'Creative For A Second', an Inspiring Book for and by People Living With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Creative For A Second is a 172-page full colour book displaying the work and telling the stories of people from various countries,and ages living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. It sheds a rare and positive light on a very debilitating illness.

Melbourne, August 30, (PressReleasePoint) -- The inspiring art book Creative For A Second reveals the creative talents and stories of an international group of people living with CFS/ME. The book has been created to help spread awareness of the illness and give exposure to many talented people whose work may otherwise have remained unseen.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Myalgic Encephalomyelitis is an illness characterized by extreme and prolonged fatigue that is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other illnesses or conditions. People with CFS display flu-like symptoms that persist for an extended period of time, quite often for years. CFS/ME is now known to exist worldwide in every age, race, and in both sexes. It is about 1.5 times more common in women than in men and appears to be most prevalent in the 20 to 40 year age range.

Forty-three individuals from the age of 18 to 70 have contributed visual artwork, craft, poetry, prose, photography, short stories and even a short film to this collection. Approximately half the contributors are from Australia, the remainder are spread far and wide from New Zealand to the UK to Canada to Europe to the US.

The idea for this project formed in 2006 when artist and graphic designer Kirrily Anderson noticed the large amount of people within the CFS/ME community who found a sanctuary in their creativity.

The project began with Australian contributors and very rapidly started reaching out to the international community. It has touched many sufferers both during the process of the collaboration and post publication.

“People who are severely affected by CFS/ME don't have the energy to get their work out into the world. This project has provided a means for exposure that these people would have otherwise not had. The sense of achievement felt when seeing their work in print has had quite an uplifting effect on contributors. Feedback has been very positive from sufferers and the general public alike.” commented Kirrily Anderson

Kerry Hill, Social Welfare Officer, ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Society of NSW Inc. said,
"Your book is just amazing... The book has got so much energy and I love the way it is available on-line."

Sarah Lacy, who is living with CFS/ME feels, "Creativity is life, and showing the world that while we may have a disease, it doesn't mean that we don't have lives and hopes and aspirations is just fantastic."

The book is available to view online and order internationally via the Creative For A Second website www.creativeforasecond.com

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About Kirrily Anderson:

Kirrily Anderson is an artist and graphic designer who lives and works in Melbourne, Australia. Kirrily began to suffer from CFS/ME in 2005. After 2.5 years of severe symptoms she began to improve at the beginning of 2007. Mostly recovered now, she still keeps in touch with the CFS/ME community and feels passionately about dispelling the many myths that surround this highly misunderstood illness.

Press Contact:

Kirrily Anderson
creativeforasecond@gmail.com
0431 123 825