Well, it’s been nearly a year since the first lockdown started and Covid has played a huge, sometimes devastating, role in all our lives. Consequently, when I discovered that there was positivity to be had too, I had to invite Gemma Levine onto the blog to tell me about one of her books. My thanks to Grace Pilkington for putting us in touch with one another.

Staying in with Gemma Levine

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Gemma and thank you for staying in with me. Which of your books have you brought along to tell me about today?

During this lockdown period , I brought out and published 3 books . This one I give you today, is called COVID THOUGHTS. All the book’s proceeds got to Lymphoedema Research Charity.

Gosh, three books during lockdown is very impressive. Tell me more about COVID THOUGHTS.

I asked 40 famous personalities to write for me in 200 words their thoughts during this period . I have photographed each one of them. One page their text, the opposite page their photograph. Dame Judi Dench supports everything I am doing to raise awareness for Lymphoedema and has written the Preface. Professor Mortimer has written the Foreword and myself the Introduction.

That’s quite a cast. Who else is involved? 

A few people I will mention that have contributed . Nicki Aitkin MP, Baroness Joan Bakewell, Sir Geoffrey Boycott, Dame Joan Collins, William Boyd, Simon Callow, the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Baron Richard Harries, Prue Leith, Joanna Lumley, Priti Patel, Bryan Robson, Dr Miriam Stoppard, Terry Waite and many others including Covid hospital staff and ITU nurses and even a fisherman!

I think there’s someone of interest for any reader there Gemma! I understand the proceeds from COVID Thoughts support the Lymphoedema Research Charity so that’s wonderful.

What else have you brought along? 

I’ve brought a quote “ WHEREAS MOST OF US SEEK SOLACE WHEN FACED WITH ADVERSITY, GEMMA LEVINE ENVISIONS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAL THROUGH INSIGHT, COMPASSION AND HARMONY. THE WORLD INCLUDING THOSE LIVING WITH LYMPHATIC DISEASES SUCH AS LYMPHOEDEMA, FINDS THEIR HUMANITY, COMMONALITY,AND HENCE HOPE, IN HER VIVID ‘COVID THOUGHTS’ .

I think COVID THOUGHTS sounds such a positive and inspiring book Gemma. Thank you for introducing it here. Let me give Linda’s Book Bag readers a little more information:

COVID THOUGHTS

This book is a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges, lessons learnt and personal experiences of the global pandemic communicated through the eyes of some of the influential public figures in society.

It features contributions from 30 personalities and politicians including the UK’s Home Secretary Priti Patel, Bryan Robson, Prue Leith, Sir David Suchet, Joanna Lumley, William Boyd, Dame Maureen Lipman, and Terry Waite.

As well as raising funds for Lymphoedema research, Covid Thoughts is a compelling collection of the real accounts of people from across a diverse range of backgrounds offering a humbling and insightful glimpse into their Covid journeys.

Foreword by PROFESSOR PETER MORTIMER MD FRCP
Preface by DAME JUDI DENCH CH DBE FRSA
Introduction by GEMMA LEVINE FRSA
Afterword by PROFESSOR JAMES A. LEVINE MD PhD

COVID THOUGHTS is available for purchase here.

About Gemma Levine FRSA

Gemma Levine is a photographer of over half a century. But her artistry was brought to a halt 12 years ago when she developed LYMPHOEDEMA . Gemma is semi disabled with her right arm. It does not allow her to use heavy cameras, carry, cook efficiently etc. Gemma now uses a light iPhone and iPad only for her work.

Her ‘famous people’ ARCHIVES are held with Getty Images UK. Her photographs of Princess Diana, are shown in a permanent exhibition at Kensington Palace. The palace chose Gemma’s photograph of Princess Diana as the photograph of the year in 1994. Gemma has published 25 books and had over 80 exhibitions.

For more information about Gemma, visit her website.