Women's Bookshop packed for book launch

How many people can fit into The Women’s Bookshop for a book launch? The launch of Ann Andrews’ Positively Parkinson’s last night may have set a new record – trade identity Bob Ross reckons it was the biggest crowd he’s ever seen for an event there.

Despite the packed-London-tube-carriage density, the audience was warmly responsive to Dame Catherine Tizard’s speech, as she stood in for an ill Sir John Walker. (Walker, himself living with Parkinson’s, believes ‘Everyone who has Parkinson’s should read this book.’)

Ann Andrews was the applauded heroine of the evening, for the research she undertook, the understanding she brought to the book from her personal experiences and for its blend of information and accounts of others facing the challenge of Parkinson’s.

As for the numbers – uncounted, but 80 Neurological Foundation calico bag giveaways were swept up by the audience, and there was excellent support and attendance from Parkinson’s New Zealand and the Neurological Foundation, as well as Ann Andrews’ many friends and whanau.

Published by Calico Publishing (books@calico.net.nz), distributed by David Bateman, RRP $35.

Ann Andrews and Dave Schafer at the launch of Positively Parkinson's at the Women's Bookshop 16 August 2011