The trust is proud to be supporting Monique Walker in writing her children’s book: Arlo and the Orca. We first met with Monique earlier this year when her brother, one of our youth mentors, recommended that she get in touch with us about her book idea. Shortly after, she attended a Shot Bro show with our drama therapist, Maxine.
“Hearing of cousins, brothers, friends, dads, just everyone it seems, dying by suicide broke me. For the first time in 11 years, I felt safe to share my story about losing my dad. Rob was there. Maxine was there. The tears came, and I never cry. But it was refreshing almost, to let it out. To let it go because it was never mine to hold. I watched a mother stand up and say that they are burying child after child and they need help. “She needs my book.” I thought. I went home that night and the next day ‘Arlo and the Orca’ was put on paper. After two years, an idea became a story.”
She has been working with the trust ever since. From coordinating two of our funded Shot Bro shows in the Kaeo community, to connecting in with others in our network and having them be part of her healing.
Now in its final stages, Arlo and the Orca is a children’s picture book that tells the story of a young boy named Arlo and his journey to understanding grief. One day Arlo tries to talk to his mother about his grandfather’s passing, and when she doesn't want to speak about it, he becomes angry and runs into the ocean. Arlo gets into deep trouble and is rescued by an Orca. They have a conversation about the importance of speaking about their feelings, and afterwards, he takes Arlo safely back to shore. Arlo's mother then finds him, and using the Orca's advice, they are finally able to speak with each other about how they feel.
“‘Arlo and the Orca’ is me speaking up. It’s my experience, my dad’s, my sons’, my shutting down of emotions, my love of killer whales, my fear of the ocean, my feelings of being overwhelmed and alone. And then it’s my opening up of emotions, my tears, my conversations with my children, my reconnecting with my brother, my healing. ‘Arlo and the Orca’ is for all of those that we now hold in our hearts instead of in our arms. ‘Arlo and the Orca’ is for your children. To help them speak up when they are feeling sad, angry, overwhelmed, stressed, or alone. ‘Arlo and the Orca’ is for everyone. If you've been affected by suicide or loss, you're not alone. You're loved. You're worthy. There's hope.”
With publication planned for later this year, we are very excited about how this book might be used in the trust, the team already in discussion about an accompanying show and workshop for schools.
