Why write a story about dementia?
It's Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my Umbrella is set on the dementia floor of a care home. Some time ago my mother-in-law was diagnosed...
top of page
carolineboxall
- May 1
- 3 min
How one man turned despair to hope
The despondency I felt after reading just a fragment of the issues faced by street children in India prompted me to get in touch with the...
carolineboxall
- Apr 24
- 3 min
How well do you know India?
A couple of weeks ago I sent out a quiz about the title of my new book. Well done to everyone who got it right: The Runaway Children of...
carolineboxall
- Apr 17
- 2 min
How could child abuse possibly inspire a new book for children?
In September 2021 I read about a charity called Railway Children. Railway Children supports street children all over the world, but this...
carolineboxall
- Apr 12
- 3 min
Book Title Reveal - it's a quiz!
New book cover When Richard Osman announced he would be publishing a new book he wrote a quiz. The fans went wild. Being a Boxall means...
carolineboxall
- Mar 14
- 2 min
World Book Day (from an author's perspective)
I like children. That's why I became a teacher, had five of my own and now write books for them. Being an author isn't nearly as...
carolineboxall
- Feb 20
- 2 min
New Short Story - a gift from me to you!
When I wrote It's Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my Umbrella, the character Dmitri Molchalin was a complex one and although he is rather...
carolineboxall
- Feb 14
- 2 min
Chuck it all in!
As the mum of five fabulous children, cooking was always going to be a big thing in my life. The advent of online shopping probably saved...
carolineboxall
- Jan 30
- 2 min
The Shame of Succumbing to TikTok
I don’t like social media. Apart from the obvious evils it has created amongst vulnerable young people, I really couldn’t care what...
carolineboxall
- Nov 29, 2022
- 3 min
Is Creative Writing Dead?
A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to visit Abbots Langley Primary School, an establishment oozing with enthusiasm. Amazing to have...
carolineboxall
- Oct 31, 2022
- 2 min
Frustrations of an Author (part two)
First part of the story: Picture the scene if you will; the budding author is convinced that her book’s title is holding back sales. What...
carolineboxall
- Oct 24, 2022
- 2 min
Exciting News...
...and a vote. I’ve completed the sequel to It’s Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my Umbrella! It’s nearly two years since I self-published...
carolineboxall
- Oct 16, 2022
- 2 min
Writing a book with the children of Cherry Tree Primary School
Back in January I was lucky enough to secure the best job in the world! Cherry Tree Primary School in Watford has the most enthusiastic,...
carolineboxall
- Oct 2, 2022
- 2 min
Frustrations of an Author (part one)
Bold and Daring! Jane Austin had problems getting published, so did CS Lewis and JK Rowling. I’m super happy to be up there with the...
carolineboxall
- Jul 27, 2022
- 2 min
Every Five Minutes...
A CHILD ARRIVES ALONE ON A PLATFORM IN INDIA In my last blog I wrote about why I decided to tell a story about street children in India....
carolineboxall
- Jul 12, 2022
- 2 min
The Railway Children of Mumbai
My Journey At the end of last year, I came across a charity called Railway Children. The founder, David Maidment, set up the charity...
carolineboxall
- Apr 18, 2022
- 2 min
Algorithms and Parkrun - a heady mix!
My first reason to be cheerful is that more than 100 delightful readers purchased the rewrite of my book, “It’s Raining in Moscow and I...
carolineboxall
- Apr 5, 2022
- 3 min
UPDATE!
(The new version of It's Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my Umbrella is available on Amazon. From 5th-9th April the kindle version will be...
carolineboxall
- Nov 8, 2021
- 4 min
Are there different types of Dementia?
Something I discovered when I was doing the research for It's Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my Umbrella was that there are different...
carolineboxall
- Nov 1, 2021
- 3 min
Fittest Firefighter!
If you live in Hertfordshire you are lucky enough to be near the fire station where a new champion is based. A couple of weeks ago the...
carolineboxall
- Sep 27, 2021
- 2 min
The Incredible Teepa Snow
After my interview with Lori La Bey a few weeks ago, I looked further into her Dementia Map website. One heading jumped out at me:...
carolineboxall
- Sep 17, 2021
- 3 min
FTD-the horror of early onset dementia
Sadly, in my family, the expression ‘early onset’ is one we know only too well. There are certain illnesses which are considered old...
carolineboxall
- Sep 13, 2021
- 4 min
Small Steps, Big Achievement. My First Parkrun.
I felt like I’d won an Olympic medal, well almost! I believe anyone can get that feeling – you just have to achieve something you didn’t...
carolineboxall
- Sep 1, 2021
- 2 min
Hitting the Big Time in the USA!
A few weeks ago I had an exciting message from Lori La Bey from Dementia Map© Global Resource Directory. Lori's mum was diagnosed with...
carolineboxall
- May 10, 2021
- 3 min
Bats in the Library?
