Publications
In My Room
The book is a collection of drawings, poems and writing that trace my experience of growing up … of exploring who I am … and finding a place in a world I never felt I fitted into. Then Harley Manifold a Melbourne artist, approached me about designing the book and so … eight years of writing and three years of design later …. In My Room hatched. Check out book pages … why we did it … where we launched it … art for the invite …
It’s something we think people will pick up time and time again; carry it around with them in their bag; display it; smell it, touch it, feel it like a goose bump; pass it on to others or hide it under their pillow. And yes, we encourage the penning of personal notes and scribbles on the pages – make it your own. It’s nice displayed, or lent to a friend (although we hear they’re often not returned). Also know that in grabbing a copy of the book you’ll be supporting the growth of The Black Dog Project. And we love to hear about your experience of the book too – so send in your stories.”
- Janine
Written and illustrated by Janine – art and design by Harley
Available in website shop for $29.95
Book reviews and experiences…
“It’s about discovery . . . I could read it 500 times and everytime it would be new . . . and don’t have it out when you’re doing your homework – you won’t get anything done!
- EV (18)
“This is a book about survival. It tells of an unusually brave journey, yet one that many people will find somehow familiar, and therefore deeply consoling . . . There is no advice here; advice often demeans. Instead there is the constant valuing of all experiences, experiences which society often seems to discard.”
- Andrew Relph, Clinical Psychologist
“Keep picking up the book and re reading bits that I so relate to! You will be happy to know that your book is now part of the Wauchope Vietnam Veterans Library where it is ‘in our room’ and will be well read by all… you can be sure of that.”
- ‘G’ Vietnam veteran
“In My Room offers new hope and understanding… a journey through darkness and reflection, to a place of home.”
- Julie McCormack, Clinical Psychologist, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children
“I look at little bits every night and find new meanings I haven’t seen before – it also sits in the prime position on my bed side table, and it’s even more special now that I have your autograph in it!
- Kelly
“It’s open and honest, thought provoking and very empowering. Something for everyone.”
- Trish
“I ordered your book and have not been able to put it down. It is such a fantastic and important read . . . absolute brilliance!”
- Jo
“The artwork and presentation of the book is absolutely beautiful. ‘In My Room’ is a remarkable and outstanding achievement. I will treasure your book forever.”
- Karen
“I am stunned and in wonderment! As I read – the words became my own. The pictures, the concepts and the piece of your heart that blend into the words is lovely and touching and… thank you.”
- Helen
EV (18) writes…
In My Room leads us on a journey of self exploration and a telling of truths. Through Janine’s own experiences we can see our own – in this, clarity is created. So many of us struggle with demons from our own past, questioning ourselves when the answers lay elsewhere. By writing her experiences and truths on a number of issues she has allowed us to seek the answers we need – learn from the ones she has already found. Unlike so many ‘self help’ type books that dredge up unspeakable memories and when you’ve finished the book, leave you to deal with them with the only self destructive methods you have, it lays to rest each issue it brings up – creating safety within its pages. Her story has not been forced into any particular form but emerges in whatever form it wishes to take. Amazing poetry, images and narrative are morphed together giving the story a soul. Hard truths are shouted, pictures exist in pictures if you can find them. The path is not always easy but there are plenty of places to rest along the way. Cool lagoons for the senses. There is entertainment and information to be had, but secrets will reveal themselves to you if you only look. A seriously great read!” EV’s story appearing on this website June 2008.
Andrew Relph, Clinical Psychologist, writes…
“This is a book about survival. It tells of an unusually brave journey, yet one that many people will find somehow familiar, and therefore deeply consoling. The recognition and encouragement of the self behind the shape that circumstances have pushed and pulled us into, is every person’s task. It is also the task of all serious psychotherapy. Janine’s writing has been her psychotherapy. It’s what helped ‘her see’. And when experience ‘is on the page’ it becomes more manageable and seems to hold more choices. Society often pushes each of us towards a jelly like adaption to what others want us to be. This allows us less chance of feeling our own sense of who we are – which is not the same as selfishness. But do we all need to write out our experiences on to the page to make sense of the self? Perhaps we do if, like Janine, we start where there is no sense, no existence; mere survival in the dark. Yet relating to ourselves on the page is a lot like relating to another person who can hear us; although this takes trust again after it is first taken away. There is a chance that this account of this rescued self will be more than consoling to the reader; perhaps in these lines the reader may develop resolution of their own. This is because Janine has concentrated on her experience, which is deep and rich; scary and painful; not on its classification which would be flat and without meaning. This is one difference between the poet and the self help book, which this is not. Two other qualities of the writing mark this out as poetry. There are lines which will take the top of your head off and yet there are spaces for you to rest and find your self. There is no advice here; advice often demeans. Instead there is the constant valuing of all experiences, experiences which society often seems to discard. I’ve always thought ‘growing up’ is over-rated pushing us as it does into the next challenge but Janine has found a way of going back and picking up valuable bits of the self that have been left behind. It’s brave to do this because the bits of the self are often painful and hide behind angry and frightened feelings. It’s also brave because it leaves us taking full responsibility for ourselves. That’s hard maybe, but nothing could be more liberating.”
Julie McCormack, Clinical Psychologist, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children writes…
“In My Room offers the reader a number of possibilities for engagement. Captivating images distil the essence of life’s essential moments. A closer analysis traces a journey through darkness and reflection, to a place of home. For the sufferer of trauma and mental illness, and those close to them, In My Room offers new hope and understanding tracing the history of the pain, and juxtaposing the even more challenging steps of taking responsibility and moving forwards.”
21 Postcards
In April 2007 I completed my book in which I revisit and explore in depth my experience of growing up and how I moved forward from those experiences. From the process of revisiting those times I arrived at a painful moment of truth and was struggling to deal with it. I felt compelled to draw—and draw I did for about 3 weeks until 21 characters and their stories emerged. The first 21 troops arrived on my page in 2007 along with this postcard collection, and they went on to march through the book. (Both available in the shop). After ‘In My Room’ was published, more troops arrived (56 at last count) and this time with longer stories that took up a lot of space. So I created the ‘army of ink diaries’ where the troops are FREE to collect and share as they continue to march on in.
The postcard collection contains a set of 21 postcards, each with a different character. The postcard collection comes with a black wrist band to wear as a symbol of giving generously to your SELF (which is not the same as selfishness by the way). They deliver poigniant punches of universal truth and words of strength and they’re making empowering connections with those who offer them a home or a place in their bag – under their pillow – between the pages of a book – framed on the wall. Like the most interesting people I know, they have multiple layers – and spark really interesting conversations. One sweet person sent a postcard each week to a friend, so for 21 weeks they received something special in the letter box.
NB: In purchasing the postcard collection you’ll be supporting The Black Dog Project and the Army of Ink.