notes:

Review copies of the book available by contacting Assisi House. To organise an interview with the author telephone: (00 44) 07745 944081. To download a copy of this press release in PDF format, click here

Carol Mote was born in Canada, moving to England in the 1970's. Her career has been in International Human Resource Management. In 2001 she left her role as Director of Human Resources for part of JPMorgan the investment bank, to move to Cornwall. She is a single parent and mother of two.