Joseph

Joseph is a book that tells the real-life story of a single mother coping with the pressures of life and bringing up a child with autism. The author, Philomena Scully, captures a world that is relatable to other parents – the main audience that the book has been written for.

It shares a variety of honest and funny stories, covering common topics that she has struggled with over the years while supporting and loving her son despite the extreme differences that her new life entailed. It also illustrates simple techniques and tips to help ordinary parents who are finding themselves in same situation.

Its written from the heart with a simple structure that people can learn from. It lays bare the trials and tribulations she encountered and how she accepted that autism is a different way of life through the love of her son.

Philomena grew up in Manchester with her three brothers and parents.

She left school at 15 years old and went straight into work as a hairdresser in the centre of Manchester. After getting married at twenty-eight years old, she had her first child, a son followed by her daughter three years later.

She became a single parent when her son was five and remarried more recently in 2019. Since the children have been young Philomena has worked full time in a call centre in a variety of management positions and balanced her work life with home to make quality time for her children.