Wingham author Deborah Dickson explores childhood grief in debut novel

While we all deal with grief and loss at some point in our lives, it can be particularly challenging for children to process. 

A woman from Wingham, Ont., has published a novel about navigating grief in childhood. Always Kiss Me Good Night, by Deborah Dickson, is about the loss of a loved one. It follows the true story of her own loss in order to help children and their parents have difficult conversations about grief.

Dickson, a first-time author, spoke with CBC K-W's The Morning Edition host Craig Norris about the book. 

The following interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

Audio of the interview can be found at the bottom of this article. 

Craig Norris:  So this is your first book. What made you want to start writing?

Deborah Dickson: I never even dreamt of writing a story until I was encouraged by a new friend here in town where I live. And she said to me, have you ever talked about or written about losing your mom? And actually, it's 50 years ago this year. And I said, well, no, I, I feel I've dealt with that and, you know, have moved on. She said, well, I have a friend who's a publisher and I think you should write a story and let's submit it to her. 

I proceeded to work on the story for about just over a year. And when Marsha from Twin Horseshoes Publishing took a look at it, she said, 'Deb, with some editing, it is a go. We need to have your story in the community as a resource for families when they're navigating those difficult conversations when they've lost a loved one with their children.' So that's how it proceeded.

Craig Norris: So tell us what the book is about.

Deborah Dickson:  Well, it is a personal story seen through the eyes of a young person. Marsha encouraged me to, you know, begin with great, like good family memories and then leading to my mom getting ill and then passing and how the family dealt with all the emotions that come from that significant loss. 

And then of course, the really difficult part was the body and the story. So I'm not going to tell you anymore details as far as someone needing to read it. But yes, it's a personal story. And I feel it in hindsight now it's a tribute to my mom.

Craig Norris:  What did you go through as a child when it comes to navigating this grief?

Deborah Dickson:  Well, go back 50 years for some who can relate to that. We lived in a rural area in Kitchener. And back then in that generation, you were told to toughen up, go back to work, go back to school and just deal with it. 

From what I recall, there were no resources or counselors or support people. That inspired my message to say we need to support children. They have to feel loved and supported in their emotions and feelings, acknowledged because back then I felt all alone and afraid and I'm sure my brothers did.