Die Smiling

‘Julie Casson lays bare the devastating human impact of the UK’s ban on assisted dying, capturing precisely why true choice at the end of life is a movement whose time has come for this country. By turns uplifting and heart-wrenching, Die Smiling is a searingly honest tale of love, life and death, and a powerful contribution to a historic debate.’ - Sarah Wootton, CEO Dignity in Dying

Julie Casson is a debut author. She is a mum, grandma and great-grandma and lives in Scarborough, North Yorkshire with her beloved miniature schnauzer Bodger.

Julie spent twenty-three years working in Further Education. Starting out as a teacher, her career evolved into management. She holds an MA in management from the University of York.

Her career ended unexpectedly in 2007, when her husband, Nigel, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Julie became Nigel’s primary carer. Nigel’s positivity, humour and pragmatism throughout his illness, and his determination to take control of his death, are the inspiration for this memoir.

In 2011, she started a blog, posting light-hearted commentary on everyday existence and specific accounts of Nigel’s experience, which she later developed into this book. She completed a creative writing course at the University of York.

Julie is a supporter of the Motor Neurone Disease Association and member of Dignity in Dying. Her greatest wish is that Nigel’s story contributes to changing the law on assisted dying in the UK.