A WRITER from Launceston, Julia Hague, has recently released a new book, along with Naomi Richards, called ‘Being Me (And Loving it)’.

The book highlights the importance of encouraging a healthy self-esteem in children, as well as managing relationships, body image and bullying.

The book has been designed as a toolkit for parents, teachers, carers, and any other responsible adult, to inspire strong self-esteem in children aged five to eleven.

Julia Hague, who lives in Launceston, has written since the age of 14. She was born in London and lived there for 58 years, and upon her husband’s retirement, they decided to head for the rural hills of Cornwall.

Julia was firstly interested in writing for women, but once she met and got to know Naomi Richards, a Life Coach for Kids, her passion for writing about children ignited.

The book includes 29 stories, and each story illustrates the common issues that affect children, such as a lack of body confidence, peer pressure, bullying, friendships, and worries about puberty.

Mrs Hague said: “The book is about self-esteem in children, and I think if we can tackle the issue with low self-esteem now whilst they’re children, then we’ll see a lot more confident, happy adults in the future.”

The book is a toolkit for parents and teachers; it is designed to be used for PSHE sessions in schools, or at home with the child.

Julia added: “The book includes 29 stories.

“I am the story writer, and each story shows all the different things children encounter.

“Children love stories, they engage with stories, and I hope this is something that parents and teachers can use with children.

“It’s a very unique book; most books just show the adult what to do, but I think more books need to be combined to use with the child. What I hope is that it will stop children from being bullied, and will also stop bullies from being bullies.

“If we can show them now, whilst they’re young, that it’s wrong to bully, and to give them an understanding of why it’s wrong, then it will encourage children to get along with each other, and make a more positive environment for them.”

It is hoped that the range of different activities, also featured in the book that children can engage in, will reinforce the messages being taught.

Julia hopes these activities and the strong messages being enforced in the book will increase many children’s confidence.

She would like to potentially create another book in the future with Naomi. However, personally, she would like to concentrate on a book to help teenage girls next, addressing the issues surrounding common worries such as body image, and how to not feel pressured by the media to look a certain way.

She would also like to visit schools in and around Cornwall to do anti-bullying talks and workshops with the children.

Following her husband’s retirement, and having been serving a long 16 years working in a private girls’ school in London, Julia and her husband wanted to get away from the busy hustle and bustle of city life, and retreat to Cornwall.

“We fell in love with Launceston straight away,” Julia told the Post. “We were looking at different houses at the time, and came to Launceston in the pouring rain – which I now have come to realise is what the weather is like most days – and we thought the town had a lovely community.”

Julia told the Post that she had recently received a copy of her book, and how magical it was to finally hold it in her hands.

‘Being Me (And Loving it)’ will be available on Amazon from April 21, and can be pre-ordered now.