New Kids Wellbeing Book – ‘Sophie Says It’s Okay To Make Mistakes’ By Esther Marshall And Buzz Burry. Review by Eleanor.

October 27, 2025October 27, 2025 ~ Eleanor Segall ~ 2 Comments

(image: Sophie Says/Esther Marshall/BuzzBurry)

Many of you know that I love Esther Marshall’s bestselling Sophie Says book series for childrens wellbeing. I have blogged before about the books in the series which include ‘I Can I Will’, ‘Its Okay Not To Be Okay’ and ‘Be Proud Of Who You Are’ and now introducing her brand new book ‘It’s Okay To Make Mistakes’. Esther is on a mission to encourage confidence, resilience and emotional wellbeing in the children of today. She tragically lost her sister to mental illness and as part of her sister’s legacy she goes into schools and other organisations to read her books and embed wellbeing, promoting wellness from the early years and more.

The blurb says, ‘Mistakes aren’t something to fear — they’re how we learn, grow, and discover what we’re capable of.

In Sophie Says: It’s Okay to Make Mistakes, Sophie and her friends face challenges big and small, from getting an answer wrong in class to trying something new for the very first time. With kindness, courage, and encouragement, they learn that every mistake is a chance to try again.

This heartwarming children’s book teaches little ones that:

It’s okay to try, fail, and try again.
Mistakes help us build resilience and confidence.
Everyone — even grown-ups — makes mistakes.
The most important thing is to keep going and never give up.

Beautifully illustrated and filled with empowering messages, this story helps children aged 3–8 embrace failure as part of their journey, boosting their self-esteem and emotional wellbeing.’

Esther says that this book is for parents, teachers, and anyone who wants to raise confident, resilient kids and it contains beautiful illustrations from Buzz Berry. Esther has also thrown in a mistake of her own in the book so that she is also showing children it’s okay to make mistakes. Can you also find bunny hiding on each page?

This book follows Sophie and her friends as they make a big mess in the kitchen and learn that mistakes can lead to laughter, learning and even better cookies! Throughout the book, the character of Bunny reinforces that its ok to make mistakes.

(image: Sophie Says/Esther Marshall/BuzzBurry)

I will end this blog with a lovely quote from the book,

‘Remember if you stumble or fall,

Mistakes are a part of it all.

They teach us to be better, to learn and to play,

And help us grow stronger in every way!’.

I really love the Sophie Says books and they are perfect for that little person in your life aged 3-8, who needs a wellbeing boost. As well as the books, there are affirmation cards, colouring books and more resources. For more/ to order a copy please see www.sophiesaysofficial.com

Eleanor x

This post is non sponsored.

SUNSHINE: A Cancer Journey. The Powerful New Book From Author Emily J. Johnson by Eleanor

January 22, 2025January 22, 2025 ~ Eleanor Segall ~ 2 Comments

(image: Emily J. Johnson)

Three years ago, I read and reviewed author Emily J. Johnson’s debut book ‘Pushing Through The Cracks, which details her family’s journey with mental illness. Emily then released a book called BELLY about her binge eating and how she found recovery.

I was saddened when I heard that Emily had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2023, after all she had faced. A lump found by chance at the doctor in her neck, led to her diagnosis. However, in true Emily style (she is a fighter), she not only went through a lot of trauma and medical treatment, but she has come out the other side to find her own SUNSHINE. The thyroid cancer diagnosis left her struggling to cope as she navigated the impact on her loved ones. During her treatment, a medical emergency lead to a profound experience in theatre that changed everything.

As you can see from the cover of this book, this is a story of hope after trauma and adversity. It’s a life-affirming story about love, hope, and rediscovering joy in simple things.

Emily returned to writing during her recovery, publishing her third book SUNSHINE, sharing her cancer journey. Once fully recovered, she re-trained as a mindfulness and meditation practitioner and will embark on her teaching practice in 2025, supporting cancer patients along with other members of her community in learning these beneficial practices.

Emily is always helping others whether that is through her talent as an author and sharing her thoughts in writing and now through her work helping people.

The book is beautifully written and hugely eye opening about a cancer that does not get huge amounts of media air time. Emily goes through treatment and comes out the other side stronger. As she says,

‘A chance discovery leads to a shock diagnosis;.

A traumatic experience leaves me questioning everything.

But in the darkness, I discover the light. My light, my sunshine.’

SUNSHINE by Emily J. Johnson is a remarkable book and is out now on Amazon here.

(image: Emily J Johnson).

New Children’s Picture Book Announcement and 8 Year Blog Anniversary

March 17, 2024March 17, 2024 ~ Eleanor Segall ~ 8 Comments

(image: Good Housekeeping)

Hi everyone,

I have been quite quiet on here for a while but in the background, I have been working on my NEW self-published children’s picture book. I can exclusively tell you it is called ‘Arabella and the Worry Cloud‘ and will be illustrated by acclaimed artist (and good friend) Shelley Levy.