A book-lover’s dream would surely be to own their own library... Think of it - all your favourite books; all the books you’ve ever read;...
carolineboxall
- Apr 26, 2021
- 2 min
Bonkers Book Reviews
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle "A Year in Provence" is a book that many people read when it first came out in 1989. It was a great...
carolineboxall
- Apr 19, 2021
- 3 min
Interesting people: Craig the boatman.
It’s Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my Umbrella is available on Amazon now. Would you like to receive future blogs? Click here If you’ve...
carolineboxall
- Apr 15, 2021
- 3 min
The M25, Southbound
As promised here is Emily's short story. I hope you enjoy it! Sometimes you just need to escape. You need to be free from the monotonous...
carolineboxall
- Apr 12, 2021
- 2 min
Bonkers Book Review
Milkman by Anna Burns My daughter Emily has come up with a novel idea. Both of us love reading and writing and when I asked if she'd help...
carolineboxall
- Apr 5, 2021
- 2 min
Easter Epiphany
The curtain ripped from top to bottom. Every Easter I relate the Easter story to my family. They say they're listening, but I think...
carolineboxall
- Mar 19, 2021
- 2 min
My Book has been nominated for an award!
Yesterday I received a very exciting email! In December I entered It’s Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my Umbrella into a rather exciting...
carolineboxall
- Mar 15, 2021
- 3 min
Mary has Vascular Dementia (Part Two)
Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease. It occurs when blood vessels in the brain are...
carolineboxall
- Mar 8, 2021
- 3 min
Reaching Out
In a moment of inspiration, I decided it would be friendly to reach out to other authors and ask if they would like to tell their story...
carolineboxall
- Feb 22, 2021
- 3 min
Mary has Vascular Dementia (Part One)
Before I get to Mary, I really wanted to share the latest reviews for It’s Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my Umbrella, which have made me...
carolineboxall
- Feb 15, 2021
- 1 min
'Celebrity' Interviews!
I've been writing this blog for a few months now. Thank you to everyone who has read them and commented and to everyone who has bought...
carolineboxall
- Feb 8, 2021
- 3 min
Mrs Molchalin
If you haven’t read It’s Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my Umbrella, you shouldn’t read on. This blog holds secrets for the eyes of my...
carolineboxall
- Feb 1, 2021
- 4 min
Louis, the firefighter.
Before I tell you about Louis I have something else to say: If you have enjoyed It’s Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my Umbrella, please...
carolineboxall
- Feb 1, 2021
- 3 min
First Competition winner!
Today I am pleased to be able to publish the first winning story from my creative writing competition. Children aged between 9 and 13...
carolineboxall
- Jan 25, 2021
- 3 min
Manya
The Troubled Young Russian The first draft of It’s Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my Umbrella was actually called A Maze. It was about...
carolineboxall
- Jan 18, 2021
- 4 min
On the Radio!
My interview on BBC 3 Counties Radio On Monday I decided it was time to take a bit more action. It's Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my...
carolineboxall
- Jan 18, 2021
- 3 min
Alfie and Jensen
Chapter 1 - The Book "It's raining in Moscow and I have forgotten my umbrella", the words echo in my head as my eyes glisten as the...
carolineboxall
- Jan 11, 2021
- 2 min
Frank’s PTSD
While I was writing It’s Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my Umbrella, one of my purposes was to create an awareness of dementia, so that...
carolineboxall
- Jan 11, 2021
- 3 min
Competition Winner!
Olivia, a pupil at Christ Church, Chorleywood entered my writing competition to create an exciting story in under 500 words, inserting...
carolineboxall
- Dec 21, 2020
- 3 min
Family Christmas Traditions
I love hearing about family traditions. Here are some of ours. 1. Advent calendars: My mother-in-law bought a Christmas tree advent...
carolineboxall
- Dec 14, 2020
- 3 min
Gran has Alzheimer’s
It’s Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my Umbrella features twelve-year-old Billy who lives on the dementia floor of a care home. His...
carolineboxall
- Dec 7, 2020
- 3 min
Grandpa's Postcard
We are nearly at the end of the school year and I have one more winning 500 word story for you. This time Arissa has used the phrase...
carolineboxall
- Dec 7, 2020
- 2 min
Oldies vs Youngsters – World Issues
It’s Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my Umbrella focusses on the connection between the generations. This blog explore that connection....
carolineboxall
- Nov 30, 2020
- 4 min
The Big Match: Oldies vs Youngsters
Does the enthusiasm of the Youngsters stand a chance against the wisdom of the Oldies? Round One: Brexit Brexit divided opinion in a...
carolineboxall
- Nov 23, 2020
- 3 min
Neelam and the Dementia Floor
If you have read It’s Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my Umbrella you will know that one of the main characters is Neelam. Neelam runs the...
carolineboxall
- Nov 16, 2020
- 1 min
It's Today!
It’s Raining in Moscow and I Forgot my Umbrella is out today on Amazon! I’m so grateful to everybody for their support and encouragement,...
bottom of page