PN1: December 2004. Introducing Mr Big.
The Mr Big Group and the Jamie Fund
Welcome to Hey, Mr Big!
Why Mr Big?
On the cover of the book
Praise for Hey, Mr Big!
Availability and ordering
Book details
Download these notes as a Word document
The Mr Big Group and the Jamie Fund
The production and publication of the book Hey, Mr Big! is an entirely non-profit making venture, with all proceeds from the sale of the book going to The Jamie Fund, set up in memory and celebration of the life ofJamie Colin Gasking, aged 11 years
who died in an accident at the Falls of Bruar, Perthshire, Scotland on 11 July 2003, just eight days after completing his final year at primary school.
Hey, Mr Big! is written by Jamie's Dad, David. The book is being self-published by The Mr Big Group, a fully-constituted community group of unpaid volunteers, with the financial support of a Small Community Grant from Moray Badenoch & Strathspey Enterprise, together with matching funding from the Community Economic Development Programme of the European Union.
All money raised for The Jamie Fund will be used towards the improvement of facilities for young people in and around Jamie's home village of Carr-Bridge in the North of Scotland. News updates, book reviews and other details on the progress of Hey, Mr Big! are available on the Mr Big website at: www.mr-big.ik.com.
The website also offer the chance to see many of the pictures from the book in their original colour, plus a selection of extracts from the text. Back to top
Welcome to Hey, Mr Big!
Jamie died as the result of a tragic accident. Hey, Mr Big! is not a book that sets out to blame, or to forward any agenda, beyond the glimpse that it offers into the mind of one 11-year boy and the timeless and abiding bond that exists between a father and his son.In his welcome to the book Jamie?s Dad, David, writes:
"For me, this book is not written down at all, but spoken aloud. If it helps, you may like to think of it as a conversation between Jamie and myself, with you - the reader - listening in. Over my shoulder perhaps.
Jamie's death prompted an enormous outpouring of goodwill and support in our local community and further afield. A similar response has been much in evidence in the generosity of every one of the many individuals and organisations who have contributed so willingly to assist the production of this book.
Jamie died on a single day in July 2003. But for the previous eleven years he was a boy who lived and who, in his own, childlike way, touched the lives of countless other people. You will not find this a book crammed with details of a tragic accident. Yes, inevitably, there is sadness and loss here. But if you choose to read on, I hope you will come to agree with me, that a short life does not necessarily have to mean a life that was lived in vain." Back to top
Why Mr Big?
In November 1998, ten days after his 7th birthday, Jamie starred in the role of Mr Big, the villain in our community musical The Piper, performed in Carr-Bridge and Nethy Bridge.Five years later many of us who knew Jamie still recalled him in his bowler hat and fancy waistcoat, as featured on the cover of Hey, Mr Big!
Mr Big was one of the first of many parts that Jamie went on to play up on stage, including twice appearing as a member of the cast of the Inverness Area Gang Show. Back to top
On the cover of the book
Whenever Jamie was asked what he wanted to do when he grew up there was never a moment's doubt or hesitation in his response - he was going to be an animator like Nick Park.Jamie would be full of pride that the world-renowned creator of Wallace & Gromit should have personally taken the time to write a letter whilst in the middle of filming the latest movie with the famous duo. And especially proud at the quote from that letter that now heads the text on the back cover of Hey, Mr Big!
"Jamie reminded me a lot of myself at that age - so prolific and enthusiastic about life with so many hobbies and interests."
Nick Park - Aardman Animations.
Also on the back cover:
Hey, Mr Big! in celebration of Jamie who died at the Falls of Bruar on 11 July 2003, aged 11.
All proceeds to The Jamie Fund - "making things happen for young people"
Hey, Mr Big! "Could I make sure that your story would not be forgotten? - I could certainly try."
David Gasking - Jamie's Dad.
And on the front cover of the book, the remarks of the celebrated author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency who generously agreed to give his opinion on an advance copy of the proofs of Hey, Mr Big!
"... glowing and inspiring out of the darkest, bleakest loss ... a book that enriches our moral landscape."
Alexander McCall Smith.
with the full text of that book review (see below) featuring as an opening epigraph page to Hey, Mr Big! Back to top
Praise for Hey, Mr Big!
"David Gasking has written a memoir which is both moving and positive. It is moving in that it speaks of a father's love for his son?a love that is beautifully described and which comes from the very deepest chambers of the heart. It is positive in that it shows us how to make something glowing and inspiring out of the darkest, bleakest loss. This is a book that enriches our moral landscape. It tells a story that is full of forgiveness and healing."- Alexander McCall Smith, author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.
"I found reading Mr Big an extraordinary experience. It is a beautifully written testimony to a father/son relationship. I never met Jamie yet felt by the end of the book I knew him well. Spending time with Jamie was an enriching experience. His enthusiasm and interest in the world were wonderfully engaging. A book to be treasured."
- Lin Anderson, author of Driftnet and Torch. Back to top
Availability and ordering
Hey, Mr Big! is expected to be fully in print by January 2005. Copies for local sale or mail order will be available from the Mr Big Group and from other supporting outlets. Details will be circulated in the media and will also be posted on the Mr Big website at www.mr-big.ik.com.Alternatively, copies of the book can be ordered on-line from the publishers at www.iuniverse.com or (once the title is listed on retailers' systems) in the usual way through bookshops and other on-line retailers. Back to top
Book details
Title: Hey, Mr Big!Author: David Gasking
No. of pages: 266
Illustrations: 25, black and white
Format: Paperback, 6in x 9in
Published by: iUniverse, Inc, 2004
ISBN number: 0-595-33091-6. Back to top
Download these notes as a Word document
Click on the link below to download a copy of these press notes as an MS Word document.If this format is not suitable, or you have any problems with the download, please feel free to click "Contact us" to request a copy by e-mail. Back to top