Here is our journey with Arabella…

In 2019, shortly after my book Bring me to Light was published, I wrote a short story that came into my mind about a little girl called Arabella (aged around 6/7) who had anxiety about lots of things in her life- her homework, her cat dying for example. Arabella is followed around by the Worry Cloud, a cloud who represents all her negative thoughts and worries, who threatens to rain on her. Can Arabella learn how to be ready for the Worry Cloud and replace him with positive and happy thoughts?

As a little girl, I struggled with anxiety. Some of my earliest memories are of being sick in the school lunch room aged 4 every day because I had bad separation anxiety and didn’t want to be around the bigger children. When I was about 7, I was also bullied at school and Sunday school (I was a very sensitive child) and this caused me to panic and not want to attend Sunday school so I was home schooled for a bit. I always have been a worrier. Then aged 15, anxiety reared its head again and I was diagnosed with bipolar as part of a depressive episode. I have lived with worry and anxiety most of my life…and I was born in the 80s and grew up in the 90s, where it was less understood. Though my family were amazing at supporting me.

My aim through writing Arabella is to help children to process their feelings and emotions around anxiety and to help them feel less alone. I hope that this book can be used in classrooms and therapy clinics to help children struggling with anxiety. It is for 5-7 year olds and explains Arabella’s journey with anxiety through the metaphor of finding the light in the dark storm.

The illustrator of Arabella and the Worry Cloud is my good friend, Shelley Levy. Shelley is an incredible artist and she has drawn the illustrations on her Ipad, using software. My vision to Shelley was to use old fashioned illustration, while making it contemporary and she has truly delivered and brought my characters to life. We can’t wait to show you the finished book once it has been formatted and printed and ready for sale! I am self publishing as I had sent it to various publishers including Welbeck and Pan Macmillan but for various reasons, they couldn’t publish it. However, I truly believe in the story and luckily so do others too 🙂

The sign

I knew Shelley was the right person to illustrate my book (she had given us a painting a a wedding gift) and was so thrilled she has come on board. I asked the Universe for a sign. Shelley is a friend of my dad Mike and they had gone to the theatre. At this time, I had put feelers out to Shelley, that I would like her to illustrate the book. A group of school children were sitting in front of them. They asked one of the girls their name and the girl said ‘Arabella‘. I got tingles hearing this as I had asked for a sign and had already written the title of the book (and Shelley was there)! Also, my late Grandpa Harry kept saying before he passed away in 2021, that I should write a children’s book and be the next Enid Blyton (I wish!).

8 Year Blog Anniversary

As well as this exciting project, this blog turned 8 years old on the 1st March and I just want to thank all of you for sticking with me for this long and to every single writer who has written for Be Ur Own Light this year March 23-24. Too many to list all of you but we have covered so many mental health topics and I’m so proud of all we continue to achieve together, to spread important high quality content about mental health.

There will be more about Arabella and the Worry Cloud coming soon, including images- we hope to sell it on Amazon!

Thanks for all the love and ongoing support,

Eleanor

A Lovely Review Of My Book ‘Bring Me To Light’ By Deb Wilk at Living Bipolar Blog.

August 17, 2022August 17, 2022 ~ Eleanor Segall ~ 5 Comments

(image: https://www.pauladennan.com/reviews/)

Sometimes, you receive amazing book reviews on the internet and don’t realise they are there!

Yesterday, I stumbled upon Deb Wilk’s blog Living Bipolar – Deb has lived with bipolar disorder for many years and very kindly reviewed my book last year. She lives in the USA and is a talented blogger, sharing about her life living with bipolar.

I don’t always know what to expect with reviews, but this was so positive so thank you Deb for reading, enjoying and recommending my book Bring me to Light: Embracing my Bipolar and Social Anxiety. Heres some quotes from the review:

“Every word, paragraph and chapter of Bring Me to Light was utterly mesmerizing. Eleanor Segall’s account of her battle with bipolar 1, panic attacks, and crippling social anxiety is so vibrant that the reader feels as though they are experiencing it right alongside her.

I would love to describe the book in detail, but I am not going to give anything away because this book is an absolute must-read. Anyone who is bipolar or loves someone who is, should read this story. It is a moving narrative that anyone, even those who do not suffer with mental illness, should read. …

She is now an extremely forceful voice in the mental health community, and this accolade is incredibly well deserved. Please read this book. You will find it well worthwhile and, I am certain, as enthralling as I did.” (Deb Wilk, living bipolar blog)

To read more of Debs review click here

Bring me to Light is available now on Amazon and in all good bookshops (including Waterstones, W H Smith and Blackwells and is available globally).

