Jackie Sharkey asked Peng Shepherd:

This story resonated with me, as one of many whose loved ones have been hit with dementia. Is it something you've experienced yourself -- was that an inspiration?

Peng Shepherd Hi, and thanks for your question. I haven’t yet had a loved one be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, but I do have close friends with relatives afflicted with those conditions. Watching them lovingly care for their parents and grandparents as they cherish the time they have left together was certainly an inspiration for the deep devotion and bonds between many of the characters in the novel.

Because I don’t have direct experience, and because the story in The Book of M involves more magic than science, I wasn’t aiming to specifically represent or speak for anyone suffering from or caring for someone suffering from memory loss. Rather, my hope is that readers whose lives have been touched by Alzheimer’s, dementia, or amnesia in some way are able to take whatever they personally want to from the story—whether it’s just the adventure, the love the characters have for each other, or something more.

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