Pilotlight Australia and Hardie Grant Books are pleased to announce the launch of Dying to Know - bringing death to life in the United Kingdom on the 15th March 2010, in association with Dying Matters Week. The book was spear-headed by Jane Tewson whose 30 years in the charitable sector have been driven by a passion to create positive social change. Greater connection between people and for people when they need it most is behind all her initiatives, like Comic Relief which she co-founded in the 1980s. This time, with her team at Pilotlight Australia, Jane is using a graphic, provocative book, rather than a red nose, to start a conversation! Like so many others, the team at Pilotlight Australia has been challenged by death and what lies beyond it - they believe that renewing a conversation about dying can help build supportive communities and inspire change for the living.

I found this book absolutely beautiful. Most of the pictures said what we are sometimes unable to. I loved the emotional will at the back. As a nurse in a hospice I have found it really helpful. It is spot on when it says things about leaving a wonderful In Memory advert in the local paper saying how wonderful someone was - but do we say it to them - when they are alive! The bit about the dash between your birth year and death year - how true, it is the living in between which is important! We do need to talk more. Dying is a fact of life that we hide under the carpet until we are ill - but if everything was sorted before then, we could get on with living. I love this book and I would encourage as many people as possible to give it a look ( )

Dying to Know, by Andrew Anastasios, provides illustrated ideas and advice for those who’ve lost a friend or family member. The book was written after many conversations with doctors, people with life-limiting illness, the funeral industry and religious leaders (Hardie Grant Books, 2010, £9.99).

Provides illustrated ideas and advice for those who’ve lost a friend or family member. The book was written after many conversations with doctors, people with life-limiting illness, the funeral industry and religious leaders.