Valerie BlumenthalValerie Blumenthal is the author of nine critically acclaimed novels, several of which have been widely translated. Her novel Saturday's Child sold in the region of a million copies worldwide. She has written features for the Times, Telegraph, Mail o Sunday and the Oxford Times, published several short stories and for four years taught creative writing in a high security men's prison. Valerie was a third of the way through writing The Lupo Stick, when she was diagnosed with PCA (Posterior Cortical Atrophy), a rare form of Alzheimer's, which strikes at a younger age. Writing The Lupo Stick had been a labour of love, but also one that had been fraught with frustration, as her condition altered over the six years it took to write.Valerie's situation now is such that she needs help with the simplest, everyday things, however, she retains her sense of humour and positive outlook. Read More Read Less