In 2026 Carrie is writing a non-fiction book, ‘Here’s What I Want You To Know’, that will give a voice to people in Australia living with dementia. It will portray people living with dementia as whole individuals — the people they have been, the lives they have lived, and who they are now — rather than defining them solely by diagnosis. It will fill a gap in the current literature by giving a voice to people living with the condition, not just to academics, specialists and carers. As such, it will be an immensely valuable resource for participants, their families and for the many people who make decisions every day about the way dementia is understood and supported in this country.
Each chapter will be a long-form, narrative feature story based on one or more in-depth interviews with author and editor Carrie Cox. These interviews will cover each participant’s:
early life and formative experiences
family, work, passions and identity
lived experience of dementia from pre-diagnosis to current status
thoughts, feelings, insights and reflections the participant would like others to understand about living with dementia
Each piece will be approximately 2,000--3,000 words in length. There will be approximately 20 pieces in the collection.
The aim is to increase understanding, empathy and public awareness of dementia through personal storytelling.
If you or someone you know would like to be involved in this project, you can contact Carrie Cox by email carrieon@bigpond.com