PRESS RELEASE
A Boy Called Arsenal
A startlingly honest and triumphant biography about Arsenal Whittick – a life lived with autism!
PUBLISHED: 28/07/2020 PRICE: £9.99
ISBN: 9781913208660
A Boy Called Arsenal is an honest and emotional true story about a man who, after a life-long battle with mental and self-abuse problems, finally became diagnosed with autism at the age of forty-nine in 2011. The catalyst for his diagnosis was his daughter’s attempted suicide, which drove him to finally get the help he needed.
Arsenal grew up in Liverpool and became obsessed with Arsenal Football Club as a young boy. At the age of twenty-three he changed his name by deed poll to Arsenal Whittick.
The book is based on a series of conversations between the author and Arsenal as well as discussions with his ex-wife and his two daughters. Taking inspiration from a variety of sources including medical letters, personal letters and football reports, A Boy Called Arsenal is a heart-warming and triumphant story of a life-changing diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
Alan J Hill lives in Christchurch, Dorset and is a semi-retired finance professional after working in the industry for over forty years. Moving from the corporate industry into the charity sector, Alan worked for Autism Wessex as a Finance Director, which is where he met Arsenal. This is Alan’s first non- fiction book after having published three books in a young adult series.
Arsenal Whittick lives in Bournemouth where he works for Yellow House Health and Outreach Services.
Alan says, “The book is very much an adult biography concentrating on the impact of mental health issues on a person’s life. Coupled with a pronounced stammer Arsenal has had to overcome severe restrictions leading a ‘normal life’ in modern society but has battled hard to overcome these. Ultimately the book is a lifetime triumph over adversity.”
FOR AUTHOR INTERVIEWS, REVIEW OR COMPETITION COPIES, ARTICLES, PHOTOS OR EXTRACTS CONTACT: PHILIPPA ILIFFE
TEL: 0800 999 2982 EMAIL: marketing@bookguild.co.uk
