Books about dementia were very rare when my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 15 years ago.

Now there is a wealth of them because the stigma about this feared disease has been diminished by the work of Dementia Action Alliances, progress accelerated by the books themselves.

One I can recommend is What Dementia Teaches Us about Love and its author will be giving a talk about this powerful book at this year's Wells Festival of Literature.

She is Nicci Gerrard and her book sprang from her memories of her beloved father's slow death from dementia.

It is full of moving and optimistic stories from people living with dementia, music therapists reviving buried memories, scientists seeking a cure, campaigners and families trying to come to terms with their loved one slowly forgetting who they are.

Nicci is an acclaimed novelist as well as co-founder of John's Campaign, which works to give carers of people living with dementia similar rights as parents of children, especially in hospital.

Her talk is at 5pm on Friday, October 25, in Wells Cathedral School's Cedars Hall.

Tickets are £10, £6 for students online at wellsfestivalofliterature.org.uk, by phone at 01749 834483 weekdays 9.30am-12.30pm or in person during the same hours from Cedars House, The Liberty BA5 2ST.

I have bought mine.