A charming collection of illustrated short stories by an award-winning author, The Memory Box is a great gift for those who are carers or living with memory loss. The simple narratives encourage activities which can reawaken past memories, bringing the welcome relief of calmness and peace, in a sometimes confusing world. Written with compassion and humour, these stories will appeal to those affected directly or indirectly by cognitive impairment, as well as those who enjoy a comforting read – maybe before dropping off to sleep. The words Alzheimer’s or dementia do not appear in the stories. The opening story, The Inner Voice, won the National Memory Day 2017 Short Story Competition in the Primary Carer’s Voice category, sponsored by The Alzheimer’s Society. Sarah has also been short-listed in the Living With Dementia magazine 2017 Poetry Competition. What the judge said about The Inner Voice: “I really liked the way the author has tackled the subject, the way she introduced and developed the richness of the characters, the twists in the story. I thought it was realistic in its portrayal of Freda and her dementia without slipping into the negative traps which writers often do.” The Inner Song – Members of the Black Cat Café reminiscence group befriend Freda with humour, compassion and cake. - The Taste of The Secret – a domestic tale, evoking memories of generations of housewives baking in their kitchens. - The Shed – Richard discovers that his abandoned shed, which was once a place of retreat in his married years, can again become a place of sanctuary. - Charmed to Meet You – Molly recounts her life story to her granddaughter Daisy by explaining the significance of each ornament on her charm bracelet. - Mateus – a window cleaner and a creative writing group find they have a lot in common. - Geraniums and Gossamer Threads – smells transport Richard across thousands of miles from holidays to home, and from boyhood to old age. - The Memory Box – a daughter helps her father trigger reminiscences by revealing to him a selection of items and images from his past. Sarah Veness is a writer who is motivated by her own life events to encourage and inform people about dementia and memory issues. As someone who cares for a friend with Early Onset Alzheimer’s and also lives with memory loss herself, she can express the viewpoint of carers and those in a similar position to her own. This book is also available in large print format and on Kindle.