A Moment We’ll Never Forget: Thank You, Trowel Garden Centre

Sometimes, kindness arrives when you least expect it.

This week, Jonathan and I walked into Trowel Garden Centre and saw something we honestly never imagined we would:our book Thunderstorm Inside My Head and our board game Alice’s Wonderous Adventures sitting on the shelves, available for customers to buy.

To say we were emotional would be an understatement.

Mark, the owner of Trowel Garden Centre, has been nothing short of extraordinary. Not only has he chosen to stock our work, but he purchased our books and games at full RRP, meaning he makes no profit from them at all. Every penny goes back into helping us continue what we do: creating stories and games that support children, families, and understanding around epilepsy.

But his generosity didn’t stop there.

Mark has also offered us a completely free stall at the garden centre in April / May. He’s given us the space to talk to customers about epilepsy, share our family’s story, and promote our books and game — simply because he believes in what we’re doing.

There are moments in life that quietly restore your faith in people.This is one of those moments.

Why This Means So Much to Us

Thunderstorm Inside My Head was written to help children and families understand epilepsy in a gentle, honest, and empowering way. It’s rooted in our own experiences, our daughter’s journey, and the countless conversations we’ve had with families who feel unseen and unsupported.

Alice’s Wondrous Adventures grew from our love of storytelling, education, and playful learning — a whimsical game inspired by Lewis Carroll and designed to make maths and problem-solving magical for children.

Neither of these projects came from a place of profit.They came from love, resilience, and a need to create something meaningful from difficult experiences.

So to have a local business not only believe in our work but actively support it — with no expectation of financial gain — has been deeply moving for our entire family.

A Huge Thank You to Mark and Trowel Garden Centre

Mark’s kindness, compassion, and generosity are something we will never forget. In a world where small creators often struggle to be seen, he has opened his doors and his shelves to us with genuine warmth.

If you’re local to Nottinghamshire, please consider popping into Trowel Garden Centre and supporting this wonderful business. You’ll find Thunderstorm Inside My Head and Alice’s Wondrous Adventures available there now — and soon, you’ll be able to meet us in person at our stall to chat about epilepsy, storytelling, game design, and everything in between.

Looking Ahead

We’re incredibly excited (and a little nervous!) about our upcoming stall in April / May. It will be our first time speaking directly to customers in this way about our journey, our daughter’s epilepsy, and the creative work that grew from it.

To Mark — thank you for believing in us.To everyone who supports our books, our games, and our mission — thank you for being part of this journey with us.

From the bottom of our hearts,

Michelle & Jonathan