What I am Loving this Autumn- The Midnight Library Book Review (Matt Haig) by Eleanor

September 1, 2021September 1, 2021 ~ Eleanor Segall ~ 2 Comments

(image: Charlotte Greaves/Twitter and Book by Matt Haig)

Today here in England has felt chilly, windy and cooler than the heatwave of a few months back. Its only the 1st September but there is that back to work. and school feeling, but also a feeling of cosiness.

I love this time of year. I never used to, with it getting darker earlier, but now I love the cosiness of Autumn- reading a good book, watching a good movie and snuggling under blankets with hot chocolate.

I normally use this to give updates on my mental health and write about how I am getting on. The truth is, I have been anxious at times and dealing with panic from time to time, so I have restarted therapy. However, so much of life is appreciating the good things so heres what I am loving..

You all know i love to read! I found this book online- I loved Matt Haigs book Reasons to Stay Alive, where he discusses his own depression. Its a book that has complete honesty and I found the same for his novel The Midnight Library.

The Midnight Library- a novel by Matt Haig

I had been a bit late to read this (it came out last year) but the book touched me so much! Its about Nora Seed, whose life unravels to the point where she begins to feel suicidal and wants to end her life. I won’t ruin the book but she ends up in a spiritual/ fictional library with her trusted school librarian Mrs Elm and she is able to try on parallel lives- What if she had married someone? Had children? had a different career? become famous? What if she had said or something different- what if her life choices led her to different events or people?

We follow Nora on her journey of self discovery and as she navigates her own life, mental health issues, and overcoming her challenges. She is guided by Mrs Elm and the whirring library of lives she finds herself in- which includes the ‘Book of Regrets.’

This book speaks to me on so many levels. My favourite quote is this,

‘The paradox of volcanoes is that they were symbols of destruction but also life. ..She wasn’t a black hole, she decided. She was a volcano. And like a volcano, she couldn’t run away from herself…she’d have to stay there and tend to that wasteland. She could plant a forest inside herself.‘- Matt Haig

Matt Haigs writing is so beautiful- and I think this book will be turned into a movie. I recommend it if you are feeling well (as it does talk about suicidal ideation, which could be triggering). Its a wonderful book and completely unique.

The library metaphor and parallel universe theory pervade throughout. Although I am useless at Physics, its an interesting theory that there could be parallel lives or universes.

I recommend this to those who wish to be inspired- its just a really exceptional piece of writing and it will touch many hearts.

Note: This is not a paid ad for the Midnight Library- I just read it and loved it so much!

Two Book Reviews: ‘Bring me to Light: Embracing my Bipolar and Social Anxiety’ is out tomorrow!

November 4, 2019 ~ Eleanor Segall ~ 2 Comments

This week is publication week for my book ‘Bring me to Light’!

I can’t quite believe that it hits the shelves tomorrow! I started writing the manuscript in early 2018 and now here we are! I am lucky to have had my book reviewed by two great bloggers this week.

The first is by Rachael Stray, a UK based blogger. Rachael received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review and she said:

” Eleanor is extremely honest as she tells her very personal story of being diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder and her journey from adolescence to adulthood. In this book we are taken through Eleanor’s struggles with her mental health and what a profound impact it has had on her life.

She really opens up about her struggles with her mental health and the inner turmoil she was facing. Eleanor clearly has a great support network of family and friends who have been such a support for her which she acknowledges.

I found her honest account of struggling with medication, institutionalisation following hospital stays and feeling lost in her own life extremely difficult to read but so educational and inspirational.

Eleanor hasn’t let her mental health stop her from being successful, finding a career she loves, she’s got such a strong faith, a great network of family and friends and now a loving husband.A lot of what she talks about within this book really deeply personally resonated with me.” (Rachael Stray https://rachaelstray.com/bring-me-to-light-review-ad/)

Thank you Rachael for your kind review. The second was by Nyxie who is based in Northern Ireland and is also a book blogger (at Nyxie’s nook). She also received a free copy in exchange for an honest review:

“Eleanor began blogging while in outpatient treatment as both an outlet for her thoughts and to provide education to others. Like many of those with mental and physical illness, Eleanor’s writing became like therapy. When the words are placed on page or screen, they’re less likely to be bouncing off the walls of our brains. It’s a perfect example of how art, of any kind, can release built-up tension.

She has also successfully worked with mental health organisations such as Time to Change, Mind and SANE, and has even written for publications such as The Telegraph, Glamour and Happiful Magazine.

“Bring Me To Light” is a wonderful and brutally honest account of living with Bipolar Disorder. For anyone who lives with any illness, chronic or mental, should read this book. Like me, you’ll find yourself identifying with parts of Eleanor’s past.

I found it quite difficult to read some chapters as I empathised quite a bit with her emotions and thought patterns. With that being said I do love a book that makes me feel strong emotions, as many memoirs usually do.” (Nyxie at Nyxies Nook: https://www.nyxiesnook.com/bring-me-to-light/)

Thank you both for your kind reviews.

Want to order a copy of my book? Click here for Amazon (but also in other book shops):